Additional Government Funding for Alzheimer's Research is Urgently Needed.

Over one hundred years ago, (1906) Alzheimer’s, one of the world’s most terrible terminal diseases was first discovered by a German doctor of the same name. This is a disease in which the brain slowly dies and gradually shuts down the body function. At the time of death the brain of an Alzheimer's victim is only 2/3rds normal size.

Since 1906, very little has been done by way of a cure. It has been said that 90% of all we know about Alzheimer’s was learned in n the last 10 years. (2007)

By contrast it was only about 25 years ago that AIDS/HIV became known to the world. Huge efforts have been directed at finding a cure for this disease. Only the feeblest efforts are directed at Alzheimer’s.

Currently 205 people die (2007) every day in the U.S. from Alzheimer’s and the rate continues to climb. Since the year 1999. the Alzheimer's death numbers has increased by 68%. It is the 5^th leading cause of disease death.

It is estimated that 50-60% of all residents of nursing homes today have Alzheimer’s.

Seven (7) times more people die every year from Alzheimer's then die from the so called AIDS epidemic in the U.S. The AIDS rate continues to decline. AIDS is not one of the 15 leading causes of death in the U.S.

For every death due to AIDS/HIV, the NIH (National Institute of Health) has a huge budget for research. Based on the number of deaths, AIDS gets far more funding than any of the top 15 causes of death in the United States.

Obviously we have a government and the NIH that is more interested in proving how “politically correct” they are then in meeting the medical correctness and medical needs of the U.S. citizens.

Especially hard hit are the U.S. Veterans and in particular, the WWII veterans who are close to 50% victims of Alzheimer's. Our Government and the NIH has for many years turned their backs on the “Greatest Generation.”

Political Correctness is “Job One” for the U.S. Government and this position on funding has killed my wife June, my mother Ellen, many of the veterans of WWII, and the U.S. Citizens by the thousands (75,000) every year.

There are currently 420,000 new cases of Alzheimer's every year. By the year 2050 that number will increase to 1,000,000 new cases every year.

It has been projected that economically in the future, the Alzheimer's disease will bankrupt the Medicare/Medicaid systems unless our government stops “fiddling as Rome burns.” How much longer must we tolerate such outrageous conduct by our government?

Stan Berg (March 2010)

Contact your congressman: U.S. Congress Website

Contact the President:  U.S. President

Find out more about Alzheimer's Research Funding: Alzheimer's Association

Make a personal donation to: "Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Research Center"

See this dramatic chart on Funding: AARP Chart on Alzhemier's funding disparity.