There are more than 100,000 Washingtonians living with Alzheimer’s disease with over 300,000 caregivers. As an Alzheimer’s ambassador, it is my privilege to represent them to our elected officials.

My personal connection to this disease was the loss of my father Donald Minden, ten years ago this December.

In addition to being the sixth leading cause of death, Alzheimer’s is also the most expensive disease in the nation, costing families and taxpayers a total of $226 billion in 2015. That number will grow to $1.1 trillion in 2050, potentially bankrupting Medicare in the process.

I joined more than 1,000 fellow advocates from all 50 states at the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C, where we met with our members of Congress and requested immediate action on Alzheimer’s disease.

I want to thank Congresswoman Suzan DelBene for meeting with Alzheimer’s advocates to discuss this crisis. I hope we can count on her support in increasing Alzheimer’s research funding by $300 million in fiscal year 2016.

We must simultaneously support the families currently facing this disease. I appreciate that the Congresswoman has cosponsored the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R.1559/S. 857), which will provide critical care planning to people newly-diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I urge Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to also cosponsor the bill.

Concerned citizens should contact Congresswoman Suzan DelBene and ask her to support Alzheimer’s funding. Visit alz.org/advocacy to get involved with the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Pete Minden, Kirkland