Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Approach to address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. - Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) in partnership with the Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), the Alzheimer’s Association Maine Chapter, and the Maine Healthy Brain Initiative Stakeholder Group will implement a comprehensive strategic plan to prevent ADRD. Due to our collaborative process, this strategic plan will complement the outstanding work in research, clinical education, and care partner supports of our many external partners in the state. In 2020, about 29,000 (one in eight) Mainers over 65 years of age had Alzheimer’s disease and the number is projected to increase by about 25% to an estimated 38,000 by 2025 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020). In 2018, about 1 in 10 (10.5%) Mainers aged 45 and older reported they had experienced cognitive decline (BRFSS). Based on a state aging needs assessment, 42% of Maine caregivers reported providing over twenty hours of caregiving per week, with 44% describing caregiving as emotionally taxing. Healthy behaviors, which have been shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, will also reduce risks for cognitive decline and dementia. Due to our promotion of modifiable risk factors in existing chronic disease programs, we will integrate risk reduction information, messaging, and training away from siloed, categorical approaches. Our strategic plan expands on the four areas of the road map—monitor and evaluate, educate and empower, develop policies and mobilize partnerships, and assure competent workforces to focus on risk reduction, early detection and diagnosis, care planning, data enhancement, and workforce development. As a Component 2 applicant, Maine CDC will implement a comprehensive public health prevention program based on our 2022-2027 State Plan and the guidance of the HBI Road Map. We will rely on our HBI Stakeholder Group, who were the guiding force of the State Plan, along with key partnerships with the Office of Aging and Disability Services on best practices on training and support for care partners; primary care partners at hospital systems (MaineHealth and Northern Light Health) and 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.
