Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

The BRFSS collects information on U.S. residents regarding health-related behaviors, chronic health conditions, and the use of preventative health care services. The survey is administered in every state, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories, resulting in over 400,000 interviews annually. BRFSS is one of three population-based studies supported by the Analysis Core.

Understanding the BRFSS

BRFSS is a nationally-representative repeated cross-sectional study of U.S. adults administered by state health departments. Data include a standardized core questionnaire, optional modules, and state-added questions. The cognitive decline module includes questions on cognitive functioning and allows researchers using the BRFSS data to examine socio-demographic and behavioral correlates of ADRD disparities. Since 2009, all U.S. States have administered the cognitive decline module at least once, and South Carolina has administered the module in both 2011 and 2015. Further information on the BRFSS, including questionnaires for all data years, can be found on the BRFSS website .

Access

For access to the BRFSS, all users should follow the data download procedures on the BRFSS website.