Healthy Brain Initiative for AI/AN Communities

Alzheimer's Association and AIPHRC Co-leading

• The Healthy Brain Initiative: Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples offer actions to improve brain health throughout life. It promotes health equity by using a strengths-based approach that honors the diverse American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) cultures and incorporates the Indigenous determinants of health. It is developed with respect to tribal sovereignty and is influenced by the traditions of AI/AN peoples.
• In 2019, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map for Indian Country — the first-ever public health guide focused on addressing dementia in AI/AN communities. This second edition builds on what was learned from the implementation of the first Road Map. It can help professionals conducting public health work with tribes, nations, pueblos, bands, villages and urban Indian organizations select and pursue strategies for the AI/AN communities they serve to improve brain health, address dementia and better meet the needs of caregivers. This includes tribal public health professionals and tribal professionals with public health experience working in community and clinical health settings.

The Alzheimer’s Association supports the cohorts of the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Champions Program — who will receive funding, training and technical assistance to help implement public health strategies for addressing brain health, caregiving and dementia outlined in the recently released HBI: Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples. This program is being led in partnership with the American Indian Public Health Resource Center (AIPHRC) at North Dakota State University.