The Indian Health Service (IHS) has announced the allocation of an additional $1.19 million through six cooperative agreements aimed at enhancing tribal and urban Indian health system capacities to provide dementia care and services. The total commitment for these new three-year awards amounts to nearly $3.6 million. This funding builds on previous initiatives from 2022 and 2023, with a focus on creating sustainable and replicable models of dementia care.

“Alzheimer’s can deprive people of their precious memories, thoughts, and identity. It’s often painful for the patients and everyone who lovingly cares for them,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The steps we are taking today will enhance care quality and expand support for American Indians and Alaska Natives living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementias.”

These awards will further the HHS' efforts to fulfill the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease by improving care quality, expanding support for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, their families, and increasing public awareness.

“There continues to be a great need for access to more timely and accurate diagnosis, as well as culturally appropriate education and management of care for people living with dementia, as regrettably many American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer from cognitive decline,” said IHS Director Roselyn Tso. “Clinicians at IHS, tribal, and urban Indian health facilities are using these funds to identify and build new approaches to care. This new round of funding will bring additional much-needed resources to local communities, people living with dementia, their caregivers, and families."

The 2024 awardees include two new recipients alongside four previous awardees:

- **Indian Health Board (IHB) of Minneapolis Inc., Minnesota**: Awarded $200,000 to improve early diagnosis access for dementia.

- **Indian Health Council Inc., California**: Received $200,000 to continue building an integrated care model addressing dementia in American Indian and Alaska Native populations aged 55+.

- **Nez Perce Tribe**, Idaho: Granted $199,383 to enhance its Memory Care Program in collaboration with the Nez Perce Tribe’s Nimiipuu Health primary care clinic.

- **Northern Valley Indian Health Inc., California**: Allocated $200,000 for its Stronger Together Dementia Awareness Program.

- **Santo Domingo Pueblo**, New Mexico: Awarded $199,716 as a first-time recipient aiming to bridge cognitive service gaps.

- **Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC), Arizona**: Received $200,000 focusing on building community-clinical linkages.

A recent study spanning over 30 years involving 11 tribes reported that 54 percent of American Indians between ages 70-95 had cognitive impairment. Dr. Bruce Finke stated that these findings highlight the necessity for increased investment in dementia-related services.

The IHS is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) providing comprehensive health services delivery systems for approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives across 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.