The health of your brain and your body are closely linked. As a result, practicing healthy habits and actively managing your chronic conditions can go a long way in terms of protecting your brain.
It’s never too late to make lifestyle changes. Evidence shows that prioritizing certain life-enriching activities and getting tobacco treatment, if needed, can help to prevent or delay cognitive decline and dementia.
When you take care of your heart health you lower your risk of demenita.
Learn more in this video from the American Heart Association.
The good news is that many of the healthy behaviors that help you prevent chronic conditions or keep them under control also help prevent brain health issues like Alzheimer’s and other dementias. You may also want to talk to your doctor about any additional steps to take related to brain health and your chronic condition(s).
Vermont has several free programs to help you live a healthier life, from quit tobacco support to heart health screenings.
The Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program administers the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) BOLD grant in Vermont. BOLD stands for “Building Our Largest Dementia infrastructure.” The grant is helping to build the groundwork in the state to address dementia as a public health priority.
The first BOLD award to the Department of Health, Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) started in September 2020 and awarded $250,000 annually for three years. It ended in September of 2023.
The grant enabled us to build a statewide coalition with community-based organizations and health systems to begin addressing this emerging public health priority. Our Vermont Action Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementias and Healthy Aging laid the groundwork for future activities.
In late 2023, the Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program received a five–year Cooperative Agreement from the CDC to support the statewide implementation of a public health approach to:
Family caregivers are instrumental to the health and wellbeing of individuals with dementia. They are an important member of the care team. Recognizing and supporting family caregivers is an important component of the BOLD Alzheimer’s and Healthy Aging Program. Being a family dementia caregiver is not easy, but it helps to know that you are a part of a larger community of individuals who understand the difficulties of what you may go through. There are a number of resources and programs available through the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living and the Area Agencies on Aging which are available to serve every Vermonter aged 65 and older.
