Confidence & Compassion
Cognitive Care for Family Medicine Physicians
There are 57 million people with dementia worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of cases. Dementia care is already a primary care issue with more than half of family physicians reporting that
dementia specialist shortages in their communities leave patients
without adequate referral options. This places early detection and care
coordination squarely in the family medicine setting.
Recognizing early signs and responding with the right tools and
language can meaningfully change a patient's trajectory. Cognitive
health spans the entire lifespan, from prevention and early recognition
in midlife to the management of complex neurodegenerative conditions
later in life. That's why
ACOFP, with support from Eli Lilly and Company, launched a
comprehensive cognitive care program to educate family physicians
throughout 2026.
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Hear from the experts
Kicking off our four-part Cognitive Care Learning Series, this first video focuses on how to start the conversation with your patients about brain health and lowering dementia risk.
Learn practical ways to engage patients in meaningful discussions about lifestyle changes—from physical activity to social connection and sleep—that can make a lasting impact.
Read the Blog Series
This is an ongoing collection of interviews and perspectives from family physicians, caregivers, pharmacology experts, and association leaders, including the Alzheimer's Association. Each installment will tackle a different dimension of cognitive care as it plays out in primary practice.
What you can expect
Resources to support you and your patients
The new ACOFP cognitive care program is more than just an educational program for members, it aims to provide practical resources to enable confident and compassionate patient care.
A cornerstone element is the caregiver handout, which is a resource physician members can share with their patients and families. It draws on physician expertise and caregiver experience to cover the full spectrum of cognitive decline, what to expect at each stage, how to navigate the medical system and find support.
Thank you to our program sponsor!
