What’s Happening in Washington DC this week?
I'm Heading Back to Washington D.C. — and I'm Going for You!
This week, I will be joining advocates from across the country in Washington, D.C. for my 6th year as part of the Alzheimer's Association's Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum — one of the most important gatherings in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and all other dementias. And I wanted to take a moment before I go to share what this trip is about, why it matters, and what I will be asking our lawmakers to do.
What Is the AIM Advocacy Forum?
Every year, passionate advocates from all 50 states descend on Capitol Hill wearing purple — the color of the Alzheimer's movement — to make sure Congress hears directly from the people and communities most affected by this disease. This is not a conference where we sit in a room and talk to each other. This is Hill Day — where we walk into the offices of our senators and representatives and look them in the eye and ask them to act.
More than 1,100 advocates participated in last year's forum alone. Every year, I am proud to be one of them — representing Indiana for the 6th year and the work being done through Dementia Friendly Indiana Communities to build a state where every person living with dementia is seen, supported, and never forgotten. As part of the Wise Owl Network's commitment to keeping the aging community informed, I will be bringing this experience back and sharing it here — because what happens in Washington directly affects older adults, caregivers, and families across Indiana and the nation.
What Will We Be Asking Congress to Do?
The Alzheimer's Association and AIM go to Washington with specific, concrete policy asks. Here is what advocates will be urging Congress to prioritize this year:
1. Increase Federal Alzheimer's Research Funding at the NIH Research is the foundation of everything. Earlier this year, Congress reached a bipartisan agreement to provide a $100 million increase for Alzheimer's and dementia research at the National Institutes of Health — bringing total annual federal dementia research funding to $3.9 billion. That is a significant milestone, and a direct result of years of advocacy. But the work is not done. Advocates will be urging Congress to protect and build on that investment, because a cure does not happen without sustained, serious funding.
2. Fund the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act The BOLD Act — Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure — is the law that strengthens public health departments across the country to address dementia at the community level. It supports early detection, reduces risk, and helps prevent avoidable hospitalizations. This year's bipartisan agreement also includes $41.5 million for BOLD implementation — a historic high. Advocates will be pushing to make sure that funding is protected and that the BOLD Reauthorization Act moves forward to keep this critical infrastructure in place.
3. Support the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act The National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) is the law that created our nation's first National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. It has been the backbone of federal Alzheimer's policy for over a decade. The NAPA Reauthorization Act renews that commitment — and the Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act ensures that funding requests are tied directly to what scientists say is needed to make progress. Both were recently signed into law, and advocates will be working to ensure full implementation.
4. Pass the ASAP Act — Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention Act This is one of the most exciting asks on the table right now. The ASAP Act would create a Medicare coverage pathway for FDA-approved blood biomarker screening tests — the breakthrough blood tests that can now detect signs of Alzheimer's years before symptoms appear. Earlier detection means earlier intervention, earlier planning, and access to the most current treatment options. This bill is bipartisan, it is common sense, and it could change the trajectory of this disease for millions of Americans.
5. Support the AADAPT Act The Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer's Provider Training Act would strengthen training for healthcare providers so they are better equipped to identify, diagnose, and support people living with dementia. It is currently moving through markup in Congress — and advocates will be there to push it forward.
Why I Am Going
I am going to Washington because the people I serve here in Indiana deserve to have someone at that table. I am going because every family, including my own, (my mother) navigating a dementia diagnosis deserves better — better research, better detection, better community support, and a government that takes this disease as seriously as it deserves to be taken.
And I am going because advocacy works. Federal investment in Alzheimer's research has increased more than sevenfold in the last decade — because advocates showed up, year after year, and refused to be ignored.
Stay tuned. When I return, I will be sharing my personal experience — the meetings, the moments, the stories I hear, and what it feels like to walk the halls of Congress for the people of Indiana living with dementia.
Wise Owl Network is dedicated to keeping the aging community informed through resources on healthy aging, lifelong learning, and professional development. Visit us at www.wiseowlnetwork.com to explore more.
Dementia Friendly Indiana Communities is a statewide network dedicated to equipping communities across Indiana to support people living with dementia. To learn more or get involved, visit www.dfindiana.org .