CDC’s Healthy Brain Research Network
The Healthy Brain Research Network, a previously funded Prevention Research Center Thematic Network (2014–2019), was established to address two growing public health challenges: promoting cognitive health and addressing the needs of older Americans living with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. The network’s efforts were guided by CDC’s Healthy Brain Initiative: The Public Health Road Map for State and National Partnerships, 2013–2018 pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] and The Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia, The 2018-2023 Road Map pdf icon[PDF – 19 MB].
The following are 2-page summaries highlighting the completed work conducted by six leading academic institutions across the United States.
The mission of the Healthy Brain Research Network pdf icon[PDF – 1 MB]external icon
- Establish and advance a public health research, translation, and dissemination agenda that promotes cognitive health and healthy aging, addresses cognitive impairment, and helps meet the needs of care partners.
- Build a strong evidence-base for policy, communication, and programmatic interventions.
- Collaborate with public health agencies and their partners to accelerate effective practices in states and communities.
- Build the capacity of public health professionals through training opportunities.
Activities included:
- Analyzing cognitive decline and caregiving data including the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS).
- Developing and testing culturally relevant messages about cognitive health.
- Training National HBRN scholars.
- Conducting systematic reviews of emerging cognitive aging research.
- Providing technical assistance to states developing and implementing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia action plans.