About the Alzheimer's Disease Program

Key points

  • Nearly 7 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease.
  • CDC's Alzheimer's Disease Program develops scientific information to inform public health agencies and others, and to promote brain health across the nation.
  • We work with national partners to implement the Healthy Brain Initiative Public Health Road Map series.
Icon showing a brain inside of a head with a portion of the head shaped like a hand

Alzheimer's Disease Program

The Alzheimer's Disease Program uses evidence-based, scientific information to inform and assist public health agencies and their partners in taking action to address Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map series

CDC partners with state and local public health agencies to address dementia, using the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map series to guide public health professionals across the nation. The Road Map series is a comprehensive suite of materials to inform public health agencies and their partners to take action to improve brain health, address dementia, and support caregivers.

Alzheimer’s readiness

The program ensures that U.S. communities are prepared to make changes in policies, systems, and environments to promote the health, well-being, and independence of older adults, including those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

We work with national partners to assist with the widespread implementation of these activities, including the Road Map series.

Program priorities

CDC's Alzheimer's Disease Program works across seven key priority areas.

1. Reduce dementia risk.

  • Promote risk reduction strategies and increase awareness of dementia among older adults.
  • Develop educational materials to promote risk reduction strategies and increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

2. Promote early assessment and diagnosis.

  • Support patients talking to providers about memory loss and potential cognitive impairment.
  • Promote Alzheimer's disease assessment, early diagnosis, and care planning to older adults.

3. Improve outcomes.

  • Minimize preventable hospitalizations for people with dementia.

4. Support caregiving.

5. Educate the public and workforce.

  • Provide education about Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and caregiving.
  • Minimize health disparities associated with brain health and caregiving.

6. Drive population-level data for decisions and action.

  • Provide state data for action.
  • Ensure that data collection on brain health remains a public health priority.

7. Accelerate adoption of evidence-based strategies

  • Invest in programmatic efforts that can be adopted an implemented widely.
  • Widely disseminate best practices, technical assistance guides, and other resources.
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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion