On Nov. 4, Texans will decide Proposition 14, a ballot measure to fund the Texas Dementia Prevention Research Institute (DPRIT), and Monday is the last day to register.
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Proposition 14 would authorize funding of up to $3 billion for DPRIT over 10 years, capped at $300 million a year. The institute was created earlier this year by the Texas Legislature; the measure asks voters to approve the funding.
Melissa Sanchez, Texas senior policy director for the Alzheimer’s Association, said the association is urging Texans to vote yes.
“What DPRIT does is it establishes a dementia prevention research institute to really drive innovation in dementia and neurological research with the hopes of finding better treatments, better diagnostics, better prevention methods, and to really just transform the way that Texas handles this public health crisis of dementia,” Sanchez said. “DPRIT would really put us on the map. We’d be the largest state-funded dementia research center in the country.”
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Sanchez also noted how the funding would accelerate work on diagnostics, treatments, and prevention, as well as help bring specialists to Texas.
“It’s so important, especially during these times, that we vote yes on Proposition 14 to see that continued progress in dementia research where it’s such a pivotal time with dementia research, with new treatments on the market within the last several years, new research showing that certain lifestyle interventions can reduce your risk of developing dementia, and so we need to continue with that momentum and something like DPRIT can ensure... that our researchers in Texas have all the resources, the financial resources they need to continue making that progress in dementia research.”
Is it a tax increase?
Supporters say the funding is already allocated and that Prop. 14 would not raise taxes. The measure asks only for voter approval to release the funds.
Why it matters
- Reduce wait times: Sanchez said patients can face wait times of more than 200 days to see neurologists or specialists, which can prevent timely access to treatments that work best in the early stages.
- Preserve momentum: State funding could help sustain research if federal or other grant support declines.
- Expand care: Supporters say DPRIT could attract specialists and help build centers of excellence, similar to how cancer research centers developed.
What happens if voters reject it
Advocates warn that research could slow, specialist capacity could remain constrained, and long-term costs for families and the state could rise.
Contact
For more information on Proposition 14 and DPRIT, contact our local Alzheimer’s Association office.