Join the Social Determinants of Health workshop sponsored by the BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction’s at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2022 (AAIC), July 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in San Diego, California. Come together with dementia researchers and fellow public health academics and practitioners to explore how social determinants of health relate to dementia risk, review scientific evidence, and discuss how public health can act. Register for the workshop today. A hotel room block and a limited number of travel scholarships for the workshop are available. You will receive more details after you register. Also, please consider attending AAIC, from July 31 to August 4, in San Diego or online. Learn more and register.

New Report: Cognitive Impairment Assessments of Adults with Neuroatypical and Neurodivergent Conditions

Older adult Mexican with Down syndrome<br>

The National Task Group and the LuMind IDSC Foundation issued a new report on barriers to determining mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in adults with neuroatypical conditions, such as acquired brain injury, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, serious mental illness, and significant sensory impairments.

An expert panel determined current government guidelines for assessing MCI or dementia do not provide sufficient information to assess adults with neuroatypical conditions and recommends broadening federal guidance to include adaptations of assessment practices.

You can access and download the full report, Examining Adults with Neuroatypical Conditions for MCI/Dementia During Cognitive Impairment Assessments: Report of the Neuroatypical Conditions Expert Consultative Panel, on the National Task Group’s website.

Global Council on Brain Health Outlines Steps to Encourage Behavior Changes

Older couple preparing a healthy meal

Significant scientific evidence suggests behavior changes and lifestyle habits can improve brain health, yet many adults struggle to make those changes. In a new report, How to Sustain Brain Healthy Behaviors: Applying Lessons of Public Health and Science to Drive Change, the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) outlines how individuals, communities, and policy makers can all take steps to support brain health. In the report, GCBH “encourages people to make good decisions” adds that expecting people to change their behaviors and sustain a healthy lifestyle simply on the basis of research findings is unrealistic.

The report includes practical tips to help older adults, communities, and policy makers support good habits for brain health:

• For individuals: set specific goals, find ways to make your new behaviors enjoyable, and celebrate your wins.

• For communities (including health care providers, employers, and community organizations): understand how better brain health for adults helps deliver on your mission, promote messages about brain-healthy behaviors like increasing exercise, develop opportunities for peer-to-peer coaching, and listen to your target audience.

• For policy makers: set goals to improve the public’s brain health with a focus on building equity, fight the stigma of dementia, implement best practices from around the world, and consider how policies in other areas, such as the built environment, nutrition, and education, can have a lifelong impact on brain health.

National Conference: The Public Health Opportunities and Challenges of Dementia Caregiving

June 14 and 15 | 8:30am to 5:30pm

The BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving invites public health leaders throughout the US to Minneapolis, MN, on June 14-15 to its free national conference and networking event, "The Public Health Opportunities and Challenges of Dementia Caregiving." This free conference will explore dementia caregiving through the public health lens and discuss opportunities for collaboration across sectors that can advance the national agenda for supporting family caregivers of people living with dementia.

Please see the conference agenda for the complete list of topics, speakers, and panelists.