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[Announcer] This podcast is presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC - safer, healthier people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, and the Alzheimer's Association have released The Healthy Brain Initiative: A National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health. The Road Map comes at a critical time, given current social trends and scientific advances in the role of lifestyle strategies in maintaining cognitive function. Americans look forward to having a long life, yet many have considerable concern about memory loss or the loss of cognitive health late in life. Fortunately, tremendous strides have been made during the past several decades to understand cognitive health and how best to preserve and promote it. By making cognitive health a priority issue, the public health community can be mobilized to study, identify, and implement effective interventions. The Road Map lays out a shared vision for a "work in progress" - one that builds on a foundation of the work done to date, establishes a framework within which to view the results of that work, and shapes the work yet to be done.

CDC is excited to be at the forefront of the national public health effort to advance cognitive health in the public health arena. We anticipate many partners and agencies will develop their own collaborative plans to move the actions in the Road Map forward. Depending on available resources, CDC plans to:

• understand what diverse audiences know about cognitive health and how they talk about,
• measure the public health burden of cognitive impairment to inform policies and programs, and
• conduct scientific reviews to bridge the gap between science and community-based public health practice.

The key to our success lies in continuing and expanding research, and developing and channeling resources. It will take the actions and leadership of all of us-- working collaboratively -- to move the evidence about maintaining cognitive health into national public health action.

For more information about The Healthy Brain Initiative: A National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health, or to obtain a copy, please visit www.cdc.gov/aging/roadmap. Thank you!

Brought to you by the CDC's Healthy Aging Program, "Healthy Aging, Healthy People"

[Announcer] To access the most accurate and relevant health information that affects you, your family and your community, please visit www.cdc.gov.