Engaging diverse perspectives is critical to achieving health equity — meaning that all communities have a fair and just opportunity for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's or another dementia and access to risk reduction, quality care and treatments. The Association continued making strides in FY23 in expanding its reach and responding with resources to address the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer's and all other dementia on underrepresented communities.
The Association's inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report documented its ongoing work in pursuit of health equity in dementia care. The report highlighted important progress the Association is making in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across all areas of its mission nationwide.
A new partnership between the Association and 100 Black Men of America, Inc. (The 100) will promote brain health and increasing awareness of care and support resources for Black Americans living with Alzheimer's or another dementia and their caregivers. The groups will collectively advance The 100's health and wellness goals to raise awareness, provide access to health care and offer information that will ultimately promote behavior changes resulting in a healthier lifestyle.
The Association and The Links, Incorporated, announced a partnership to provide Alzheimer's information and resources to Black American communities. Each entity will raise awareness and maximize support for individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer's or another dementia while engaging in meaningful discussions to address health equity and health disparities as they relate to dementia care.
Other new FY23 partnerships included the Association for Clinical and Translational Science, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, the National Minority Health Association, the Nurses on Boards Coalition and the Philippine Nurses Association. The Association also renewed its partnership with SAGE (Services and Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Elders) to continue to provide dementia information and resources to LGBTQ+ communities.
Association representatives attended the 46th Annual Conference of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), a new national diversity, equity and inclusion partner. The collaboration with NBCSL will focus on increasing participation in clinical trials; advancing early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's and all other dementia; and developing and implementing state Alzheimer's plans.
The Association and Gdavis Productions and Films, LLC, brought "Unforgettable," a dynamic and emotional stage play that showcases the effects of caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer's in an easy-to-understand and relatable way, to NBCSL's 46th Annual Legislative Conference and at-capacity performances in Dallas and Atlanta. "Unforgettable" sheds light on the importance of early detection, recognizing the early warning signs of Alzheimer's and the importance of underrepresented communities' participation in clinical trials.
The Association and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) hosted the third annual Connectional Purple Sunday, which raises awareness of Alzheimer's disease among the Black American community. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) participated to discuss the benefits of collaborative work between the Association and AME in her district. Attendees learned about the impact of Alzheimer's in their community, how to recognize the signs, the importance of early detection, and how to access Association care and support resources.
The Association joined leading brain health and dementia researchers and community leaders for the second annual Black Men's Brain Health Conference. The conference examined how various risk factors contribute to Black men's higher risk for Alzheimer's and all other dementia and explored how the brain's ability to adapt to significant sources of stress affects their cognitive health.
Latinos are the largest minoritized racial/ethnic group in the United States but also comprise a small, unrepresentative fraction of clinical trial participants. Leaders in health equity issued an urgent call to address the underrepresentation of Latinos in Alzheimer's and dementia clinical trials in an article, co-authored by Carl V. Hill, Ph.D., MPH, Association chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, and Yarissa Reyes, director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in the Association journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.
The Association's free ALZ Talks webinars provide education, information, news and resources on a variety of dementia and caregiving topics. The first Spanish-language ALZ Talks took place in October 2022, with a second edition taking place in June 2023.