247294 Status of Alzheimer's Disease State Plans: A Policy Review

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Catherine E. Morrison, MPH , Alzheimer's Association, Washington, DC
Background: An estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is expected to be as high as 16 million. In order to address this growing public health threat, many states have started planning for the crisis and have begun to take action to confront the looming Alzheimer's disease epidemic. Currently, 18 states have published state Alzheimer plans, and many of them have included recommendations on how to deal with the disease from a public health perspective.

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis is to present a portrait of how some states are addressing Alzheimer's disease from a public health perspective. This presentation will summarize states' priorities and specifically focus on the level and extent of authority, process, use of data, and outcomes in the state plans.

Methods: Information is gathered through research, state legislative and regulatory monitoring, and direct communication with state health and aging officials.

Discussion: Information in this analysis highlights key trends in state actions and policies to address Alzheimer's disease from a public health perspective. Specific case studies from the state level are included in order to document the process. This analysis should help improve future development of state Alzheimer plans as well as assist the public health community in campaigns and activities surrounding Alzheimer's disease.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the status of state Alzheimer's plans nationally. List the common public health initiatives within state Alzheimer's plans.

Keywords: Dementia, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Manage the Alzheimer's Association's Cooperative Agreement, the Healthy Brain Initiative with the CDC.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, and Related Issues
See more of: Aging & Public Health