142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Online Program

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

298066
Using the Road Map and BRFSS Data to Address Cognitive Decline & Alzheimer's Disease in Louisiana

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Knesha Rose, MPH , Louisiana Chapter, Alzheimer's Association, METAIRIE, LA
Catherine Morrison, MPH , Advocacy/Public Policy, Alzheimer's Association, Washington, DC 20005-6105, DC
Mary Adams, MPH, MS , On Target Health Data, West Suffield, CT
Most recently, the issues of cognitive health and Alzheimer’s disease have received greater attention from the public health community. This poster will introduce the new Road Map, “The Public Health Road Map for State and National Partnerships,” and its 35 action steps focused on how state and local public health partners can address cognitive functioning and impairment in their communities.

Additionally, in 2011, 22 states, including Louisiana, added the Cognitive Module to their state’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This was the first non-pilot use of the new CDC-approved module designed to collect information about the public’s beliefs on the impact of cognitive decline. Currently, no comprehensive data exists on the burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias at the state and local levels. Population-based data are needed to identify trends, create policy and respond to this important public health issue.

This presentation will provide results from Louisiana’s 2011 BRFSS Cognitive Module and discuss how the data has been used in the state to advance public health policy and programming. Results show that 7.3 percent of seniors aged 60 and older reported increased confusion or memory loss in the last 12 months. Data also reports that nearly 80 percent have not talked to a health provider and one in three live alone.

Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease are critical public health issues. Data from the BRFSS and Action Items from the Road Map can help advocates and state policy makers increase public awareness about Alzheimer’s and guide decisions.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education

Learning Objectives:
Discuss findings from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System on Cognition. Identify public health interventions for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Describe resources available to individuals, caregivers, and providers.

Keyword(s): Aging, Dementia

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Associate Director, Programs for the Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. In this role my goal is to provide care and support to people with dementia and their families, by offering education programs promoting awareness and early diagnosis, care consultation and support groups throughout Louisiana. I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Master’s of Public Health from Northern Illinois University.
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.

Back to: 4267.0: Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia