Rep. Smith delivers remarks at HHS Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit

The following are excerpts of remarks delivered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Alzheimer’s Caucus, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) first-ever Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit on Thursday, October 22 nd , 2026: Special thanks to Secretary Kennedy for his amazing efforts to combat Alzheimer’s Disease and for hosting the first-ever Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit. And thanks to each of the panelists at today’s summit for bringing renewed visibility and the redoubling of efforts to alleviate the symptoms of, and someday cure, this catastrophic disease. Twenty-seven years ago—in 1999—I, along with Senator Ed Markey, created the bipartisan Congressional Alzheimer’s Caucus, which I co-chair to this day. I was also the prime sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act , named for our late, great President, which would have doubled NIH funding for Alzheimer’s to $1.4 billion a year. Then, after years of legislative struggle and with an all-important push from the Alzheimer’s Association, the big breakthrough came in 2011, when Congress passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, or NAPA—a law I co-authored. NAPA created a new, frequently updated and expanded national strategy, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. NAPA also created an advisory committee for a whole-of-government response to the crisis. The impact has been profound. Alzheimer’s research funding for the NIH was $600 million in 2015. Now in Fiscal Year 2026, federal research for Alzheimer’s is over $3.8 billion—a 600% increase! This funding has yielded real, tangible advancements in our understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Earlier this year, a NIH-funded study discovered a new biomarker test for Alzheimer’s that can distinguish between stages of the disease, marking an important advancement in our ability to find the condition early and mitigate cognitive decline. None of this progress would be possible without the tireless advocacy of groups like the Alzheimer’s Association and countless individuals—including my good friend Christine Hopkins—who have shared their stories and championed much-needed research funding and support for Alzheimer’s. That said, there is still much more work to be done. An estimated 7.4 million Americans above the age of 65 live with Alzheimer’s disease, or 1 in 9 individuals 65 or older. This number may increase to as many as 13 million by 2050. While early detection and treatment makes a clear difference in maintaining cognitive function and overall quality of life, too often, Alzheimer’s and other dementias go underdiagnosed. 58 percent—more than half—of older adults with probable dementia in the United States are either undiagnosed or are unaware of their diagnosis. There is also a critical need to provide more support for caregivers and support services. Over 12 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 19.6 billion hours of care to people living with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2025. We can and should do more to ease the financial, physical, and mental burdens these caregivers face. My colleagues on the Hill and I welcome Secretary Kennedy’s announcement of the newest National Plan, as well as his continued commitment to hearing from advocates and caregivers. It is hoped that the panels today will bring further insights into the experiences of those living with Alzheimer’s and highlight additional avenues for the federal government to boost innovation, improve care and support, and support prevention—and one day, God willing, a cure. ###