In 2020, the Alzheimer’s Association estimated that there were 76,000 people aged 65 years or older living with Alzheimer’s disease in Colorado - the most common form of dementia. This number is anticipated to increase to 92,000 by 2025. Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) not only impact the person living with the disease, but also their friends and family members who serve as care partners. In 2022, the Alzheimer's Association estimated that there were 160,000 care partners, providing more than 186 million hours of unpaid care to individuals living with dementia. Because of the length and level of care required for people with ADRD, care partners for people living with dementia report worse health outcomes compared to care partners of older adults without dementia.
The work of the state to address these challenges is guided by the 2022-2027 Colorado ADRD State Plan. The plan lays out a path for addressing the special needs of Coloradans living with Alzheimer’s Disease, related dementias, and their care partners, through a public health approach that is evidence-based, promotes risk reduction and early diagnosis, and focuses on highly impacted populations (i.e., American Indian/Alaskan Natives, Black/African Americans, Latinx/o/a/e/Hispanic/Chicano/a). The plan includes actions that the state of Colorado and its partners must take. These actions are divided into four domains: Empower and Engage the Public, Develop Policies and Build Partnerships, Assure a Competent Workforce, and Monitor and Evaluate Data.
Empower and engage the public
Develop policies and build partnerships
Assure a competent workforce
Monitor and evaluate data
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Action Coalition (ADRDAC) Information and Background
In 2020, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) received BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act funds to build public health infrastructure to address dementia in Colorado. As a public health agency, CDPHE integrated a public health lens into ADRD work by including health equity, risk reduction, early detection and early diagnosis into the ADRD State Plan.
In April of 2021, CDPHE convened a multisectoral Advisory Committee including representatives from non-profit, government, private, community-based organizations, and individuals representing disproportionately impacted populations. CDPHE led a 15-month strategic planning process to develop the 2022-2027 Colorado ADRD State Plan, in collaboration with the state’s ADRD Advisory Committee and local communities.
The ADRD Advisory Committee has now folded into the ADRD Action Coalition (ADRDAC) to guide the implementation of the Colorado ADRD State Plan over the next five years (2022-2027). The ADRDAC actively meets as four separate workgroups aligned with the four domains of the State Plan, and welcomes participation from interested parties.
- Empower and Engage the Public
- Develop Policies and Build Partnerships
- Assure a Competent Workforce
- Monitor and Evaluate Data
CDPHE resources
Education and training resources
- e-Learning Module: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Primary Care: Addressing Risk Factors, Early Diagnosis, and Care Planning
- Registration Code: ADRD (not case sensitive)
- Dementia: Reduce the Risk - Informational one-pager highlighting the linkage between chronic health conditions and ADRD.
Colorado Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan
Relevant ADRD links and resources
- Colorado Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures 2023
- 2018-2023 Healthy Brain Initiative Roadmap
- BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction, Early Detection of Dementia, and Dementia Caregiving
- Colorado Alzheimer’s Association
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Brain Rack Cards
Chronic conditions and ADRD
- Risk Reduction Messaging for Health Education
- Modifiable Risk Factors: Diabetes and Obesity, Vascular Risks, Depression
- Diabetes and Cognitive Decline
- Stroke and Vascular Dementia
- Cardiovascular Health and Dementia
- Chronic Kidney Disease and Dementia
- Depression and Dementia
- Dementia prevention, intervention, and care 2020 report of the Lancet Commission
Contacts:
To learn more about our ADRD work, or learn how you can get involved, please contact:
Joanna Espinoza Robbins, MPH
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program Manager
Joanna.EspinozaRobbins@state.co.us
Monica Maly, MPH
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Program Coordinator
Monica.Maly@state.co.us