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AARP Research

Since 2015, AARP Research has been fielding surveys in support of AARP’s Policy and Brain Health team and the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH). AARP Research produces a final report for

each brain health topic (employment, hearing, dementia stigma, etc.). This collection represents these final reports on brain health topics to date. 

When the survey series kicked off in 2015, a general survey exploring awareness and interest in brain health was launched to get a general read of the views and concerns about brain health

among adults age 40 and older. An update to several of these key questions was in included in a January 2024 report.

Following the initial 2015 survey, subsequent reports were also based on nationally representative samples and their topics related to the six pillar brain health behaviors: exercise, sleep,

social engagement, mentally stimulating activity, nutrition, and mental well-being (stress).

Reports were produced for additional topics including employment, hearing, music, dietary supplements, delirium, and the perceptions related to a dementia diagnosis. Some surveys have

included adults ages 18 and older, others have included adults ages 40 and older. Most final reports include highlights and differences in Hispanic/Latino, African American/Black, and Asian

American communities.

Several common threads have emerged over the years of fielding these surveys:

behaviors when they find out that doing so is good for their brain health. A relationship exists between engagement in healthy behaviors and self-reported brain health and mental well-being.

 Adults who engage in healthy behaviors more often tend to self-report better brain health and higher mental well-being scores.Adults tend to put trust in their healthcare providers when it

comes to advice about healthy behaviors, dietary supplements, and a cognitive evaluation. 

For more information, please contact Laura Mehegan at [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at [email protected].

For more information on brain health, please visit the Global Council of Brain Health.

HealthAwareness (2025) - Views About Brain Health and DementiaBrain health resources survey (2024) - Where Do Adults Age 40-Plus Get Information on Health Topics?Cognitively stimulating

activities (2017) – 2017 AARP Cognitive Activity and Brain Health SurveyDelirium  (Gen Pop, HCPs, 2020) – 2020 AARP Brain Health and Delirium SurveyDementia stigma  (Gen pop, HCPs, 2021) – 

2021 AARP Survey on Perceptions Related to Dementia DiagnosisEmployment, including relationship to mental health and sleep (2024) - Brain Health and Employment: Adults Ages 18-PlusHearing

poll (2024) and Brain health and hearing survey (2023) - The Intersection Between Hearing and Brain Health; Attitudes and Behaviors Related to HearingMental well-being (2016) – 2016 Survey

on Healthy Behaviors and Mental Well-BeingMental well-being (2018) – 2018 Brain Healh and Mental Well-Being SurveyMusic (2020) – 2020 Music and Brain Health SurveyNutrition (2017) – 2017

Brain Health and Nutrition SurveySupplements (2019) – 2019 AARP Dietary Supplements and Brain Health SurveyPhysical activity (2016) – 2016 Survey on Physical ActivitySleep (2016) – 2016 AARP

Sleep and Brain Health SurveySocial engagement (2016) – 2016 AARP Social Engagement and Brain Health SurveyStigma associated with aging and cognition (2024) - Social Stigma and

Health-Related ConditionsTraumatic brain injury (TBI) (2025) - The Prevalance and Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury

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