On May 12th, the Texas Senate finalized action on Senate Bill (SB) 5 and Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 3, both authored by Senator Joan Huffman, to allocate funding for research, prevention, and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders. SB 5 is now headed to Governor Greg Abbott for approval, while the proposition in SJR 3 will be voted on in November. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, co-author of the bills, expressed strong support for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT).
Senator Hinojosa stated, “Few bills we will pass this session will have as significant an impact on future generations as these dementia bills. This program is modeled after the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), which has transformed cancer treatment. I appreciate Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for prioritizing this issue and Senator Huffman for her leadership and commitment.”
SB 5 establishes DPRIT to accelerate research into dementia and related disorders, enhance innovation and the potential for medical breakthroughs, improve the health of Texans, and position Texas as a leader in this field. DPRIT is modeled after CPRIT, established in 2007.
SJR 3 is the constitutional amendment that will transfer $3 billion in state funds to the Dementia Prevention & Research Fund, ensuring financing for the next ten years, with a limit of $300 million in appropriations per fiscal year. This fund will support research into the causes, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of dementia, creating high-quality jobs and attracting top researchers to Texas.
Earlier this year, the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony indicating that approximately 400,000 Texans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, with Texas Medicaid expenses related to care projected to reach nearly $4 billion in 2024. Additionally, research shows that the Hispanic population will see a steep increase in dementia diagnoses, yet they are underrepresented in clinical trials.
Senator Hinojosa emphasized, “DPRIT is designed to make Texas a leader in combating dementia. In the RGV we have the UTRGV Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research. This center will benefit from DPRIT and the significant investment of $3 billion. These funds will speed up research to help us learn more about this terrible disease, how we can prevent it, and eventually cure it.”
The establishment of DPRIT is a historic commitment to improving the quality of life for those affected by dementia and ensuring Texas remains at the forefront of medical research and innovation.