Conversations about brain health should be respectful of the cultural background and life experiences of all individuals. Diverse life experiences may be related to cultural differences, literacy and health literacy levels, intellectual and developmental disabilities, social determinants of health, and other factors. Comprehensive frameworks for addressing diverse sets of life experiences are provided by multiple sources, including:
Additional resources targeted to specific populations are presented below.
The Diverse Elders Coalition advocates for policies and programs that improve aging with a focus on racially and ethnically diverse people; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) people. Additionally, several publications address cultural approaches to dementia. Suggested readings include:
A Cultural Approach to Dementia—Insights From US Latino and Other Minoritized Groups
Cultural Competency in Dementia Care: An African American Case Study
A GSA Momentum Discussion webinar, Kickstarting Brain Health Conversations with Diverse Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities , reviews the challenges in kickstarting brain health conversations with older adults from diverse and underserved communities—where Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are more prevalent. The panelists offer opportunities and solutions to use the tools and resources in the KAER Toolkit to enhance brain health conversations, drive healthy brain habits, and promote early diagnosis of dementia in these communities.
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are a heterogeneous population with a wide range of abilities and needs. However, a key unifying theme across these categories is that individuals have differences in cognition, communication, and function that complicate the identification and management of dementia. To address these issues, GSA developed a companion document for the KAER Toolkit, Addressing Brain Health in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities.
Social determinants of health are nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age as well as the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies, racism, climate change, and political systems. Social Determinants of Health at the CDC provides an overview of these factors.
For more information about social determinants of health and brain health, see Effect of Social Determinants of Health on Cognition and Risk of Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias.
Nearly 60% of dementia caregivers report having at least one modifiable risk factor that could increase their own chances of developing dementia, and nearly one in four caregivers report having multiple risk factors. A 2025 report from the Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction examined caregiver risk factors for dementia.
Overview | Discuss Brain Health | Engage in Conversations About Protective Actions | Address Diverse Life Experiences | Discuss Memory and Cognition | Observe for Signs and Symptoms of Cognitive Impairment | Listen for Patient and Family Concerns About Cognition | Address Any Sensory Loss and Use Effective Communication Strategies | Use Health Questionnaires | Use Electronic Health Records | Primary Prevention Recommendations for Reducing Risk of Cognitive Decline | Warning Signs That Might Indicate Dementia | Resources for Patients About Brain Health | Kickstart References