Alzheimer’s Notes: Q&A honoring Black History Month

When Dr. Alois Alzheimer began researching the disease that now bears his name, he selected several doctors from around the globe to be his research assistants in Germany, including Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller, the first known Black/African American psychiatrist, whose work includes some of the earliest publications on dementia in America. Dr. Fuller’s central presence in Dr. Alzheimer’s lab makes a point about representation. His involvement at the very beginning — providing his perspective as part of Dr. Alzheimer’s team — is an important legacy that should inspire how we continue to move forward.

The Association is celebrating Black History Month by convening important discussions about the need for improved dedication to dementia science, care and support that informs and benefits the Black/African American community. This includes discussions about specific factors that put our community at risk, and also discussions about the factors that keep Black/African Americans from being recruited to participate in dementia clinical trials.

The Alzheimer’s Association kicked off Black History Month by hosting a webinar that featured a robust discussion on the historical inequities in clinical trials and their lasting impact on Black Americans and other underrepresented populations. The webinar examined the importance of increasing trial participation, addressing health disparities among underserved populations and potential strategies for improving trial participation that will create a path toward a more equitable future.

The Alzheimer’s Association also joined leading researchers and community leaders for the 2nd annual Black Men’s Brain Health Conference. This two-day conference examined how various risk factors contribute to Black men’s higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other brain disorders. The conference also explored how resilience – the brain’s ability to adapt to significant sources of stress – affects Black men’s cognitive health.

What is your message to young Black/African Americans who are interested in pursuing a career dedicated to dementia care, research or education?

It is very important that we recruit and retain more Black/African Americans to the fields of dementia research, care and support. They can play a vital role in helping identify barriers to quality healthcare and unique stressors in the environment that leads to poor coping behaviors and ultimately undermines cardiovascular health. In addition, we need more Black/African Americans in care and support roles to identify ways to better deliver resources like education about dementia, referrals to timely dementia care and support for families and communities in ways that are culturally responsive and effective. This is an urgent call to action, because these communities are disproportionately exposed to many factors that leave us vulnerable to Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Marisa Korytko | Marketing & Public Relations Director | Alzheimer’s Association, Northeastern New York | office: 518-675-7208.