Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that affects over 6 million adults. It is the fifth leading cause of death for those 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 less ability to do daily activities and self-care. In some cases, dementias can lead to behavioral and personality changes, such as depression, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, or agitation.

People with cognitive decline may find it hard to stay healthy or manage other chronic conditions. Early detection of cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s and other dementias, provides an opportunity to manage other chronic health conditions and create health care plans.

Surveillance and Resources

CDC’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program works with partners and states to gather information on self-reported cognitive decline and caregiving among adults through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). CDC developed an interactive data portal and a series of statistical briefs and infographics to help all users translate the data to action.

Healthy Brain Initiative and Public Health Road Maps

The Healthy Brain Initiative improves understanding of brain health as a central part of public health practice by:

• Creating and supporting partnerships.
• Collecting and reporting data for national objectives.
• Supporting populations with a high burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

The initiative also promotes the use of the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map Series: State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018–2023 Road Map and the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map for Indian Country. These publications describe actions that state and local public health agencies and their partners can take to promote cognitive health, address cognitive impairment, and respond to the needs of caregivers.

Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure (BOLD)

The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act became law on December 31, 2018. BOLD activities are designed to promote the use of CDC’s Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map Series to create a uniform national public health infrastructure to increase early detection and diagnosis, reduce risk, prevent hospitalizations, and support dementia caregivers.

The BOLD Act:

• Establishes Public Health Centers of Excellence for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
• Supports public health departments to build the public health infrastructure for dementia.
• Increases data analysis and timely reporting of data by 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.