Brain
Health
Cuyahoga County has the highest estimated prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in Ohio. We're working to change that — through data, outreach, and community action.
Understanding cognition
and healthy aging
Two key definitions guide our work in Cuyahoga County — and the research behind them shapes everything we do.
Brain health is defined by the CDC as “an ability to perform all the mental processes of cognition, including the ability to learn and judge, use language and remember.”
according to the World Health Organization, is “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age”.
Cuyahoga County leads Ohio in Alzheimer's prevalence
The 2022 Cuyahoga County Community Health Needs Assessment identified older adults as a priority population, highlighting Alzheimer’s disease as an area of concern. Per 2020 data from the Alzheimer’s Association, Cuyahoga County has the highest estimated prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in Ohio.
In response to these findings, we have been working to increase access to local brain health and healthy aging data, and encouraging community members to prioritize their brain health through outreach efforts. We are committed to supporting healthy aging and brain health in Cuyahoga County.
Read the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment →Our efforts
CCBH was selected for two nationally recognized initiatives to address brain health and healthy aging in our community.
Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map
In 2025, we were selected as one of ten local health departments nationwide to participate in the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Strategists Program. The program was designed to help build our capacity, and that of our partners, to address brain health in our county.
Our efforts focused on helping organizations to make data-informed decisions and take action. To increase awareness and show the impact of brain health and dementia, we developed several data products, making county-level data more accessible.
Since the HBI Road Map Strategist Program ended, we have continued to promote brain health through outreach and education.
📄 View HBI Road Map (PDF)Age-Friendly Public Health System (AFPHS)
In 2026, our agency received advanced level recognition as an Age-Friendly Public Health System (AFPHS) through Trust for America’s Health national AFPHS initiative. This acknowledgment honors our commitment to healthy aging.
To achieve this status, we completed actions in each of the domains from Trust for America’s Health 6Cs Framework for Creating Age-Friendly Public Health Systems.
The AFPHS initiative prioritizes public health’s role in healthy aging and encourages all state and local public health departments to make healthy aging a core function.
📄 AFPHS 6Cs Framework →Healthy Habitsfor Your Brain
Your brain health matters! It is never too late to start healthy habits to help lower your risk of developing cognitive decline and possibly dementia. These habits include things like being smoke free, getting good quality sleep, and maintaining a healthy weight. Learn more about healthy habits for your brain:
Explore the brain healthy habits resources below:
Early Detection
of Dementia
Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other thinking abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. Many people — and their families — notice changes in thinking or memory long before seeking help.
If you have noticed changes in your thinking or memory, do not ignore them. Talk with your doctor. Early detection opens more options for treatment and future planning.
Watch this short video with ASL interpretation from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services:
▶ Watch: Understanding DementiaAlso visit the Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Chapter for local support services.
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Association — know what to look for
- 1Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- 2Challenges in planning or solving problems
- 3Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- 4Confusion with time or place
- 5Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- 6New problems with words in speaking or writing
- 7Misplacing things and losing ability to retrace steps
- 8Decreased or poor judgment
- 9Withdrawal from work or social activities
- 10Changes in mood and personality
Source: Alzheimer's Association
Resources
Whether you're a community member, caregiver, or public health professional, these resources support brain health and healthy aging.