Texas Voters Face Crucial Decision on $3 Billion Dementia Fund Amid Growing Epidemic of the Rare Disease.
The state's healthcare system is grappling with the increasing number of people living with dementia, a devastating disease that strips away brain functions such as speech and recognition. The condition affects over 6 million Americans, including more than 500,000 Texans who currently live with it, while another 1.1 million care for victims without receiving any payment.
The proposal, known as Proposition 14, aims to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), which would receive $3 billion in funding if approved by voters in November's election. The institute is modeled after the state's Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and has been touted as a potential solution to the country's growing dementia crisis.
However, the proposal also faces opposition from lawmakers who argue that it represents "corporate welfare on steroids" and could lead to a loss of independent innovation. Some critics have pointed out past mistakes made by similar state-funded programs.
Despite these concerns, proponents of the bill believe that Texas is in a unique position to tackle the issue due to its vast resources and diverse population. They argue that the institution would bring together leading researchers and companies, creating new opportunities for scientific breakthroughs and job creation.
Wendy Rosenthal, whose 60-year-old wife suffers from frontotemporal dementia, hopes that an effort like this could lead to a cure in her lifetime or for future generations of families affected by the disease. Her husband, Lowell, described his wife's descent into dementia as "hell," emphasizing the need for increased funding and support.
As Texans prepare to decide on the fate of Proposition 14, experts and advocates urge voters to carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of such a significant investment in state healthcare.
The state's healthcare system is grappling with the increasing number of people living with dementia, a devastating disease that strips away brain functions such as speech and recognition. The condition affects over 6 million Americans, including more than 500,000 Texans who currently live with it, while another 1.1 million care for victims without receiving any payment.
The proposal, known as Proposition 14, aims to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), which would receive $3 billion in funding if approved by voters in November's election. The institute is modeled after the state's Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and has been touted as a potential solution to the country's growing dementia crisis.
However, the proposal also faces opposition from lawmakers who argue that it represents "corporate welfare on steroids" and could lead to a loss of independent innovation. Some critics have pointed out past mistakes made by similar state-funded programs.
Despite these concerns, proponents of the bill believe that Texas is in a unique position to tackle the issue due to its vast resources and diverse population. They argue that the institution would bring together leading researchers and companies, creating new opportunities for scientific breakthroughs and job creation.
Wendy Rosenthal, whose 60-year-old wife suffers from frontotemporal dementia, hopes that an effort like this could lead to a cure in her lifetime or for future generations of families affected by the disease. Her husband, Lowell, described his wife's descent into dementia as "hell," emphasizing the need for increased funding and support.
As Texans prepare to decide on the fate of Proposition 14, experts and advocates urge voters to carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of such a significant investment in state healthcare.
. But I guess it's a good thing they're trying to tackle this growing epidemic, especially since 500k Texans are already living with the disease and another million care for them without any payment 
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. I'm all for innovation and research, but at what cost? The opposition about "corporate welfare on steroids" makes sense, tbh 
. Can't we just cut the corporate red tape and get straight to the point? 
It's heartbreaking, but at the same time, I think this is exactly why we need to take action on this $3 billion fund for dementia research! It's crazy that there are over 500k Texans living with it and another 1.1 million caregivers who aren't getting paid 
. The idea that Texas can tackle dementia on its own is crazy talk 
- we need all the help we can get! And if it means collaborating with leading researchers and companies, then so be it 
. Let's not be afraid to think big and take risks - our lives depend on it 
I'm thinkin' it's kinda crazy that $3 billion is up for grabs for dementia research. I mean, it's a huge amount of cash, but at the same time, 6 million people in this country are dealin' with dementia... it's a lot. The fact that 1.1 million caregivers aren't gettin' paid for their work? That's just not right. But on the other hand, some folks are worried that it'll lead to big corps makin' too much money off of research and innovation. I'm all for findin' cures, but we gotta be smart about how we do it. Maybe we can look at what's been done in the past with CPRIT and see if there's a way to make this work without losin' that independent vibe.
if done right, it could bring together top researchers and companies to find a way to prevent or slow down this disease. But at the same time, we gotta make sure that our money is being used wisely 
but on the other hand its kinda inspiring to see ppl like wendy & lowell fighting for change & a possible cure 
im all for research & innovation, esp when it comes to something as debilitating as dementia 
lets keep our fingers crossed that texas gets this right & we can find some answers soon 
, but can we really trust that it's gonna be used efficiently? I mean, we've seen some shady stuff go down with those corporate welfare programs in the past... 
. If Texas can pull off something like CPRIT and make it work, that'd be awesome. But we need to make sure we're not just throwing money at a problem without a solid plan in place 
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It's heartbreaking to think about those families struggling with no support or resources 
Maybe this institute can bring some hope and a cure to the 500k Texans living with dementia 
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the fact that 1.1 million caregivers aren't getting paid for their work is just heartbreaking 
texas has a unique chance to make a real difference here 
my heart goes out to you if u or someone u know is dealing with dementia ... its like watchin ur own life slip away slowly 
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. But on the other hand, if we can bring together top researchers and companies to find a cure for dementia... that's like, totally worth it 
! A $3 billion fund for dementia research is like, super necessary 
️. And let's be real, the opposition is just whack 
. I don't wanna hear about "corporate welfare" when we're talkin' about savin' lives here 
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