Public Health and Dementia Curriculum

What to know

  • This course is intended to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and the role of public health in addressing the problem.
  • It is a free introductory course, designed for professors teaching at the undergraduate level in public health schools and in related fields.
  • It can also be used for professional development for public health workers.
Illustration of a crowd of diverse people with a graph grid and chart lines in the background.

Purpose

Recently updated in 2024, A Public Health Approach to Dementia is an introductory course. It seeks to increase awareness of the impact of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and the role of public health in addressing this problem.

Audience: This course is intended for undergraduate faculty in schools and programs of public health and other related disciplines.

Goal: This course aims to build a knowledgeable and skilled workforce aligning with the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Public Health Road Map. It addresses cognitive health, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

  • It is available free of charge.
  • The modules can be used individually or collectively.
  • Each module includes slides and an instructor guide.

Curriculum overview

Module 1: Understanding the public health impact of dementia

This module explores the public health impact of dementia and the role of public health organizations in promoting brain health.

Module 2: Using a public health lens to advance health equity in Alzheimer’s and other dementias

This module focuses on the health equity aspect of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias from a population-based, life course approach. Content also includes how to reduce risk and ensure that everyone can live their best life after a diagnosis.

Module 3: Public health and dementia caregiving

This module covers why dementia caregiving is a public health issue and what public health organizations can do about dementia caregiving.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all of the professors, students, and public health professionals who engaged with the first public health curriculum from 2016–2024. The curriculum above covers similar information, but is updated and in a new, interactive format. Reach out to publichealth@alz.org with questions.