​​Alzheimer's Disease 

Resources for Families and Health Professionals

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Facts and Figures in California: Current Status and Future Projections, January 2021

To help California better meet the growing demand for support and services that meaningfully address the needs of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, CDPH was called upon to update the 2009 Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Facts and Figures in California: Current Status and Future Projections (PDF) per Senate Bill 1292 (Hueso) - California Health and Safety Code Section 125283. Drawing information from a variety of data sources, the updated Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Facts and Figures in California: Current Status and Future Projections, January 2021 (PDF) report details the broad and significant implications that the impending increased prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias will have on California's businesses, public programs, and affected families. This report is a vital update providing an accounting of the dramatic impacts and effects of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias that includes essential data by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

California Master Plan for Aging, January 2021

The California Master Plan on Aging (PDF) outlines five bold goals, 23 strategies, and 100+ action-ready initiatives to build a California for All Ages by 2030. It also includes a Data Dashboard for Aging to measure progress and a Local Playbook to drive partnership that help meet these goals together.

The Master Plan calls on all California communities to build a California for All Ages: for older Californians currently living through the many different stages of the second half of life; for younger generations who can expect to live longer lives than their elders; for communities of all ages – family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and caregivers –surrounding older adults.

Ten Recommendations for Alzheimer's Prevention, Preparedness, and the Path Forward, November 2020

In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom formed the Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease Prevention, Preparedness and the Path Forward to develop recommendations on how California can prevent and prepare for the growing number of Alzheimer's cases and forge a path forward for families. Led by Maria Shriver, Former First Lady of California and a longtime advocate for women and people living with Alzheimer's, the Task Force is made up of a diverse group of consumers, caregivers, neuroscientists, researchers, health care providers, innovators, family members, education systems, private-sector leaders, and media professionals. The final Recommendations for Alzheimer's Prevention, Preparedness, and Path Forward (PDF) are a roadmap on how California proposes to address Alzheimer's disease prevention.

Toolkits

The Assessment of Cognitive Complaints Toolkit for Alzheimer's Disease (ACCT-AD) (PDF) is composed of two components, the instruction manual and the complete toolkit.  The ACCT-AD is designed to provide primary care providers with the tools necessary to recognize normal cognition, diagnose Alzheimer's disease, and identify other cognitive problems requiring specialty referral. It differs from many other toolkits that have been published for this purpose because many of the other toolkits focus on diagnosis of dementia, but provide limited guidance on identifying the specific neurodegenerative disorder. Disclaimer: This toolkit was developed for use by healthcare providers and should not be used by non-professionals to diagnose or determine significance of cognitive complaints without the involvement of an experienced and knowledgeable professional. Interpretation of the answers to these questions requires expert knowledge and must be done in the context of knowing the general health history. If, in reviewing this toolkit, you identify concerning problems, you should discuss it with your physician. Similarly, if you have concerns about your memory or cognition, you should discuss them with your physician even if reviewing this toolkit has led you to believe they are not worrisome. Toolkit development was funded by the State of California General Fund (Senate Bill 833 sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association in 2016). 

The Assessment of Cognitive Complaints Toolkit for Alzheimer's Disease (PDF, 2.19 MB)

The Assessment of Cognitive Complaints Toolkit for Alzheimer's Disease Instruction Manual (PDF, 2 MB)

Provider Wellness Visit/Screening Tool Pocket Guides and Flowsheet

The Assessment of Cognitive Complaints Toolkit for Alzheimer's Disease Provider Wellness Visit/Screening Tool Pocket Guides (PDF) and  the Assessment of Cognitive Complaints Toolkit for Alzheimer's Disease Provider Wellness Visit/Screening Tool Flow Sheet (PDF) are the take along tools for providers to use to help screen for Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias during patient wellness visits. The pocket guides and flowsheet are companion pieces to the ACCT-AD Toolkit (PDF).

Assessment of Cognitive Complaints Toolkit for Alzheimer's Disease Provider Wellness Visit/Screening Tool Pocket Guides (PDF)

Assessment of Cognitive Complaints Toolkit for Alzheimer's Disease Provider Wellness Visit/Screening Tool Flow Sheet (PDF)

Webcast 1 of 2 – The Alzheimer's Disease Toolkit: Why it Should Be Used (CDPH YouTube Channel 25:52 minutes) – Brought to you by the California Alzheimer's Disease Centers.

Webcast 2 of 2 – The Alzheimer's Disease Toolkit: What It Accomplishes (CDPH YouTube Channel 12:31 minutes) – Brought to you by the California Alzheimer's Disease Centers.

Resources

Care Manager Training Materials, Resources on Health Care Systems Change, and Dementia Care Management Toolkits

Alzheimer's Los Angeles, as part of the Dementia Cal MediConnect Project, provides care manager training materials, resources on health care systems change, and dementia care management toolkits to support healthcare organizations build dementia-capable systems of care.

2017 Guidelines for Alzheimer's Disease Management (PDF, 66.6 KB)

This 2017 Update Reflects New Evidence, Improved Practice and Changes in Law — This is the 4th edition of the California Alzheimer's Clinical Care Guideline, first published in 1998 and revised in 2002 and 2008. The 2017 update specified in statute (SB 613, Chapter 577, 2015) addresses changes in scientific evidence, clinical practice, and state and federal law.

 Alzheimer's Disease Program Report to the Legislature, March 2018 (PDF, 148 KB)

The required legislative report (SB 613, Chapter 577, 2015) includes an overview of the working group meetings that were held, an overview of the previous 2008 Guideline, along with recommendations from the working group that developed the Guideline. The current 2017 Guideline aligns with current legislation prescribed by SB 613 and is designed to improve Alzheimer's disease management.

Geriatric Depression and Dementia Scale Mobile Application

 The Geriatric Depression and Dementia Scale (GDDS) application automates screening patients for depressive symptoms and identifying warning signs for cognitive impairment and dementia in clinical settings. The GDDS includes the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale and pairs it with a 15-item evaluation that helps to identify dementia warning signs. The GDDS performs these tasks in 10 different languages (English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese) and also provides spoken prompts for patients that have vision impairments or those that struggle with the written word. It was developed by faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System with funding made available by the California Department of Public Health. 

Medication and Treatment Options for Persons with Cognitive Impairment

University of California, San Francisco's Memory and Aging Center, which also operates the California Alzheimer's Disease Center, provides an in-depth overview of medications for people with cognitive impairment. It is generally a good idea to try nondrug interventions before turning to medications, but sometimes medications are necessary.

California Associations

Alzheimer's Association

Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles

Alzheimer's Orange County

Alzheimer's San Diego

California Caregiver Resource Centers

National Associations

Alzheimer's Association (National)

National Institute on Aging

International Association

Alzheimer's Disease International