CDC outlines BOLD, Healthy Brain Initiative and upcoming BRFSS cognitive data release
February 17, 2026 | Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Executive, Federal
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The CDC speaker (identified by the host as Captain Fleetwood Loosdale) presented a public‑health framing for dementia prevention, early detection and caregiver support, describing multiple CDC programs and data products.
The speaker summarized seven priority areas for public‑health action including dementia risk reduction, early assessment and diagnosis, caregiving supports, workforce education and population data for decision‑making. The BOLD (Building Our Largest Dementia) program funds 43 state, local, territorial and tribal recipients across a five‑year period; recipients use CDC Healthy Brain Initiative roadmaps to guide state and local planning.
The Healthy Brain Initiative includes a roadmap updated in 2023; CDC funds recipient cohorts to develop and disseminate culturally appropriate products, and the Alzheimer’s Association was named as a partner for roadmap development. CDC’s public health centers of excellence fund three recipients that produce tools and resources focused on risk reduction, early detection and caregiving.
The speaker highlighted partner cooperative agreements (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, American Medical Association, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors) and learning collaboratives that will include 38 local and tribal health departments in a 2026 risk‑reduction cohort. Finally, the CDC announced that behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) data with cognitive decline and caregiver modules from 2025 will be released publicly in late summer or early fall and will include state‑level participation details.
The speaker summarized seven priority areas for public‑health action including dementia risk reduction, early assessment and diagnosis, caregiving supports, workforce education and population data for decision‑making. The BOLD (Building Our Largest Dementia) program funds 43 state, local, territorial and tribal recipients across a five‑year period; recipients use CDC Healthy Brain Initiative roadmaps to guide state and local planning.
The Healthy Brain Initiative includes a roadmap updated in 2023; CDC funds recipient cohorts to develop and disseminate culturally appropriate products, and the Alzheimer’s Association was named as a partner for roadmap development. CDC’s public health centers of excellence fund three recipients that produce tools and resources focused on risk reduction, early detection and caregiving.
The speaker highlighted partner cooperative agreements (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, American Medical Association, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors) and learning collaboratives that will include 38 local and tribal health departments in a 2026 risk‑reduction cohort. Finally, the CDC announced that behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) data with cognitive decline and caregiver modules from 2025 will be released publicly in late summer or early fall and will include state‑level participation details.
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