Texas Senate creates Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, sends constitutional amendment to voters

The Texas Senate on March 5 approved legislation to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and passed a companion constitutional amendment that would create a dedicated Dementia Prevention and Research Fund and transfer $3 billion into it, subject to voter approval.

Senator Hoffman, author of the committee substitute for Senate Bill 5, told colleagues the institute would “accelerate research into dementia, attracting top talent to our state, and creating high quality jobs,” and that the measure was modeled on the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The bill and the companion committee substitute to SJR 3 together would establish an oversight committee, peer review and advisory panels, grant-making authority for research and facilities, and conflict-of-interest rules for awards.

Why it matters: backers said the institute aims to position Texas as a national leader in dementia research and prevention and to reduce long-term public and private costs tied to Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The…