A groundbreaking initiative in Texas could become a pivotal moment in the battle against dementia as early voting commenced this week in the state.

Proposition 14, if successful, aims to establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, committing $3 billion over the next decade towards researching Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological disorders.

This proposed institute, potentially a model for state-supported scientific inquiry, is slated to begin operations on December 1, contingent upon the voters’ decision.