Texas voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 14, a constitutional amendment that establishes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and provides $3 billion in initial state funding to support its work. The measure formalizes an effort spearheaded earlier this year in the Legislature to expand research into Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other forms of dementia.
The new institute is modeled after the state’s cancer research agency, with the goal of creating a long-term, stable source of funding for research and treatment programs. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 5 during the most recent legislative session to structure the institute, but voter approval was needed to authorize state spending. The initial $3 billion comes from surplus state revenue, and the institute may receive up to $300 million each year going forward.
State officials have said the investment is intended to draw leading physicians, scientists, and clinical researchers to Texas. The institute is expected to award grants for projects focused on understanding the causes of dementia, developing new treatments and medications, improving rehabilitation and patient care, and expanding facilities dedicated to neurological health. A governing board made up of medical and scientific experts in brain research will oversee the institute’s activities.
The measure comes as Texas faces a rapidly aging population. The Texas Department of State Health Services estimates that about 459,000 Texans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, representing roughly 12 percent of residents age 65 and older. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and accounts for the majority of dementia cases in the state. National research indicates that the eastern and southeastern United States report the highest prevalence of the disease, and Texas is among the states with the largest number of older residents at elevated risk.
Symptoms of dementia often begin with memory loss and difficulty performing daily tasks, progressing gradually as brain cells lose their ability to communicate. The condition is associated with abnormal protein buildup in the brain and typically develops in a person’s mid-to-late 60s, though onset can vary.
Nearly 7 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, and women represent nearly two-thirds of those affected. The financial cost of dementia care is substantial, exceeding $300 billion annually across the country. Projections suggest that national costs could reach $1 trillion by 2050 as the population ages.
Supporters of the new institute believe that dedicated funding may help accelerate scientific advances and expand access to care for families affected by cognitive diseases in Texas. The institute’s early steps will likely involve establishing formal leadership, setting research priorities, and determining how to distribute the first round of grant funding.
