According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, 73% of whom are age 75 or older. As the risk of dementia increases with age, the number and proportion of Americans living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is expected to rise in the coming years. The number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to grow from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 – and by then, an estimated 13 million people will be living with Alzheimer’s.[i]
More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member or friend with dementia – an effort valued by the CDC in 2024 at nearly $470 billion annually. Older adults with dementia who live in the community are more likely than those without dementia to rely on multiple unpaid caregivers, often family members. In fact, 30% of older adults with dementia rely on three or more unpaid caregivers, compared to 23% of those without dementia. Only a small share – 8% – of older adults with dementia receive no help from family or other informal caregivers. Nearly half of these individuals live alone, which may make it harder for them to seek or receive support. Among caregivers of spouses with dementia who are nearing the end of life, nearly half provide care without assistance from other family members or friends.[ii]
Through partnerships and innovative programs, NACDD is working to equip public health professionals in states, territories, and communities with the tools, guidance, and resources they need to support dementia risk reduction, early detection, and caregiver support.
Improving Brain Health at NACDD: Three Projects, One Goal
NACDD has received funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for three projects that aim to improve brain health and prevent cognitive decline. The work is collectively guided by the Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023-2027.
- Integrating Brain Health Messaging into Chronic Disease Programs and Facilitating Collaboration among Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Public Health Programs.
This project aims to develop and expand risk reduction resources, and build the capacity of state, local, and tribal BOLD recipients to address Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias (ADRD). A needs assessment of the 43 BOLD recipients is underway to better understand the support needed to integrate brain health messaging into chronic disease programs and other workplan activities. Results will be shared in June 2025.
- Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Brain Health Approach.
The second project aims to promote brain health as a key component of healthy aging. This project focuses on developing, testing, and supporting the widespread adoption of an evidence-based framework to bridge clinical healthcare and community resources to address ADRD and overall brain health. Key year one outcomes include an environmental scan and capacity assessments to review policies, best practices, models, tools, and resources used in healthcare and community settings to support brain health.
- Developing and testing a Project ECHO training module for community health workers in rural and medically underserved areas.
This project is focused on developing a multi-session ECHO (Extending Community Health Outcomes) program for Community Health Workers (CHW) serving rural and medically underserved areas. This training initiative will focus on dementia risk reduction, early detection of dementia, dementia caregiving, evidence-based care practices, and cultural considerations specific to rural communities. A learning needs assessment is being implemented in Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, and Oklahoma; this will be followed by a series of six bi-weekly ECHO sessions to be held between May and July 2025 for four to five CHWs from each participating state.
Take Action/Take Home Message:
Learn more about NACDD’s Healthy Aging and Healthy Brain work.
For more information, contact CAHCinfo@chronicdisease.org.
[i] Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures, 2024
[ii] Ibid