The American Heart Association and the Alzheimer's Association have filed an amicus brief in support of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), a voter-approved initiative to advance research on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The brief, filed with the Court of Appeals for the Fifteenth Judicial District, requests that the court affirm the trial court's dismissal of litigation that has delayed implementation of the initiative, which was approved through Proposition 14 in November 2025 with nearly 70% of the vote. The intervention underscores the urgency of addressing a growing public health crisis and the importance of upholding the will of Texas voters.
The brief argues that Proposition 14 builds on a proven Texas model for medical research, that DPRIT will advance research of critical importance to the health of Texans, and that continued delay is contrary to the public interest. According to the associations, nearly 460,000 Texans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, affecting families, caregivers, and communities across the state. The initiative is also an investment in Texans who do not have cognitive impairment today, as research is what moves prevention, risk reduction, and early detection from promising to proven.
"Texas voters sent a clear message when they approved Proposition 14: families facing Alzheimer's and other dementias cannot afford to wait," said Joanne Pike, DrPH, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "Every day of delay slows discovery, stalls the recruitment of top researchers to the state and pushes improved treatments and diagnosis further out of reach. DPRIT is an investment in what comes next: better prevention, earlier detection and a generation that grows older with more control over its brain health. We will keep working to see it succeed, because what it discovers will reach families far beyond Texas."
The American Heart Association advocated for the passage of Proposition 14 and supports DPRIT because evidence shows heart health and brain health are deeply interconnected. Many of the same risk factors that increase the likelihood of heart disease and stroke, including high blood pressure, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and obesity, are also linked to premature cognitive decline and dementia. This connection highlights the broader implications of the research for overall health.
"Breakthroughs don't happen by accident - they happen when communities make a long-term commitment to science, innovation and the people whose lives depend on them," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. "The fight against Alzheimer's and dementia is one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time, and progress depends on our willingness to invest in science before families run out of options. That's exactly the opportunity Texas voters embraced through Proposition 14."
Voter-approved Proposition 14 provides $3 billion to DPRIT over 10 years, making it the largest state investment in brain health research in U.S. history. The associations emphasize that swift resolution of the legal challenges is essential to initiate this investment and accelerate progress in brain-health research, which could lead to better prevention, earlier detection, and improved treatments for millions. The outcome of this legal battle will determine whether Texas can move forward with a landmark initiative that has the potential to transform brain health for generations.
For more information on the link between cardiovascular conditions and Alzheimer's risk, see the American Heart Association news release at https://newsroom.heart.org/news/several-cvd-conditions-risk-factors-linked-to-alzheimer-s-risk-notably-low-blood-pressure.
