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In fiscal year 2005, Congress appropriated $1.6 million
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
to develop and implement the first single-focused effort
on brain health promotion. The CDC and the Alzheimer’s
Association are collaborating on a multifaceted approach
to brain health that includes both programmatic and public
health research components. This collaboration, which will
involve other key partners, presents a unique opportunity
for both organizations to develop a national roadmap of
recommended public health strategies to address brain health,
a critical health issue for all Americans.
The overall aim of the Brain Health Initiative is to change
knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions about brain
health and to promote brain-healthy lifestyle choices that
have the potential to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s
disease. CDC and the Alzheimer’s Association, together
with leaders in brain health research and promotion, are
developing a national brain health action plan to identify
public health opportunities and strategies in the areas
of prevention research, communication, policy and surveillance
and to mobilize the public health community into action.
In addition, the Alzheimer’s Association is initiating
the planning and design of community-based demonstration
projects to promote a brain-healthy lifestyle. These projects
are targeted to high- risk, underserved communities, beginning
with African-American baby boomers (born from1946 to 1964),
with the goal of increasing community access to brain health
resources, providing evidence-based strategies and opportunities
to adopt brain-healthy behavior, engaging strategic partners
in brain health issues and enhancing systems and policies
to support brain-healthy lifestyles.
Effective prevention measures exist today to measurably
reduce illness, disability and long-term care needs among
older adults, including those who suffer from Alzheimer’s,
but they are substantially underused. A 2004 Alzheimer’s
Association national survey found that most Americans are
not aware of the progress being made in the fight against
Alzheimer’s and that very few (14 percent) are taking
action to reduce their risk.
Recent research advances suggest that lifestyle measures
aimed at improving brain health may help reduce the risk
of Alzheimer's. The Brain Health Initiative will bring this
message and new, compelling information on how to promote
and retain brain health to all Americans. The Alzheimer’s
Association requests that Congress fund this program at
a level of $3.2 million for fiscal year 2007.
Next: Safe Return Program
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Effective prevention measures exist today to measurably reduce illness, disability and long-term care needs among older adults, including those who suffer from Alzheimer’s, but they are substantially underused.
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