This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

There are a few moments in life when we can be a part of changing history. If you choose, that moment is now knocking at your door.

This week a bill was introduced in Congress which includes a historic increase of $350 million per year for Alzheimer's research. If this funding is signed into law, hundreds of our nation's leading Alzheimer's researchers will have the resources to conduct studies that could yield the missing clues for treatments and care breakthroughs we've seen with other diseases. This increase in funding will allow critical work to move forward, bringing us much closer to improvements in care and treatment and ultimately bring an end to this devastating disease.

Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and it takes the lives of 500,000 people each year. It is the only disease among the top 10 killers that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. We all know people and families who are struggling with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.

Take time now to contact Sens. Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch and Reps. Rob Bishop, Chris Stewart, Jason Chaffetz or Mia Love. Ask them to support this funding. Let your voice be heard! Change history today!

Ronnie Daniel

Executive director, Alzheimer's Association, Utah Chapter