Public Health Strategies to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: The National Healthy Brain Initiative, BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence, and Public Health Adoption Accelerator

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), is issuing a forecasted funding opportunity under the title "Public Health Strategies to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: The National Healthy Brain Initiative, BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence, and Public Health Adoption Accelerator." This grant opportunity aligns with the agency’s longstanding mission to improve population health outcomes and is in direct support of the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI), which promotes brain health, addresses cognitive decline, and supports caregiving. The initiative is a continuation of the objectives laid out in the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L. 115-406) and uses the HBI Road Map Series, including the 2023–2027 State and Local Road Map and the Road Map for Indian Country, as its guiding framework. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) represent a growing public health crisis in the United States. With aging demographics, prevalence rates and associated mortality continue to rise. Alzheimer's was the fifth leading cause of death for individuals aged 65 and older as of 2021. In response, the CDC’s Alzheimer's Disease Program is seeking applicants to support scalable, evidence-based public health strategies that expand knowledge, resources, and training to public health professionals and caregivers. The grant is structured around three core components. Component 1, the National Healthy Brain Initiative, will fund up to two organizations to develop and implement public health strategies in alignment with the HBI Road Map. Funded entities will create training modules for healthcare and public health professionals, enhance the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’s (BRFSS) cognitive and caregiver modules, and coordinate with national partners to improve ADRD-related outcomes. Funding for this component ranges from $2.5 million to $3 million per 12-month period. Component 2 supports three BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence, each focusing on a specific thematic area—dementia risk reduction, early detection and management, or caregiving. These centers will generate best practices, develop and disseminate educational materials, and translate research into actionable public health tools. Each center may receive between $750,000 and $1 million per year. Component 3, the ADRD Public Health Adoption Accelerator, will support up to two organizations that will serve as accelerators for implementing public health strategies. These organizations will collaborate with the CDC to prioritize effective approaches and ensure adoption through stakeholder engagement, technical assistance, and dissemination science. They will also support recipients from Components 1 and 2. Funding ranges from $750,000 to $1.2 million annually. Applicants may submit proposals for more than one component, but each must be a separate application. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The anticipated total program funding is $35 million, and seven awards are expected. This opportunity is open to a wide range of eligible applicants, including state, tribal, and local governments; nonprofit and for-profit entities; and institutions of higher education. The estimated timeline includes a posting date of May 5, 2026, a due date of July 1, 2026, award announcements around August 29, 2026, and a project start date of September 30, 2026. As of this forecast release, Dr. Machell Town is listed as the point of contact, and the application will be submitted via Grants.gov.