Cognitive Impairment

The National Task Group for Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices and the LuMind IDSC Foundation have published a new report exploring the barriers to determining mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in adults with neuroatypical conditions, such as brain injury, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and significant sensory impairments. The report is base on a project that was designed to help with furthering diagnostic equity for adults with these conditions and educate clinicians about the differences between these conditions in the dementia detection and assessment process.

This Road Map outlines actions state and local public health agencies and their partners can take to stimulate changes in policies, systems and environments. The goal is also to ensure that initiatives to address Alzheimer's can be easily and efficiently incorporated into existing public health initiatives. The Road Map outlines 25 action items for the field of public health to promote brain health, better care for people with cognitive impairment, and increase attention to caregivers.

Justice in Aging, in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association, released a new survey of dementia training requirements in each state. The number of Alzheimer's and other dementia diagnoses is on the rise, but there is often little to no training for staff and professionals that work with these populations. This survey was conducted to identify the holes in state law and to find promising practices to inform improvements in the future. The findings are available in a five-paper series.