Making Health Happen

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by cognitive impairment and is a major public health concern that effects not only people living with dementia and those that care for them, but also the healthcare system and economy. In 2018 the global estimated cost of dementia was US$1 trillion, there is currently a new dementia case every 3 minutes, there will be a projected 152 million cases worldwide by 2050. Up to 40% of dementia cases could be averted with the help of comprehensive brain health interventions to improve risk factors like education, hypertension, alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, smoking, social isolation and depression, and physical activity. Populations that suffer from racism, discrimination, and historical trauma experience significantly worse effects from these modifiable risk factors, and also have higher rates of dementia, delayed diagnosis, and poorer treatment, services, and outcomes. This presentation will discuss what brain health is and how it affects dementia, and what the implications are from a public health perspective.

Public Health Perspectives is a free online webinar series designed to showcase programs impacting public health. PHP discusses program design, lessons learned, and creative solutions with public health professionals around the nation. Each PHP webinar takes approximately 1-hour to complete. 

PHP Webinars are hosted live on the second Friday of each month at 10am PST.  

To join the live session, please enroll in the course before 10am PST on the day of the webinar. All PHP sessions are recorded. If you enroll after the live webinar session has ended, the course will contain a video recording of the live session you can watch instead. Please note, it may take up to one month for the recording to become available.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to

1. Raise awareness and knowledge about brain health and dementia and its impact on public health 

2. Discuss evidence-based interventions and best practices to protect brain health, address cognitive impairment, and help meet the needs of people affected by dementia 

Target Audience:

• Public health professionals
• Community members 
• Students

Duration: ~ 1 hour 

Continuing Education: N/A

Author: Tessa Swigart, PhD MS, Senior Public Health Diversity Advisor