Alzheimer’s is one of the
nation’s most pressing public health challenges, affecting nearly seven million
Americans—a number expected to nearly double by 2050. Over the past two
decades, coordinated federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal efforts have
transformed the public health response to dementia, emphasizing risk reduction,
early detection, safety, quality care, and caregiving.
The
Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI), established in 2005, provides the
framework for mobilizing the public health field to address brain health,
dementia, and caregiving. Guided by the HBI Road Map Series, health departments
implement expert-developed actions aligned to the Essential Public Health
Services. Collectively, health departments and their partners have expanded
data collection, strengthened the workforce, and advanced policy and practice
across the country.
Building
on this foundation, the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for
Alzheimer’s Act (BOLD Act) of 2018—implemented by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention—has distributed funding to state, local, territorial and
tribal public health departments; created three BOLD Public Health Centers of
Excellence to translate and disseminate the latest science and evidence on
dementia risk reduction, early detection of dementia, and dementia caregiving;
and increased the timely collection and analysis of data.
With
the BOLD Reauthorization Act of 2024 and every state now maintaining its
own Alzheimer’s plan, public health systems are better positioned than ever to
reach diverse and priority populations. This Momentum session will explore the
last two decades of public health action on dementia and look forward to the
challenges still ahead to ensure all people, in all communities, can live with
the healthiest brain possible.
Sponsored by Alzheimer's Association.