Even with the death of my husband due to dementia I have not given up hope for the future. How fortunate I was to have loved someone so special!

Despite his absence, I am not done hoping, praying and working for more research to find treatments and a cure for a disease that robbed him of so much. As Larry’s personality, physicality, passions and dreams faded away, I continually reached out for answers. There were no answers for him, but there may be for another — maybe your family member.

The 2017 Alzheimer’s Association Report states there are more than 110,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease in Washington state and is the third leading cause of death in our state. Progress is being made, but much more is needed.

Annually, Congress requires the National Institute of Health to submit a professional judgment budget for Alzheimer’s research. Gratefully, in the past three years, the small research budget has been doubled. This fiscal year, the scientists’ recommendation is for an increase of $414 million.

I urge Representative Derek Kilmer to support this proposal. The increase will help achieve the national goal of a treatment for Alzheimer’s by 2025.

Visit ALZ.org or call 1-800-272-3900 to learn more about the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Madeleine Fraley

Port Orchard