Researchers and lawmakers are joining together to support additional funding for Alzheimer's research.
Governor Jim Doyle has proposed spending $3 million in the next budget to support Alzheimer's research at the University of Wisconsin.
Currently, 116,000 Wisconsin residents are affected by Alzheimer's Disease.
That creates nearly $650 million a year in nursing home costs for the state and family members. That number is expected to triple in the next 50 years.
"Breakthrough research like that being done at the UW is essential if we are going to defeat this disease before the Alzheimer's epidemic bankrupts our long term care system," says Paul Rusk of the Alzheimer's Association.
Two Republicans were also on hand today. They said this important research has bi–partisan support and they expected it to be included in the budget.
