Anyone who has been following the news knows that the current US administration has made “government efficiency” one of its goals. While almost everyone agrees that waste should be eliminated wherever possible, many have concerns that in the long run some cuts will do more damage than good. Many point to pauses or cancellation of federal funding for medical research as a clear example of this; these actions are often the result of an over-arching initiative to eliminate all Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs at institutions that receive funding for these studies.
CNN recently reported on the effect this is having on research to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. The article talks about one study at UC-Davis entitled: “The Clinical Significance of Incidental White Matter Lesions on MRI Amongst a Diverse Population with Cognitive Complaints (INDEED).” This study has the word “diverse” in its title which triggered an automatic pause in funding; as is apparent from the context, this study does not have to do with issues of merit-based advancement but rather various populations that are affected by Alzheimer’s Disease–which is basically every ethnic group that exists. The funding was eventually restored but a great deal of money was wasted as the study was shut down and then restarted–not exactly government efficiency.
This is just one of many cases affecting research on Alzheimer’s Disease. On paper, these studies seem like easy targets. First, much of the research takes place at research universities; these institutions have been a target of recent anti-DEI efforts. Second, a large number of older adults have Alzheimer’s Disease which means that support and research costs the US government quite a lot; to eliminate would make a positive impact on the “bottom line.” In a related vein, care for those with dementia is approximately 2 to 3 times more costly than for those without it; this makes investment in Alzheimer’s Disease seem to have a lower return on investment.
The key question for me is whether these short-term (and perhaps short-sighted cuts and pauses) will ultimately save money in the long-term or end up costing a lot more later on as research costs rise. Again, everyone agrees that waste should be eliminated where possible, but one has to wonder about the wisdom of these clearly politically-motivated (anti-DEI) measures and whether we are cutting off our noses to spite our faces.
Let your elected representatives know what you think. As we age, these matters will become more important. Let’s not allow our future health and well-being be sacrificed on the altar of political game-playing.
This blog with photo was originally published on kosher-fitness.com by Rabbi Ungar on April 28, 2025.
