CHICAGO, JUNE 3, 2020 — The senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many others, over so many generations, are unacceptable and abhorrent. Their deaths are wrong. The Alzheimer’s Association believes we must create a society in which people feel safe, cared for and valued.
This isn’t just a matter of those violent deaths that have recently occurred. Systemic racial and social injustice permeate all aspects of society and are intertwined with the causes of health disparities for African American, Latinx and other diverse communities. This has been all too apparent in COVID-19 outcomes. All of this must end.
We must all work to end inequity and injustice. None of us — neither any one individual nor any single organization — can do it alone. At the Alzheimer’s Association, we know we must do our part and must work even harder to achieve lasting changes we can impact.
The facts are clear: Systemic inequities are fundamental reasons for health disparities experienced by African American and Latinx communities related to Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Studies indicate that Blacks are about twice as likely and Hispanic/Latinos are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias. It is also clear that these disparities are related to less access to important health-protecting resources such as quality care and social networks that provide valuable health information and support. The lack of those resources, as well as social and environmental factors, lead to disparities in other health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, increasing risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
The Alzheimer’s Association is deeply committed to addressing such inequities. Our board of directors, our volunteers and staff are committed for the long term through the work we do every day to deliver our mission. We have made diversity and inclusion a key driver of our strategic plan to focus our entire organization on these issues because we know we need to do more, to achieve more in all of our work. We are focused on advancing science specific to diverse communities and on improving risk reduction as well as support for families who are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s and all other dementias.
Together, our commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity, in all of our work, in communities today and in the future, will contribute to a nation where all people feel safe, cared for and valued.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.