The University of Washington’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), a leader in dementia research since 1985, is at risk of not surviving after the recent federal funding cuts.

These cuts, part of broader reductions in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, threaten critical studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

The program supports a brain bank that accepts more than 200 donations yearly and is preserving more than 4,000 brains.

The ADRC has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s, contributing to early diagnosis methods and potential treatments.

Dr. Dirk Keene, a professor and the director of neuropathology at UW Medicine who leads the brain bank, said when federal funding dries up, he’ll go to almost any end to support the vital work: “I’ll beg, I’ll borrow. I’ll do whatever I can to find money,” Keene said.

NIH responded to NBC News saying “as we begin to Make America Healthy Again, it’s important to prioritize research that directly affects the health of Americans".

Apparently, the lives of 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and many millions more who will develop it in the near future - are not important enough to NIH.

The loss of ADRC funding jeopardizes ongoing research projects, clinical trials, and the employment of numerous scientists and healthcare professionals dedicated to combating this debilitating disease.

We urge the federal government to reinstate full NIH funding for the University of Washington’s  Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center to ensure the continuation of vital Alzheimer’s research.

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