The #BringInYouth4ALZ Curriculum
The world’s first research-based, youth-developed, Alzheimer’s curriculum of its kind.
The #BringInYouth4ALZ Curriculum, created in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and consisting of 7 sessions, is a youth-developed, research-based, open-source, classroom-ready Alzheimer’s education framework.
The curriculum is the backbone of the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign, translating education into action at scale.
Below is the software format, but the application is available as an app as well.
Built in accordance with…
Structured pre/post (M&E) assessments/evaluation & engagement tracking
Offline-capable, equity-centered delivery model for low-resource classrooms
Student and Educator Training Frameworks
Youth leadership and advocacy components with measured civic and communication outcomes
The Curriculum:
A comprehensive, student-directed version of the #BringInYouth4ALZ Curriculum organized into the full outline and seven detailed sub-sessions, offering an expanded, step-by-step walkthrough for independent exploration and reflection.
-
Purpose:
#BringInYouth4ALZ is a vital project of the Youth Outreach Campaign, aimed at inspiring and educating high school students across the United States and beyond about the impacts of Alzheimer's Disease.
This mission holds significant importance, as it not only imparts knowledge of Alzheimer's disease-related topics to students but also involves them in the growing dedication to increase awareness for the disease, prioritizing diversity and inclusion in outreach, and integrating each youth participant into the broader movement.
Aspects of Focus:
The #BringInYouth4ALZ project is a well-designed curriculum, consisting of six carefully crafted sessions along with a pre-assessment that covers various aspects of Alzheimer's Disease outreach by engaging young individuals through innovative platforms.
This comprehensive curriculum not only imparts knowledge about Alzheimer's disease but also focuses on fostering empathy, teaching patient care, and providing a platform for getting involved by volunteering.
This tailored module provides opportunities for young individuals to cultivate knowledge-based learning and develop their emotional intelligence, thereby enriching their practical skills and abilities as they participate in each section of the curriculum.
Furthermore, participating in these sessions hones leadership qualities and promotes character development, equipping the youth participants with knowledge of the disease and grooming them into future leaders.
This approach is essential in sparking a deep-seated passion within the next generation to endeavor toward a world where Alzheimer's Disease is no longer a looming threat.
The #BringInYouth4ALZ curriculum is based on a systematic approach that prioritizes professionalism and effectiveness, employing the PICO framework—a widely respected method for formulating and addressing clinical inquiries. This structured framework highlights the essential components of the program as follows:
Population: The program seeks to actively involve high school students from across the United States and beyond.
Intervention: Central to the #BringInYouth4ALZ initiative are six meticulously crafted sessions and pre-assessment designed to impart knowledge regarding various facets of Alzheimer’s disease and its implications for the community. These sessions address critical topics, ensuring that participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the disease.
Comparison: Certain program locations will include pre-and post-assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of this educational curriculum. Details regarding this assessment process can be found in sections 1 and 3 of the curriculum, which focuses on knowledge evaluation.
Outcome: Ultimately, the overarching goal is to elevate awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and expand the outreach of the Youth Outreach Campaign, thereby contributing to a more informed and compassionate community response to this pressing health issue.
Integrating the PICO framework into the curriculum enhances the credibility of the #BringInYouth4ALZ program. This structured approach effectively aids high school students in understanding Alzheimer’s disease and accessing volunteer opportunities and resources from organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The program seeks to empower young individuals, equipping them to become informed advocates and compassionate caregivers within their communities.
Pre-assessment:
The Knowledge Check: The Pre-Assessment is set to evaluate initial knowledge level of Alzheimer’s Disease prior to the starting of the curriculum sessions. Similar to the Knowledge Assessment, it also consists of ten multiple-choice questions.
Comprehensive Descriptions of the six sessions:
#BeFamiliarWithAlzheimer’s: This segment encompasses a short video presentation providing comprehensive knowledge on Alzheimer's Disease and related forms of dementia.
#RealTalks: This session consists of two parts -Student-led discussion on generalized details about Alzheimer’s Disease & A 10-minute video presentation showcasing two authentic stories of patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Knowledge Assessment: This segment contains ten multiple-choice questions to evaluate the comprehension of the knowledge-based video content on Alzheimer's Disease showcased during the #BeFamiliarWithAlzheimer’s session.
#HandlingWithCare: This session involves three scenario-based, thought-provoking questions derived from real-life stories, connected to the videos from the #RealTalks session, along with a group/class discussion.
Caregiver Insights: This section showcases videos from guest speakers and offers valuable insights into the experiences of personal caregivers caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease.
#VolunteeringWithALZ: This session includes a two to three-minute video that presents information to students regarding volunteer initiatives associated with organizations like the Alzheimer's Association, including the 'Walk to End Alzheimer's' and 'Longest Day' programs.
Successive segments of the report elaborates on the sessions mentioned above, emphasizing the academic and mental benefits of the youth outreach campaign participants.
-
Highlights:
To assess the effectiveness and credibility of the program, all participants will complete a ten-question multiple-choice assessment prior to attendance, referred to as the "Pre-Assessment." This evaluation, known as the Knowledge Check, is designed to gauge the baseline knowledge of participants. Following their engagement in the program, linear regression models will be constructed to illustrate the growth in students' knowledge.
Both the Knowledge Check and the subsequent Knowledge Assessment sessions are thoughtfully designed to allow for self-grading. This approach significantly reduces the administrative burden associated with the program. By streamlining the process, scores can be efficiently transferred to spreadsheets, which is crucial for generating accurate linear regression models. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of scores from both assessments will offer a comprehensive evaluation of the growth and improvements in participants' understanding throughout the program's duration.
Benefits:
The initial check gathers a clear understanding of students' knowledge levels, which allows for meaningful comparisons with their knowledge after receiving the necessary training.
This Knowledge Check serves as a feedback mechanism, offering indirect insights about the program's efficacy and highlighting areas for potential improvement.
-
Highlights:
The initial segment of the curriculum, titled #BeFamiliarWithAlzheimer’s, features a video presentation focusing on Alzheimer's Disease and related forms of dementia.
The video offers comprehensive coverage of risk factors, treatments, symptoms, molecular mechanisms, epidemiology, diagnosis, and prevention techniques to educate youth participants and provide an extensive understanding of this prevalent disease.
The video includes collective information on the following topics in the specified order:
Epidemiology:
This section presents statistical information and incorporates insights from the Alzheimer's Association database to illuminate the global impact of Alzheimer's.
Molecular Mechanisms:
Viewers are guided through the exploration of the discovery of Alzheimer's Disease and its biomarkers, along with a concise explanation of Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.
Symptoms:
This section elaborates on the various stages of Alzheimer's Disease, detailing ten specific warning signs observable during each stage.
Risk Factors:
Comprehensive information on age, family history, and genetic factors is provided to illuminate the diverse risk factors associated with Alzheimer's.
Diagnosis:
This subsection includes an overview of assessments and tests used to diagnose Alzheimer's and addresses common misconceptions that may lead to misidentifying other ailments as Alzheimer's.
Treatments:
This segment imparts valuable information about the evolving knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease and details of drug and non-drug studies conducted nationwide, including clinical trial information.
Prevention:
The final section provides valuable insights into various approaches to preventing Alzheimer's Disease, encompassing diverse dietary regimens, physical activity, social engagement, and additional preventative measures.
Benefits:
The #BeFamiliarWithAlzheimer’s video is designed to be the starting point of the curriculum, aiming to introduce students to this disease and educate them about its prevalence.
Besides providing academic benefits in learning a new topic, this video also allows participants to comprehend the global impact of diseases and how to effectively monitor various aspects of their lives concerning factors impacting the body.
This will empower student participants to enhance their own lives, adopt early lifestyle adjustments, and identify changes in the lives of others that may contribute to this disease.
-
Highlights:
#RealTalks serves as the second curriculum segment, comprising two components: student-led discussions and a ten-minute video presentation.
Student-Led Discussions:
After watching the #BeFamiliarWithAlzheimer's video, students will participate in discussions to reflect on their insights regarding Alzheimer's disease as presented in the video. They can also choose to analyze the implications of the disease on families based on their observations and inferences. These discussions may take place in small groups or as a unified class activity.
Ten-Minute Video:
After the group discussions, 2 videos featuring real-life patient narratives will be presented.
These videos will present the personal experiences of patients living with Alzheimer's and authentically portray the challenges associated with the condition.
Benefits:
The #RealTalks section offers young participants the opportunity to cultivate their reflective thinking by scrutinizing content on a pertinent topic, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, and engaging in substantive, personal discussions about it.
In addition to furnishing a forum for students to articulate their viewpoints, this segment of the curriculum also fosters a deeper grasp of the emotional realities experienced by individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease, thus nurturing their emotional intelligence.
-
Highlights:
The third segment of the curriculum, known as the Knowledge Assessment, offers students a respite from acquiring new information, allowing them to reflect on their prior knowledge.
This section comprises ten multiple-choice questions designed to gauge students' understanding of the knowledge-based video content on Alzheimer's Disease featured in the #BeFamiliarWith Alzheimer’s session.
The questions cover various topics, including:
Statistics related to epidemiology
Molecular mechanisms
Symptoms and risk factors
Diagnostic assessments and examinations
Treatment options
Clinical trials
Prevention methods
Benefits:
The objective of this assessment is to foster practical testing and reflective thinking skills among the program's participants, thereby facilitating the enhancement of their knowledge-based thinking abilities.
-
Highlights:
The curriculum's fourth section, #HandlingWithCare, provides students with an opportunity for thoughtful reflection and processing of information presented in the #RealTalks section.
This session will consist of two to three scenario-based, thought-provoking questions aimed at encouraging participating students to transcend stereotypical discussions surrounding the disease and its multifaceted aspects. The emphasis will be placed on examining the social and societal implications of the disease, as well as its effects on caregivers and family dynamics. Through this exploration, participants will engage in a deeper understanding of the broader context in which the disease exists, fostering a more comprehensive conversation.
After completing knowledge assessments, students will answer three thought-provoking questions individually, in pairs, or in groups, depending on their preference.
Subsequently, whole-class discussions will be conducted to facilitate comparisons between group responses and those of other peers within the class. This approach aims to foster improvement in student answers while developing their abilities to engage with diverse perspectives. By encouraging open-mindedness, students will learn to correct their thoughts and expand their viewpoints through active listening to others’ contributions.
Benefits:
The questions featured in this session are intended to be more open-ended and distinct from those in the Knowledge Assessment, aiming to prompt students to think creatively.
This session provides young participants with initial exposure to caretaking for individuals with dementia, and aims to cultivate empathy and understanding, qualities essential for becoming conscientious community members in the future.
-
Highlights:
Section V of the curriculum, Caregiver Insights, serves as a platform for students to engage with caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This section includes two guest speaker videos, offering valuable insights into personal caregiver experiences.
Benefits:
The Caregiver Insights session aims to cultivate empathetic behavior and foster emotional connections among young individuals, nurturing them to become compassionate contributors to the community.
Furthermore, the program offers preliminary training to equip students with the skills necessary to care for patients and elderly individuals in future scenarios.
-
Highlights:
The concluding session of the #VolunteeringWithALZ program presents a tailored educational video designed for young participants. This video aims to raise awareness about various volunteer opportunities linked to organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association. It focuses on key initiatives like the 'Walk to End Alzheimer's' and 'The Longest Day,' while also highlighting ways to contribute to clinical trials. Additionally, it showcases opportunities with nonprofits such as the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Teen Chapters, providing participants with meaningful activities that they can incorporate into their own lives.
Benefits:
#VolunteeringWithALZ is intended to inspire student participants to participate actively in volunteer work within their local communities.
This section’s purpose is to instill a sense of initiative and encourage them to make meaningful contributions to causes with broader societal impact.
A structured, educator-led delivery framework designed for classroom facilitation, including the Initial Outreach Bundle, facilitation deck, implementation checklist, and guided presentation materials to ensure coordinated, high-impact in-person instruction.
-
“General — What Is It About?” Overview Document:
A foundational briefing document outlining the mission, urgency, structure, and institutional alignment of the #BringInYouth4ALZ Curriculum, including its PICO-based framework, six-session model, and public health rationale.
Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist:
A structured execution framework detailing pre-assessment protocols, session implementation requirements, scalability options, and data integrity measures to ensure standardized, high-impact delivery across host institutions.
Initial Presentation — Youth Outreach Campaign Overview:
A comprehensive slide-based introduction to the campaign’s purpose, benefits, curriculum structure, and session breakdown, designed for institutional review and classroom implementation planning.
Complete Facilitation Deck — #BringInYouth4ALZ (Teacher-Led Implementation):
A fully structured, teacher-led implementation guide containing scripted session flow, pre-assessment integration, discussion prompts, embedded video links, knowledge checks, and reflection activities to support seamless, high-impact classroom delivery of the #BringInYouth4ALZ Curriculum.
These outreach materials are specifically designed for structured, in-class implementation under the guidance of a teacher or facilitator to ensure dialogue, reflection, and measurable engagement. For questions specifically related to in-person classroom implementation, please refer to the “Your Questions, Answered” section below.
Your Questions, Answered.
This FAQ section is intended exclusively for educators, schools, policymakers, and institutions seeking to implement the #BringInYouth4ALZ Curriculum in a structured, in-person classroom setting.
All documents and materials referenced here can be accessed through the “In-Person Curriculum Facilitation Bundle.”
Any government, public, or private institution seeking to formally implement the curriculum, receive facilitation support, or coordinate an in-person delivery meeting must contact our team to ensure appropriate coordination and alignment. They can use our contact form on the “Contact” page to do so.
-
This Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign, designed by Riyaa Sri Ramanathan, is dedicated to a mission of profound significance—the outreach and education of high school students residing in various regions throughout the United States and beyond regarding the complexities and challenges associated with Alzheimer's disease.
-
This program is designed with a paramount objective: to cultivate awareness among young individuals who may have limited exposure to critical health-related topics. This initiative employs a comprehensive framework comprising educational sessions, interactive discussions, and community service opportunities to enhance understanding of Alzheimer's disease. It emphasizes empathy, patient care, and avenues for volunteering. Tailored for young individuals, the program promotes knowledge-based learning and emotional intelligence, enriching their practical skills through active participation in the curriculum. Drawing upon comprehensive data sourced from and in partnership with the United Nations Statistics Division regarding literacy rates, educational attainment, school attendance, and D.A.R.E. initiatives, this program has been meticulously crafted to reflect a proven methodological framework. Crafted based on the proven programmatic approaches and industry-recognized frameworks of the Alzheimer’s Association, supported by an award-winning institutional board, and adopted by the New York State Education System and Board of Cooperative Educational Services as a “remarkable and one-of-a-kind curriculum and program,” these sessions are purposefully designed to cultivate exceptional leadership qualities and foster the holistic development of character in participants. Ultimately, this initiative empowers students to become advocates and leaders in addressing the critical public health issue of Alzheimer’s Disease, preparing them to lead in the present and future. This program empowers students to become leaders not just for tomorrow, but for today.
-
Step-by-Step Outline:
Submission of the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist: Schools are required to submit a completed Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist using the designated Google Form.
Follow-Up and Implementation: Upon completion of the submitted form, schools will receive additional instructions and necessary materials. Following this, the next two steps will be implemented:
Curriculum Implementation:
Each participating teacher, staff member, or program administrator will receive a #BringInYouth4ALZ Curriculum Bundle. This bundle includes a customized document outlining all six sessions of the program for administrators, along with a slideshow presentation designed for effective delivery to students.
The implementation phase will span one or two days and will involve two to three classes of students (preferably health or science classes), ensuring the program reaches the target of 50 participants as specified in the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist. Each student is expected to attend only once, and the curriculum will be delivered in a single sitting.
Schools have the option to implement either the complete six sessions or a reduced version of four sessions, depending on individual time constraints as indicated in the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist. It is important to note that a pre-assessment (knowledge check)—structured as a brief five-minute survey—remains a mandatory component, as detailed in the provided slides, documentation, and Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist. The implementation process has been designed to be straightforward and self-explanatory.
Optional School-Wide Email/Social Media Distribution:
Concurrently with the Curriculum Implementation, schools may elect to participate in the Email/Social Media Distribution aspect of the program. This involves the option to disseminate a large email/social media post to students across various grade levels, featuring pamphlets and handouts that accompany the Curriculum Bundle. While this distribution is optional and subject to the school’s discretion, the necessary materials will still be provided irrespective of the school’s final decision.
This formalized content ensures clarity and comprehensiveness while maintaining all original information.
-
Students are expected to take an active role in engaging with the curriculum as educators present instructional materials, which outline each session in a comprehensive, step-by-step manner.
-
No, this program is designed to be as straightforward as possible and is primarily self-explanatory for schools interested in conducting the tailored curriculum for their students.
-
The responses will be documented to maintain accurate participant counts and bolster the campaign's integrity. The checklist encompasses several inquiries and fields for input. Upon the submission of the completed checklist, the curriculum bundle will be shared to the schools, and promoted to the youth.
-
The #BringInYouth4ALZ initiative, a project of the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign, has been meticulously developed in accordance with the esteemed PICO Framework. This well-structured curriculum comprises six thoughtfully designed sessions: #BeFamiliarWithAlzheimer’s, #RealTalks, Knowledge Assessment, #HandlingWithCare, Caregiver Insights, and #VolunteeringWithALZ, along with a pre-assessment, the Knowledge Check. Through these sessions, the program aims to cultivate essential skills and characteristics in participating students, such as leadership abilities, comprehensive knowledge, and empathy. By addressing various facets of Alzheimer's Disease outreach, the initiative engages young individuals through innovative platforms, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to the cause.
-
Each component of the #BringInYouth4ALZ curriculum is intentionally designed to be straightforward in execution, incorporating a designated time frame that includes allowances for potential technical challenges and other minor facilitation concerns. The total implementation of the program at each site is anticipated to require no more than 60 to 80 minutes. Although the total execution time is estimated to be around an hour, some schools may find this duration to be lengthy. Therefore, schools have the flexibility to omit two specific sessions: #HandlingWithCare and Caregiver Insights, which would decrease the overall curriculum time by 25 minutes. For more details on this option, schools can refer to the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist, where they can indicate their preferences.
-
No. This program is exclusively designed for educational purposes and does not require any form of payment.
-
No. However, schools must agree to participate in this campaign and implement the curriculum for their students by completing the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist. That is the extent of the requirements.
-
No. This program instills several soft skills and qualities but does not contribute to academic certifications for both the schools and the students.
-
There is no limitation regarding the implementation of the program; however, we request a minimum of 50 attendees, which typically corresponds to an average of two classes. Additionally, we offer email/social media distribution campaigning for schools that choose to participate on a larger scale, aimed at engaging the entire community of students across all grade levels. This initiative will involve the distribution of materials, including handouts, pamphlets, and other informational resources, via email/various social media platforms. The content is developed using various sources, including the Alzheimer's Association. The effort required from the school is nonexistent, as this approach is designed to maximize outreach to a broader range of students. Further details can be found in the Alzheimer’s Youth Outreach Campaign Checklist.
-
The implementation of this program and the associated campaign possess the potential to yield a multitude of positive outcomes. The final segment of the #BringInYouth4ALZ curriculum highlights local events related to Alzheimer’s Disease, organized by groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association, where students can engage. Such involvement not only furnishes valuable volunteer service hours but also enhances their leadership capabilities. By cultivating a sense of ownership regarding community welfare, this initiative contributes to an expanded youth volunteer base focused on Alzheimer’s disease, thereby empowering students to effect positive change within their communities and evolve into influential leaders. Furthermore, the architecture of this curriculum is designed to facilitate students' acquisition of insights into Alzheimer’s Disease while simultaneously promoting self-reflection regarding their interpersonal interactions. This subsequently fosters empathy, social responsibility, and augments emotional intelligence. These competencies are of paramount importance and may be regarded as significant in a manner analogous to conventional academic achievements. Typically, the cultivation of these essential soft skills necessitates consistent nurturing within students; therefore, this program and its curriculum occupy a distinctive and vital role in this respect. By developing these skills, students are poised to become formidable advocates for social change, including Alzheimer's awareness, thereby instigating meaningful improvements within their communities as they progress through life.