Mild cognitive impairment is a significant predictor of developing more severe mental health problems. Eight out of 10 adults who experience mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to just 1 in 3 adults who do not experience the condition. There is strong evidence to suggest that preventive measures focused on maintaining healthy blood pressure, in addition to other interventions, can reduce the onset of mild cognitive impairment and control the risk of more severe issues in the future.
ACPM is committed to educating health care professionals about the wide array of preventive measures that can help protect brain health. Key among these are blood pressure control and other modifiable risk factors as a possible mechanism for reducing the risk of future impaired brain health and cognitive decline.
Key Deliverables from Grant-Funded Projects
ACPM is currently engaged in developing the latest educational tools and Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities focusing on the connection between lifestyle medicine and brain health to evaluate dementia risk reduction strategies and increase providers' awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) as a serious health concern. These resources will prove helpful for healthcare professionals to assess, diagnose and refer patients to evidence-based programs focused on addressing lifestyle factors for preventing the onset of cognitive decline and other brain-related health conditions. ACPM has also developed an online course on brain health with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Population Health. ACPM is also developing a toolkit for preventive medicine providers to implement and inform their practice around improving brain health within health systems. This tool aims to activate preventive medicine physicians and educate patients on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia, reduce risk factors related to dementia, and improve the brain health and cognitive functions of populations by leveraging clinical-community linkages through an equity-centered approach.
ACPM has also developed an online course on brain health with support from the CDC Division of Population Health. This course synthesizes the findings and resources on blood pressure management and behavioral modification for the prevention of cognitive decline into a one-hour CME session for health care professionals.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Coming Soon
Non CME Opportunities
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00200-2/fulltext
Evidence-Based Resources
https://nccd.cdc.gov/DPH_HBRC/https://mybrainguide.org/
https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/
https://www.alz.org/
Partners
CDC's Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging ProgramThese projects are supported by the American College of Preventive Medicine through a Cooperative Agreement (CDC-RFA-OT18-1802) with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support (CSTLTS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
If you are interested in learning more about ACPM’s initiatives related to brain health, please contact Claire Gugerty, Program Manager, Programs and Grants at cgugerty@acpm.org. For general inquiries about ACPM’s grants programs, contact Kate Shreve, Director, Programs and Grant at kshreve@acpm.org.