I've never been more hopeful about the advances in Alzheimer's research than I am today. Artificial intelligence is helping scientists explore huge amounts of data about the disease, unlocking new insights in how our brains age. New blood-based diagnostics are starting to supercharge the innovation pipeline, and we will soon learn whether the treatments available now can be used to prevent people from getting the disease. Every time I learn about a new breakthrough, I get more excited about a future where no one has to suffer from this horrible disease ever again. I first became interested in Alzheimer’s because of its costs—both emotional and economic—to families and healthcare systems. My dad died from Alzheimer’s, so my family knows firsthand how devastating it is to watch people you love struggle as the disease robs them of their mental capacity.

In the United States, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth most common cause of death—and yet as of today, there is no significant treatment for it. I’m hopeful that will change soon. There is a lot of amazing work being done in this field to delay Alzheimer’s and reduce its cognitive impact, and I’m lucky to support some of it. I believe Alzheimer’s is a frontier where we can dramatically improve human life.

People should be able to enjoy their later years—and we need lots of breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s to fulfill that.