[Chicago, Il - September 28, 2026] The Alzheimer's Association and Special Olympics today announced a new partnership to increase access to brain health education, dementia resources and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families and caregivers.
In conjunction with the new partnership, the organizations will collaborate to expand awareness of brain health and dementia, develop accessible educational resources, and strengthen connections between local Alzheimer's Association chapters and Special Olympics Programs. An initial focus of the partnership is adapting the Alzheimer's Association's "10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain" resource into an easy-read format to better serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to making brain health and dementia resources accessible to all communities. Together with Special Olympics, we can better support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers with trusted information, education and resources."
The partnership comes at a critical time. People with Down syndrome are at significantly increased risk for Alzheimer's disease, with estimates suggesting that 50% or more of people with Down syndrome will develop dementia due to Alzheimer's disease as they age. In addition, by age 40, most people with Down syndrome have the brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, including the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, although not everyone develops dementia symptoms.
Through the collaboration, the Alzheimer's Association and Special Olympics, will work to:
- Increase awareness of brain health and dementia among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Expand access to educational materials and support resources.
- Develop accessible and inclusive health education tools and resources.
- Connect individuals, families and caregivers to information about dementia, caregiving and support services.
- Explore opportunities for local Alzheimer's Association chapters and Special Olympics Programs to collaborate in communities across the country.
- Explore future potential to collaborate on research and evaluation focusing on dementia in the population of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"People with Down syndrome face a significantly increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, making trusted brain health and dementia resources critically important. Special Olympics is proud to partner with the Alzheimer's Association to expand the education and resources available to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and caregivers so they can recognize the signs of dementia, make informed decisions, and seek appropriate care."
"As our organizations work together, we have an opportunity to build stronger connections between our local networks and create meaningful pathways to education, support and care," Hill added. "Together, we can help ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have access to the resources they need throughout every stage of life."
