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IMPLEMENTING A HEALTHY BRAIN INITIATIVE IN THE NATION’S LARGEST COUNTY JURISDICTION


 In 2019, there were an estimated 166,857 Los Angeles County (LAC) residents living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2040, this number is expected to rise by 150% to 405,382, with 152,980 and 35,341 of them, respectively, being Black and Latinx. Locally, there is special interest in reducing dementia risk among the two communities, as modifiable risk factors such as untreated hypertension, diabetes, and smoking are disproportionately higher in these groups (e.g., hypertension – Black, 35.9% vs. White, 27.3%; diabetes – Black and Latinx, 14.4% and 13.6%, respectively, vs. White, 8.8%). In LAC, considerable investments have been made to help create and implement the local arm of the California Healthy Brain Initiative (Healthy Brain Initiative: Los Angeles or HBI-LA). Launched in 2019, HBI-LA utilized a multi-level, multi-sector approach to expand the breadth and quality of tools available to the Black and Latinx communities and key stakeholders who work with these communities. The initiative set out to complete the following State-approved objectives: (i) educate the public and health professionals about dementia care and prevention; (ii) develop policies that improve access to health, aging, and prevention services for those with cognitive decline; and (iii) disseminate reliable, culturally sensitive information and tools to promote best practices on brain health. The present investigation examines the stepwise process that LAC took to achieve these objectives, including the development of two culturally tailored educational workshops (one for community members, one for healthcare and social services professionals) and how a U.S. Congressperson and County Supervisor supported dissemination efforts.