Reagan's Plea For Alzheimer's Research

-- Former President Ronald Reagan's daughter Maureen is on Capitol Hill this morning to call upon Congress to increase funding for Alzheimer's research.

On Tuesday's edition of The Early Show, Maureen Reagan, who is a board member of the Alzheimer's Association, talked about her personal involvement in this cause that has affected her father.

In 1994, Former President Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease -- a degenerative disease of the brain resulting in impaired thinking, memory and behavior. Since then, Maureen Reagan has worked to raise public awareness about Alzheimer's.

Just a few years ago, individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease and their families had very few options. Today, research has progressed and more treatment and care options have become available. Recent research discoveries support the notion that we soon may be able to delay the onset of the disease through existing treatments such as anti-inflammatories, antioxidants or hormone replacement therapy.

According to the staff director of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the first time money was appropriated by the Federal government to give to the NIH was in 1976 -- the amount was 3.9 million dollars. In the past 24 years, a total of $3.9 billion has been appropriated to Alzheimer's research through the NIH.

Figures for funding appropriated to Alzheimer's research at NIH:

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