{"id":695,"date":"2021-02-04T04:51:52","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T04:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hprc\/?page_id=695"},"modified":"2026-04-03T01:10:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T01:10:34","slug":"hbrn","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hprc\/research-impact\/thematic-networks\/hbrn\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Brain Research Network"},"content":{"rendered":"

Participation Dates: September 30, 2014 \u2013 September 29, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center (UW HPRC) served as the coordinating center for the Healthy Brain Research Network (HBRN) after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the network to focus on two growing public health challenges \u2014 promoting cognitive health and addressing the needs of increasing numbers of older Americans living with cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n

The network\u2019s legacy includes a cadre of scholars and researchers, an expanded network of community organizations and academic centers, scholarly publications, and research-based resources that can continue to support communities\u2019 efforts toward better cognitive health.<\/p>\n

Our Impact<\/h2>\n

During its existence, the network led and engaged experts from across the country in developing a consensus-based research agenda<\/a> about public health in relation to cognitive health, cognitive aging, and cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n

The network evaluated public messaging around promoting early detection of dementia in diverse populations across the country, working with regional, state, and national partners to test messages with African American, Asian American, Latino, and LGBTQ communities. Research shows culturally relevant messages have the potential to increase early detection of Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related dementias.<\/p>\n

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Based on findings from local focus groups, and working with key partners, the network developed service provider and policy action guides about dementia that were specifically aimed at supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. One of these guides, \u201cConnecting with AAPIs About Dementia: An Action Guide for Service Providers\u201d<\/a> earned the 2018 APEX Grand Award for Publication Excellence. In a period of six months, the action guide was distributed nationwide and presented in-person to more than 800 area providers representing more than 45 organizations.<\/p>\n

DOWNDLOAD the Guide<\/a><\/p>\n

During the network\u2019s lifetime, investigators produced 12 publications and 38 scientific presentations.<\/p>\n

The network trained 11 scholars across multiple disciplines, some of whom have been the recipients of merit-based awards such as the HBRN Scholar Travel Funds from the Alzheimer\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n

Network investigators and scholars also conducted reviews of scientific literature and informed the field by analyzing national data from sources that included the CDC and its Prevention Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.<\/p>\n

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Learn More<\/h3>\n
\nRead about the network’s goals, member centers, and scholars program, as well as watch recorded webinars.<\/p>\n
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Goals<\/h2>\n

\nThe network extended the goals of the CDC Healthy Brain Initiative<\/a> and had its own goals.<\/p>\n