In Maine, the projected number of Mainers aged 65+ with Alzheimer’s Disease will grow from 28,000 to 35,000 by 2025, a growth rate of twenty-five (25) percent (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). Based on Maine BRFSS Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Module Data, 10.3% of adults over the age of 45 experienced confusion or memory loss that got worse in the last 12 months (2016) and 4.4% of adults provided regular care to a friend or family member with a health problem or disability for at least twenty hours per week (2015).
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) in partnership with the Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) will develop a comprehensive public health systems approach to preventing ADRD while complementing the outstanding work in research, clinical education, and caregiver supports of our many external partners in the state.
Growing evidence indicates that healthy behaviors, which have been shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, may also reduce risks for cognitive decline and dementia. The role of public health in maintaining cognitive health needs to expand. This will require the following populations to be educated in ADRD to increase knowledge to optimize prevention and care delivery: clinical health professionals, public health professionals, families, caregivers of people affected by ADRD, and the general public.
As a Core Capacity applicant, Maine CDC will use the experience gained from participating in the Healthy Brain Initiative Planning Lab to build a comprehensive public health infrastructure around the four domains of the ADRD Road Map. This will involve coordinating expertise from the Maine CDC Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Programs on risk reduction and integrated health messaging; the Office of Aging and Disability Services on best practices on training and support for caregivers; the Maine Primary Care Association on implementing and evaluating strategies within our FQHC Network; and the many partners in the state who are collaborating and leading in ADRD research, professional education, clinical best practices and training, and advocacy and health equity.