Cognitive health and aging focus of 2-year IOM project

The Institute of Medicine (IOM), the health arm the National Academy of Sciences, today launched a two-year project to examine the “Public Health Dimensions of Cognitive Health and Aging” that are distinct from Alzheimer’s disease. A 14-member committee consisting of faculty members from several academic institutions ultimately will make recommendations related to:

• Best practices for educating healthcare professionals as well as older adults and their families, to ensure high-quality care and understanding.
• New approaches for increasing awareness and the dissemination of information to the general public as well as to older adults, families and caregivers.
• Relevant definitions and terminology.
• The development of appropriate monitoring tools and technologies.
• Opportunities for prevention and intervention to enhance cognitive capacity, prevent impairment, slow decline and promote resilience.

The committee, which will hold information-gathering workshops open to the public, will use biomedical research as evidence as it makes its suggestions, but it will not make recommendations related to future biomedical research that should be undertaken.

The IOM is an independent, nonprofit organization that advises decision-makers and the general public.

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