This year marks a milestone in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia: the fifteenth anniversary of the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM). Since its founding in 2010, I’ve seen AIM become a driving force behind transformative federal and state policy advances, historic investment in dementia research, and a growing, bipartisan national commitment to ending Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. 

Earlier this year at the 2025 AIM Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., I once again witnessed the impact of more than 1,100 advocates gathered from all 50 states. Passionate advocates came together to advance Alzheimer’s policy priorities on Capitol Hill, celebrate this anniversary and reaffirm their commitment to the cause. The National Alzheimer’s Dinner served as a poignant moment of reflection and recognition, honoring bipartisan champions for their leadership in making Alzheimer’s a national priority. 

Thanks to AIM’s relentless advocacy, federal funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia research has increased more than seven-fold since 2011, reaching $3.8 billion. And in 2023, Alzheimer’s advocates secured a record-breaking $247.9 million in dementia-specific funding from state governments.

Over the past 15 years, AIM has helped to secure some of the most significant Alzheimer’s policy victories. These include:

• The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), which established the first-ever National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease.
• The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, which created a nationwide public health infrastructure to combat dementia.
• The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, and the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act, which improved access and streamlined dementia care.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) coverage of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Alzheimer’s treatments.
• The NAPA Reauthorization Act, the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act and the BOLD Reauthorization Act, which renewed and strengthened the nation’s commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

AIM’s strength comes from its people: the advocates, Leadership Society members, and bipartisan policymakers who strive for a future without Alzheimer’s and other dementia. With over 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and nearly 12 million providing unpaid care for them, AIM ensures their voices are heard at every level of government.

As we celebrate 15 years of progress, we also look to the future. The challenges ahead are significant, but so is the momentum we’ve built together. AIM will continue to advance bipartisan legislation that improves care and support, secures federal and state funding for research and public health, and prepares the dementia care workforce for the growing needs of our aging population.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve been honored to serve as the executive director of AIM and now as the president alongside a passionate team and our dedicated advocates. Together, we are changing the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease. And, with your continued support, we will not stop until we achieve our vision: a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Join us and be part of the movement.