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President Obama’s latest budget proposal asks Congress to fund $80 million for Alzheimer’s research. If it’s approved, the money would likely trickle down to researchers in Arizona. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Peter O’Dowd reports.

The Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City would benefit from more federal Alzheimer's funding. (Photo by Tracy Greer - KJZZ)

PETER ODOWD: The National Institutes of Health spends 450-million dollars a year on Alzheimer’s research. The president’s proposal would increase overall spending by 25 percent. Banner Sun Health Research Institute Director Marwan Sabbagh says Arizona research facilities like T-Gen, the Mayo Clinic and Banner would benefit from the infusion.

MARWAN SABBAGH: Since we’re a leading group of researchers in Arizona, we are likely to contribute to the national effort and in so doing will help accelerate the discoveries and treatments.

O’DOWD: Sabbagh and other researchers say the extra investment is a good step, but Alzheimer’s research is still significantly underfunded compared to other diseases. Sabbagh says 275,000 Arizonans will have Alzheimer’s by 2020. Peter O’Dowd, KJZZ News, Phoenix.