Everyone deserves a life with the healthiest brain possible. In an ongoing effort to help public health leaders serving American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities address brain health across the life course, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched the second edition of the Healthy Brain Initiative: Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples. The new Road Map seeks to empower public health professionals working in AI/AN communities with strategies to improve brain health, address dementia and better meet the needs of caregivers. 

Collaboration between the Alzheimer’s Association and the CDC did not start with this new Road Map, which is in fact the sixth in the Road Map series. In 2005, Congress appropriated funds for the first time for the CDC to focus on brain health and dementia. This action led to the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) and the longstanding collaboration between the Alzheimer’s Association and CDC to advance understanding of and support for cognitive decline as a central part of public health practice. Since then, HBI partners have worked together to implement public health strategies to address cognitive health, Alzheimer's and other dementia, and dementia caregiving.

Each year, the Alzheimer’s Association and AIM work with Congress to support these critical public health efforts by securing funding not only for the HBI, but also for the recently reauthorized Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L.115-406) and the BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence. BOLD works by funding state, local and tribal public health departments to reduce risk, increase access to early detection and diagnosis, and support caregivers.

Since the enactment of BOLD in 2018, the CDC has made 66 awards to 45 state, local and tribal health departments. In 2023, the CDC announced 43 BOLD award recipients, the most in a single year since BOLD was signed into law. These award recipients are implementing public health strategies from the Road Map series that improve brain health in their communities. 

In addition to BOLD, AIM has also advocated for additional funding for the Indian Health Services (IHS). Through this additional funding and empowered with the new Road Map, IHS will continue to accelerate this critical work and renew its commitment to supporting AI/AN individuals impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

Since the first HBI Road Map in 2007, the Road Map Series has guided public health to action in all states — and many local health departments and tribal health organizations — around dementia and brain health in their communities. The new edition of the Healthy Brain Initiative: Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples as well as The Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023-2027 provide a framework for BOLD award recipients to lead with urgency and act for impact in their communities to improve brain health across the life course.

AI/AN communities have unique priorities, assets and challenges, and they are best equipped to initiate and sustain any efforts to address dementia and brain health in their communities. The new Road Map builds on what was learned from the implementation of the first HBI Road Map for Indian Country. It can help professionals conducting public health work with tribes, nations, pueblos, bands, villages and urban Indian organizations select and pursue strategies for the AI/AN communities they serve.

While progress has been made in addressing Alzheimer’s and other dementia in AI/AN communities, there is much more work to be done. The Alzheimer’s Association and AIM remain committed to supporting individuals impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia in communities across the nation.

Learn more about the new Road Map and how public health professionals can help shape the public health response to Alzheimer’s and dementia in AI/AN communities.

The webinar Honoring Traditions and Uplifting Strengths to Promote Brain Health: The HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples will take place on January 22, 2025, which will guide professionals on how to integrate the Road Map guidance into public health and community-based initiatives.