At a glance
Public health professionals can review these resources to learn more about dementia, older adult health, and caregiving. Podcasts, videos, and journal articles are available.
Podcasts and videos
Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Adults and What You Can Do to Help
(Running time 22 min)
Older adults who are socially isolated or lonely are at increased risk for serious health conditions, including a 50% increased risk of dementia. Dr. Craig Thomas is interviewed on Sole Source media and highlights this growing problem both before and during COVID-19.
Health Risks of Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults
(Running time 4 min 56 seconds)
Loneliness and social isolation is an underrecognized risk to the public’s health and affects a many older adults. CDC’s Director of Population Health, Dr. Craig Thomas, is interviewed about a new report on this topic.
The Importance of Physical Activity for Older Adults
(Running time 4 min 19 seconds)
Regular physical activity is linked to a lower risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, some cancers, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Find out how much activity people should be getting, and the type of activities recommended for older adults.
Smoking and Older Adults
(Running time 6 min 17 seconds)
This podcast for public health professionals discusses the importance of older adults quitting smoking and other tobacco products.
Oral Health and Older Adults
(Running time 7 min 14 seconds)
This podcast for public health professionals discusses the importance of older adults maintaining good oral health habits.
Emergency Preparedness Concerns for Older Adults
(Running time 6 min 46 seconds)
This podcast discusses the special concerns many older adults face during a disaster.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Subjective Cognitive Decline
(Running time: 8 minutes 8 seconds)
A CDC study found self-reported (or subjective) worsening memory loss among adults 45+ differed for racial and ethnic groups. Memory loss that worsens over time can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
(Running time: 9 minutes 30 seconds)
A growing body of evidence has identified potential modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). These include high blood pressure, lack of aerobic physical activity, obesity, diabetes, depression, smoking, hearing loss, and binge drinking.
Healthy Body, Healthier Brain
(Running time 4 min 54 seconds)
Brain health and physical health are especially important as we age. Improving your body’s health may help improve your brain health too.
Alzheimer’s Disease—Genes Do Not Equal Destiny
(Running 4 min 43 seconds)
A healthy lifestyle may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease even if you are at average or intermediate risk because of your genetics.
Memory Problems? Talk to Your Doctor
(Running time 5 min 2 seconds)
Memory loss is not a normal part of aging. A large study revealed younger people who reported confusion or memory loss had not talked to their doctor about it.
Prevalence of Arthritis Among Adult Caregivers
(Running time: 11 minutes 50 seconds)
This podcast discusses findings from a CDC study highlighting the prevalence of arthritis among caregivers.
Memory Loss Among Caregivers
(Running time: 10 minutes 47 seconds)
Caregiving can negatively affect caregivers’ physical and mental health. Unpaid adult caregivers 45 and older reported greater self-reported memory loss (or subjective cognitive decline (SCD)) than non-caregivers.
How Are You Feeling Right Now? Coping Strategies for Caregivers
(Running time: 22 minutes)
Paid and unpaid caregivers often set aside their own physical and mental health needs while caring for others. Dr. Lisa McGuire discusses her own coping strategies while caring for her mother and shares other strategies to help ensure caregivers feel supported.
Baby Boomers Who Are Caregivers Report Being in Poor Health
(Running time 5 min 43 seconds)
Caregivers who are part of the baby boomer generation reported having more chronic disease, more disability, and lower self-rated health compared to non-caregivers-putting them at risk of needing care themselves.
What About the Caregivers?
(Running time 4 min 56 seconds)
Although caregiving has many benefits, it’s important to recognize that caregivers may be compromising their own health. Twenty one percent of unpaid caregivers say they are in fair or poor health, according to a large, long term study of more than 252,000 adults.
Protecting the Health of Family Caregivers
(Running time 4 min 27 seconds)
This podcast for public health professionals discusses the role of family caregivers and the importance of protecting their health.
Caregiving in Indian Country
(Running time 5 min 9 seconds)
This podcast for public health professionals discusses the role of caregivers for American Indian and Alaska native peoples and the importance of protecting their health as caregivers.
Cuerpo sano, cerebro sano—Healthy Body, Healthy Brain
La salud del celebro y la salud física son especialmente importantes a medida que envejecemos. ¿Sabía que algunas personas con afecciones crónicas están en mayor riesgo de enfermedad de Alzheimer?
La importancia de la actividad física para los adultos mayores—The Importance of Physical Activity for Older Adults
Hacer actividad física con regularidad está asociado a un menor riesgo de presentar muchas enfermedades crónicas, como las enfermedades cardiacas, algunos cánceres e incluso la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Entérese cuánta actividad deberían hacer y el tipo de actividades que se recomiendan para los adultos mayores.
La enfermedad de Alzheimer: los genes no determinan nuestro destino—Genes Do Not Equal Destiny)
Un estilo de vida saludable podría ayudar a reducir su riesgo de tener la enfermedad de Alzheimer incluso si tiene un riesgo promedio o intermedio debido a sus genes.
Additional Podcasts in the Aging and Health Matters series are available in the CDC Public Health Media Library.
Data for Older Adults’ Health Webinar: BRFSS Cognitive and Caregiving Modules
This webinar provided an overview of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), focusing on descriptions of both the Cognitive Decline and Caregiver modules, and examples of previous analyses and analytic tools.
A Public Health Approach to Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias: Overview of a Ready-to-Use Curriculum
Learn more about the free, flexible curriculum resource. After an overview of the resource set, the webinar features how faculty have used the modules with students to develop public health competencies. Download the Free Curriculum on Alzheimer’s Disease.
Memory Loss is Not a Normal Part of Aging
Memory loss that interferes with your daily life is not a normal part of aging.
Addressing Alzheimer’s Across the Whole Public Health Agency
CDC provides a new data analysis and the Washington State Department of Health describes how they are embracing a whole agency approach to promote healthy aging and address brain health in this webinar.
Caregivers who are part of the baby boomer generation report more chronic disease, disability, and frequent mental stress than non-caregivers. Caregivers need care too. Here’s three ways to get support and access resources.
Supporting the Frontline: The Public Health Approach to Dementia Caregiving
Caregivers in underserved communities should be a priority population.
Caring for Yourself When Caring for Another
Caregivers need breaks to stay healthy.
Journal articles by date
CDC authored articles on dementia, Alzheimer's disease and Healthy Aging. Bibliographies are listed by year.
Suchsland MZ, Gaster B, Raetz J, et al. Developing a cognitive assessment toolkit for primary care: qualitative assessment of providers' needs and perceptions of usability in clinical practice. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023;23(1). doi:10.1186/s12913-023-09991-7
Jackson EMJ, O'Brien K, McGuire LC, et al. Promoting healthy aging: Public health as a leader for reducing dementia risk. Public Policy Aging Rep. 2023;33(3):92–95. doi:10.1093/ppar/prad011
Gore J, Denno B, Omura JD, Baumgart M, McGuire LC, O'Brien K. Promoting healthy aging to reduce the risk of dementia: a public health imperative. PubMed. 2023;47(1):1–11.
Miyawaki CE, Bouldin ED, Taylor CA, McGuire LC, Markides KS. Characteristics of Asian American family caregivers of older adults compared to caregivers of other racial/ethnic groups: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2015–2020. J Appl Gerontol. 2022;42(5):1101–1107. doi:10.1177/07334648221146257
Wooten KG, McGuire LC, Olivari BS, Jackson EM, Croft JB. Racial and ethnic differences in subjective cognitive decline — United States, 2015–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72:250–255.
Jackson EM, Omura JD, Boring MA, Odom EL, Foster AL, Olivari BS, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of arthritis among caregivers — 17 States, 2017 and 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71:1389–1395.
Omura JD, McGuire LC, Patel R, Baumgart M, Lamb, R, Jeffers EM, et al. Modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer disease and related dementias among adults aged ≥45 years — United States, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71:680–685.
Downing KF, Oster ME, Olivari BS, Farr SL. Early-onset dementia among privately-insured adults with and without congenital heart defects in the United States, 2015–2017. Int J Cardiol. 2022;358:34–38. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.04.019
Samson ME, Yeung LF, Rose CE, Qi YP, Taylor CA, Crider KS. Vitamin B-12 malabsorption and renal function are critical considerations in studies of folate and vitamin B-12 interactions in cognitive performance: NHANES 2011–2014. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022;116(1):74–85. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqac065
Olivari BS, Jeffers EM, Tang KW, McGuire LC. Improving brain health for populations disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Clin Gerontol. 2022;46(2):128–132. doi:10.1080/07317115.2022.2043977
Jeffers EM, Bouldin ED, McGuire LC, Knapp KA, Patel R, Guglielmo D, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of subjective cognitive decline among unpaid caregivers aged ≥45 years – 22 States, 2015-2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(46):1591–1596.
Miyawaki CE, Bouldin ED, Taylor CA, McGuire LC. Baby boomers who provide informal care for people living with dementia in the community. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(18):9694. doi:10.3390/ijerph18189694
Flatt JD, Cicero EC, Lambrou NH, et al. Subjective cognitive decline higher among sexual and gender minorities in the United States, 2015–2018. Alzheimers Dement. 2021;7(1). doi:10.1002/trc2.12197
Barrett JP, Olivari BS, Price AB, Taylor CA. Cognitive decline and dementia risk reduction: Promoting healthy lifestyles and blood pressure control. Am J Prev Med. 2021;61(3):e157–e160. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2021.03.005
Olivari BS, Baumgart M, Taylor CA, McGuire LC. Population measures of subjective cognitive decline: A means of advancing public health policy to address cognitive health. Alzheimers Dement. 2021;7(1). doi:10.1002/trc2.12142
Bouldin ED, Taylor CA, Knapp KA, et al. Unmet needs for assistance related to subjective cognitive decline among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in the US: prevalence and impact on health-related quality of life. International Psychogeriatr. 2020;33(7):689–702. doi:10.1017/s1041610220001635
Quinn K, Miyawaki CE, Croff R, et al. Terms and measures of cognitive health associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease: a scoping review. Res Aging. 2020;42(5-6):174–185. doi:10.1177/0164027520911284
Omura JD, Brown DR, McGuire LC, Taylor CA, Fulton JE, Carlson SA. Cross-sectional association between physical activity level and subjective cognitive decline among US adults aged ≥45 years, 2015. Prev Med. 2020;141:106279. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106279
Bouldin ED, Taylor CA, Knapp KA, et al. Unmet needs for assistance related to subjective cognitive decline among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in the US: prevalence and impact on health-related quality of life. Int Psychogeriatr. 2020;33(7):689–702. doi:10.1017/s1041610220001635
Miyawaki CE, Bouldin ED, Taylor CA, McGuire LC. Baby boomers as caregivers: Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2015–2017. Prev Chronic Dis. 2020;17. doi:10.5888/pcd17.200010
Edwards VJ, Bouldin ED, Taylor CA, Olivari BS, McGuire LC. Characteristics and Health status of informal unpaid caregivers—44 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2015–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69:183–188.
Taylor CA, Bouldin ED, Greenlund KJ, McGuire LC. Comorbid chronic conditions among older adults with subjective cognitive decline, United States, 2015–2017. Innov Aging. 2020;4(1). doi:10.1093/geroni/igz045
Olivari BS, French ME, McGuire LC. The Public Health Road Map to respond to the growing dementia crisis. Innovation in Aging. 2020;4(1). doi:10.1093/geroni/igz043
Brody DJ, Kramarow EA, Taylor CA, McGuire LC. Cognitive performance in adults aged 60 and over: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2014. Natl Health Stat Report. 2019;(126):1–23. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr126-508.pdf
Peterson RL, Carvajal SC, McGuire LC, Fain MJ, Bell ML. State inequality, socioeconomic position and subjective cognitive decline in the United States. SSM Popul Health. 2019;7:100357. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100357
Bouldin ED, Shaull L, Andresen EM, Edwards VJ, McGuire LC. Financial and health barriers and caregiving-related difficulties among rural and urban caregivers. J Rural Health. 2017;34(3):263–274. doi:10.1111/jrh.12273
Matthews KA, Xu W, Gaglioti AH, et al. Racial and ethnic estimates of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in the United States (2015–2060) in adults aged ≥65 years. Alzheimers Dement. 2018;15(1):17–24. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3063
Kelley M, Ulin B, McGuire LC. Reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and maintaining brain health in an aging society. Public Health Rep. 2018;133(3):225–229. doi:10.1177/0033354918763599
Olivari BS, Baumgart M, Lock SL, et al. CDC Grand Rounds: Promoting well-being and independence in older adults. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(37):1036–1039.