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Diseases

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Expanding Public Health Policy Platform

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the University of Illinois, in collaboration with advocacy organizations and public health institutions, have been working to increase public awareness and expand training for healthcare providers to address the growing number of older Americans with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Since 2017, 34 state health departments, seven local, two territorial, and one tribal health organization have received awards from the CDC's BOLD Program. This research highlights the critical role of advocacy organizations, public servants, and policy makers in building a public policy platform for more than 50 years.

Key Takeaways:

  • The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging added public health to the Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) policy platform in 2017, introducing the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act.
  • 34 state health departments, seven local, two territorial, and one tribal health organization have received a BOLD Program award from the CDC since the introduction of the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act.
  • The Alzheimer's Association and university-based Centers of Excellence have provided support for public health initiatives to increase public awareness and expand training for healthcare providers.
  • Professional and academic organizations play a critical role in educating and training those who may help respond to the public health crisis presented by the booming number of older Americans with ADRD.
  • Iron triangles consisting of advocacy organizations, public servants, and policy makers have been essential in building a public policy platform for more than 50 years.
  • Public health leadership relies on such iron triangles to expand their role in addressing the growing number of older Americans with ADRD.

Statistics:

  • Since 2017, 34 state health departments, seven local, two territorial, and one tribal health organization have received a BOLD Program award from the CDC.
  • The number of older Americans with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias is increasing, posing a significant public health crisis.
  • The Alzheimer's Association and university-based Centers of Excellence have provided support for public health initiatives to increase public awareness and expand training for healthcare providers.

Sources:

  • "Placing Public Health onto the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public Policy Platform" by Julie Bobitt, Brian Kaskie, Yogesh Shah, and Sarah Khasawinah (The Gerontologist, 2025, pp 1-10)
  • United States Senate Special Committee on Aging (2017), Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (n.d.), Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure (BOLD) for Alzheimer's Program
  • Alzheimer's Association (n.d.), Public Health and Alzheimer's Disease

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