Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Massachusetts, and the impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise. A comprehensive public health approach is essential to improve community health, support the well-being of those living with cognitive decline and their families, and reduce the risk of dementia throughout communities. The most recent data show:

Fact sheets on Alzheimer's and dementia in Massachusetts

View and download state-specific fact sheets for the latest data on each topic: 

Learn more about how these data are collected in the annual Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Public health progress in Massachusetts

State, local, territorial and tribal health departments are key partners in implementing a robust public health response to dementia.

The Boston Public Health Commission in Massachusetts is the local health department for the city of Boston and a BOLD program awardee. The Commission facilitated new community-clinical linkages between community health centers and the Dementia Care Coordination Program, an initiative of the Alzheimer's Association that connects people living with dementia and family care partners to free, culturally and linguistically informed dementia care planning and navigation support. Through these linkages, over 130 families were connected to a memory specialist who worked with care partners to create and implement a tailored dementia care plan.

View Boston's strategic Alzheimer's plan (PDF).

Working across the levels of prevention

Across the levels of prevention, the Boston Public Health Commission implements public health programs and interventions to address Alzheimer's through:

• Risk reduction: Developed educational modules and partnered with Boston Housing Authority and Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción to deliver interactive brain health programming to Boston residents of all ages, including low-income Chinese, Latinx, and Haitian older adults. Partnered with the Boston Area Health Education Center to teach high school students about cognitive development and lifelong brain health habits.
• Early detection and diagnosis: Partnered with Boston Medical Center (BMC) Geriatrics Section to establish baseline dementia screening rates among patients over age 65 who receive primary and specialty care at BMC. As a result, BMC integrated a streamlined cognitive assessment workflow into patients’ electronic health records, which led to an increase in the number of providers conducting baseline cognitive assessments for older adult patients.
• Dementia caregiving: Established community-clinical linkages between community health centers and the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Coordination Program to provide free, culturally and linguistically informed care planning and support. Designed and implemented a comprehensive survey of Boston residents who self-identify as care partners to an adult living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia to characterize the challenges and impacts of caregiving at the population level.

Developing public health infrastructure and expanding capacity

Public health programs are critical to helping people stay cognitively healthy throughout life. Health departments in Massachusetts are developing infrastructure and expanding capacity through these programs:

• BOLD Program: Boston Public Health Commission
• Risk Reduction Learning Collaboratives: Medford Board of Health, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Boston Public Health Commission
• HBI Road Map Strategists: Framingham Department of Public Health

Resources for public health professionals

Tools from the Alzheimer's Association provide public health strategies that public health professionals can use to improve brain health and support caregivers and people living with dementia in your community.

Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map

This guidebook provides state and local public health agencies with 24 actions to act quickly and strategically to effect positive changes in policies, systems and environments.

HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples

Find 13 public health strategies to help American Indian and Alaska Native communities improve brain health, address dementia and support caregivers.

Public Health Curriculum

This curriculum is designed for public health students, educators and professionals.

Risk Reduction

Public health can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's across the lifespan by promoting being physically active, quitting smoking, and being heart-healthy.
 

Early Detection & Diagnosis

Public health professionals can educate the community and health care providers on the benefits of early detection and help reduce barriers to diagnosis.

Caregiver Support

Public health can raise awareness of caregiver needs and help develop support and resources.