South Carolina Chapter
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Our Impact in South Carolina
When you help raise funds in your community through our signature events (Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, Ride to End ALZ® South Carolina or The Longest Day®), the dollars you raise are advancing global research efforts as well as supporting local care, support, awareness and advocacy through the SC Chapter.
Advancing dementia research around the globe – and here in South Carolina
As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research, the Alzheimer's Association is committed to accelerating the global effort to eliminate Alzheimer's and all other dementia.Our grants program has funded some of the most important research threads in Alzheimer's science, including initiatives working toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
The Association currently has more than $430 million invested in over 1,100 active projects in 56 countries spanning six continents – but this global reach does not diminish our local impact.
Fueling Alzheimer’s and dementia research in South Carolina
The Association funds over $2.6 million in active research initiatives in the Palmetto State. Funded research institutions include Clemson University, the Lowcountry Center for Veterans Research, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina.View a list of SC research grantees over the last 5 years.
The South Carolina Chapter has also been a leading voice in advocating for access to clinical trials in our state. For years, South Carolinians living with Alzheimer’s have had extremely limited access to clinical trials for new Alzheimer’s treatments. Those who are able have had to travel for hours at their own expense, often out of state, to pursue eligibility for treatment trials.
In 2023, our chapter championed and helped secure $10 million in the state budget to support the formation of a multi-institutional federal Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) in our state and to pursue federal ADRC designation through the National Institute on Aging (NIA). This would drive access to coveted treatment trials, improve health care quality for dementia patients, open new funding streams for research and help recruit the best and brightest practitioners and researchers in the field. Currently, the nearest federal ADRCs are in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida, with pilot centers in Tennessee and Alabama.
The South Carolina ADRC (comprised of the University of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Clemson University) will be applying for designation in September 2025. While this process is underway, state funding for the collaborative SC ADRC has already brought local advancements in biomarker testing and analysis for both research and clinical use.
Aside from funding, recruiting clinical trial participants is the greatest obstacle to developing the next generation of Alzheimer's treatments. The Alzheimer’s Association is proud to offer TrialMatch®, a free, easy-to-use service that helps people anywhere find clinical research that may be a good fit, whether you're focused on treatment, diagnosis, care or prevention.
Our work is about people and science
We are living at a time of unprecedented hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s. For the first time, we have treatments that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.But we won’t rest until everyone — at any stage of the disease — can get the treatment, care and support they need.
To that end, we are also focused on maximizing care and support for all impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Here in South Carolina, more than 112,500 people are living with Alzheimer’s. An estimated 224,000 family members and friends are helping with caregiving, dedicating over 369 million hours of unpaid care each year.
Our local chapter team and committed volunteers are serving the entire state of South Carolina, offering education and support to anyone facing Alzheimer’s or other dementia, advocating for their needs, increasing public awareness and advancing critical research efforts.
Fast facts about our local impact in Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)
- 4,851 South Carolinians (unduplicated) were reached through our free support services, including community education programs, support groups and 24/7 Helpline.
- 18.8 million media impressions garnered across South Carolina to raise awareness of the disease and the Association.
- 1st chapter in the nation to be awarded the Association’s State Public Policy Achievement Award for our state work to advance Alzheimer’s and dementia research.
- $5.5 million total revenue raised across South Carolina through donations and signature events to support the Association’s research, care and support efforts at the state and nationwide level.
Questions about our local impact? Email alzsc@alz.org.
Alzheimer’s Association research investments in SC, 2021-2025
2025
VA Health Care System Participation in ALZ-NET RegistryLowcountry Center for Veterans Research, Charleston, SC (active)
2024
Alzheimer's Disease Fellowship at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care SystemLowcountry Center for Veterans Research, Charleston, SC (active)
A novel bispecific antibody targeting amyloid beta
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (active)
Advance care planning and end of life in cognitively impaired older adults
Clemson University, Clemson, SC (active)
Emulating Early Physical Activity and Multidomain Interventions on ADRD
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (active)
2023
Vascular cognitive impairment in diabetes: mechanisms and interventionMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (active)
Assistive Technology to Support People with MCI & Dementia in the Workplace
Clemson University, Clemson, SC (active)
Reprogramming Endothelial Cells to Prevent and Treat Alzheimer Disease
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (active)
Obesity-related vascular impairment contributes to Alzheimer’s disease
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (active)
2022
Resolution Reprogramming in Models of Alzheimer's Disease InflammationMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (active)
Repurposing Antihypertensive Drugs in Routine Care to Reduce Dementia Risk
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (active)
A New Approach to Recruitment for AD Clinical Trials in the VA
Lowcountry Center for Veterans Research, Charleston, SC (completed)
2021
Functional Connectivity Alterations Following Brain Stimulation in MCIMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (completed)
In addition to research grant funding, the Association’s investment in research supports a wide range of global leadership initiatives. Learn more about our commitment to research.