There is a time bomb in America and it’s called Alzheimer’s disease. It does not discriminate by age, race, creed or color.

Last week brought a major setback for Alzheimer’s research. Congress failed to provide adequate funding for Alzheimer’s research in the appropriation bill. By this failure, the president and Congress will halt the momentum toward ending the epidemic of Alzheimer’s at the moment when scientists are close to finding the answers.

The steady investment this country has made in Alzheimer’s research over the past 20 years is paying off. Science is on the verge of discovering effective treatments and even ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Reducing our commitment to research means turning our backs on future generations that will suffer from this disease and on a health care system that will crumble unless we divert the coming epidemic. Now more than ever, we must mount a successful offensive against this disease.

Today in Maine alone over 30,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s. Without a research breakthrough or the development of new treatments in the next few years, thousands more Maine citizens will be condemned to the death sentence of Alzheimer’s.

I am disappointed in our government as we spend over $80 billion in Iraq, yet funding for research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s is not a priority.

John M. Mauro, Auburn

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