The Healthy Brain Initiative-expanding public health capacity to address dementia

In 2005, congressional support led to the creation of the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) and the collaboration between the Alzheimer's Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prioritize brain health in public health practice. Over 20 years, the HBI has developed and implemented the HBI Road Map Series to increase the capacity of health departments to integrate dementia into health departments nationwide, aligning frameworks like the Essential Public Health Services and focusing on health equity across the life course. A growing number of HBI partners now work together to implement public health strategies that promote brain health, address dementia, and support people living with dementia and caregivers. Recognizing opportunities to influence the trajectory of public health action, the HBI prioritizes growing the availability and use of dementia-related public health data and equipping the public health workforce with the knowledge and confidence to make change. This article documents the history and evolution of the HBI, including a description of current efforts and the broader public health context to which it has contributed; efforts of the HBI and partners in national, state, local, territorial, and tribal public health agencies have led to transformative change.