The Healthy Brain Initiative: A 20-Year Effort to Address Dementia

Strategic Insights -

The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) was launched in 2005 with the goal of prioritizing brain health in public health practice. Through its collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the HBI has developed and implemented the HBI Road Map Series to increase the capacity of health departments to integrate dementia into health departments nationwide. Over the past 20 years, the HBI has made significant progress in promoting brain health, addressing dementia, and supporting people living with dementia and caregivers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The HBI was created in 2005 through Congressional support, marking a significant milestone in the public health response to dementia.
  • The HBI has developed and implemented the HBI Road Map Series, which has increased the capacity of health departments to integrate dementia into their work.
  • The HBI has prioritized brain health in public health practice, aligning frameworks like the Essential Public Health Services and focusing on health equity across the life course.
  • The HBI has grown the availability and use of dementia-related public health data, and equipped the public health workforce with the knowledge and confidence to make change.
  • The HBI has led to transformative change in public health, including efforts in national, state, local, territorial, and tribal public health agencies.
  • John Shean, Healthy Brain Initiative, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, IL, United States, and his team are among the key researchers behind this effort.
  • Meghan Fadel, Eva Jackson, Janicka D. Harris, Juan Rodriguez, and Shelby Roberts are additional authors on this research.
  • The HBI has strengthened partnerships among national, state, local, territorial, and tribal public health agencies to address dementia.

Statistics:

  • The HBI has been operational for over 20 years, since its creation in 2005.
  • The HBI has developed and implemented the HBI Road Map Series to increase the capacity of health departments to integrate dementia into health departments nationwide.
  • Over 20 years, the HBI has grown the availability and use of dementia-related public health data.
  • The HBI has strengthened partnerships among national, state, local, territorial, and tribal public health agencies to address dementia.
  • The HBI has led to transformative change in public health, including efforts in national, state, local, territorial, and tribal public health agencies.

Sources:

  • The Healthy Brain Initiative-Expanding Public Health Capacity to Address Dementia. The Gerontologist, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Findings from Alzheimer's Association Broadens Understanding of Dementia (The Healthy Brain Initiative-Expanding Public Health Capacity to Address Dementia). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 244.