The HHS Office of Minority Health joins federal partners this month in raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on the health of racial and ethnic minorities. According to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alzheimer’s disease was one of the 10 leading causes of death in 2021. Racial and ethnic minority and Tribal communities often face discrimination when seeking health care for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Findings from two national surveys show that Black Americans reported the highest level of discrimination in dementia health care followed by Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans.
In an effort to implement public health strategies that promote brain health, the Healthy Brain Initiative was created in 2005 to guide public health action. The newly released Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023-2027 from the Alzheimer’s Association and the CDC builds on previous work and guides public health professionals through expert-developed actions to help address brain-health in their communities. Visit the CDC’s website to learn more and access the plan.