Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD)
Practical resources for family physicians to engage patients on brain health
Family physicians occupy a crucial position in brain health. By caring for patients across the life span you are well placed to educate individuals about protecting cognitive function, identify risk factors early and guide patients and families through prevention, early screening, diagnosis and treatment. As the evidence around Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) continues to evolve, you need practical tools that support effective conversations and integrate cognitive care into everyday practice.
Tools to navigate the growing demands of cognitive care
The AAFP has developed a collection of brain health resources to support family physicians and their care teams. These materials are designed to:
- Strengthen confidence in ADRD prevention and early detection
- Clarify emerging diagnostics and scope of practice
- Help physicians communicate clearly with patients and caregivers
Many of these resources also support health literacy by translating complex evidence—such as risk factors linked to cognitive decline—into accessible information that clinicians can use in patient conversations.
These resources also emphasize continuity of care and the connection between brain health and overall health, including cardiorenal metabolic conditions. From preventive care discussions in a 15-minute visit to guidance for patients and caregivers navigating cognitive decline, the tools below help clinicians incorporate brain health into routine practice while equipping patients to take an active role in protecting their cognitive well-being.
Explore the brain health resources on this page
Including cognitive health in conversations about chronic disease prevention can help your patients understand that many of the same everyday choices that protect the heart and body also protect the brain. Evidence shows that addressing key modifiable risk factors—many of which are shared across chronic conditions—can reduce cases of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) at the population level.
Use this fact sheet to talk to your patients about preventing or managing chronic conditions, making the connection to ADRD by highlighting how actions that address shared risk factors can also support long-term brain health.
Your patients probably don’t know that dementia is not an inevitable part of aging. Beginning as early as their teens and 20s, they need to hear from you that addressing 14 modifiable risk factors could help prevent or delay up to 45% of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) cases across the population.
Use this conversation guide to help your patients develop habits for maintaining good cognitive health by adding ADRD prevention to the conversations you’re already having about other conditions. For example, it could be as simple and clear as saying, “Here’s what you can do to reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke or developing dementia.”
Your patients probably don’t know that choices they make starting as early as their teen years are linked to 14 modifiable risk factors for ADRD. What they do know is that you’re the expert who can advise them how to maintain healthy cognition as long as possible.
Use this conversation guide to talk with your patients about their risk of developing ADRD before they have concerns, when they still have time to make impactful changes. Address key risk factors and discuss preventive measures at every visit—from back-to-school checkups to Medicare annual wellness visits.
The earlier your patients adopt healthy habits to reduce ADRD risk, the greater the potential cumulative effect on their long-term brain health.
Printable versions of infograms
Primary Care and Cognitive Concerns: Screening, Diagnosis, and Support
Host Michael Monroe interviews Dr. Brianna Wynne, a board-certified geriatric medicine physician, about how family physicians can support prevention, screening, and early detection of cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
Brain Health and Chronic Conditions: Lifelong Connections
In this episode of ‘Inside Family Medicine’, we hear from Dr. Ariel Cole, a family and geriatric medicine physician and fellowship/residency leader at AdventHealth Orlando, about the family physician’s role in cognitive aging, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Cole describes her experience caring for patients across the cognitive decline spectrum and emphasizes prevention.
Member insight videos
Navigating Dementia and Brain Health YouTube playlist
Over a series of 12 short videos, three family physicians share their expert advice on how to navigate patient conversations about dementia and brain health. They highlight practical approaches to integrating cognitive care into family medicine.
Featured family physicians:
- Yogesh Shah, MD, MPH, FAAFP
- Ariel Cole, MD, FAAFP
- Brianna Wynne MD, FAAFP
Use familydoctor.org’s dementia and brain health resources to educate patients about practical, evidence-based steps they can take to maintain brain health across their lifespan. These resources will help patients become comfortable discussing brain health, which will lead to productive conversations that reduce fear and empower patients of all ages with clear actions to protect their brains.