Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that affects more than 6 million adults. It is the fifth leading cause of death among people aged 65 or older.
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias slowly destroy the brain. They lead to cognitive declines, such as memory loss, language problems, or poor executive function, and functional declines, such as a reduced ability to perform daily activities and care for oneself. In some cases, dementias can cause behavioral and personality changes, such as depression, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, or agitation.
People suffering from cognitive decline may have difficulty staying healthy or managing other chronic illnesses. Early detection of cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, offers the opportunity to manage other chronic health conditions and develop health care plans.
Monitoring and Resources
CDC Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program works with partners and states to collect information on self-reported cognitive decline and caregiving in adults through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). CDC has developed a interactive data portal and a series of statistical sheets and infographics to help all users translate data into action.
Healthy Brain Initiative and Public Health Roadmaps
THE Healthy Brain Initiative improves understanding of brain health as a central part of public health practice by:
- Create and support partnerships.
- Data collection and reporting for national objectives.
- Support populations heavily affected by Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias.
The initiative also promotes the use of the Healthy Brain Initiative roadmap series: State and local public health partnerships to combat dementia: The 2018-2023 roadmap and the Healthy Brain Initiative Roadmap for Indian Country. These publications outline actions that state and local public health agencies and their partners can take to promote cognitive health, address cognitive impairment, and meet the needs of caregivers.
Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure (BOLD)
THE BOLD Infrastructure Act for Alzheimer’s Disease became law on December 31, 2018. BOLD activities are designed to promote the use of Healthy Brain Initiative Roadmap Series create a uniform national public health infrastructure to increase early detection and diagnosis, reduce risk, prevent hospitalizations, and support dementia caregivers.
The BOLD law:
- Creates centers of public health excellence for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
- Helps public health departments build the public health infrastructure for dementia.
- Increases data analysis and timely reporting of data by the CDC.
In 2020, CDC funded the first three BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence and 16 BOLD public health programs. Seven additional BOLD public health programs were funded in 2021, for a total of 23.
