BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Q&A WITH ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CHIEF DE&I OFFICER, CARL V. HILL

This two-day conference will examine how various risk factors contribute to Black men’s higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other brain disorders. The conference will also explore how resilience – the brain’s ability to adapt to significant sources of stress – affects Black men’s cognitive health.

Throughout Febru- ary, the Association is celebrating Black trailblazers by highlighting notable accomplishments of Black Americans in the fight against Alzheimer’s on our social channels and blog. There are also various Black History Month events taking place at local Association chapters across the country. The Alzheimer’s Association has created national partnerships with several highly respected organizations in the Black/African community – how are these partnerships helping in the fight against Alzheimer’s?

The Alzheimer’s Association is engaging with several national organizations that advocate for resources and improved health in the Black/African American community. These include Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., National Council of Negro Women, National Black Nurses Association and Black Nurses Rock, to name a few. These national partnerships help us deliver our education, awareness, care and support resources to Black/

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African American communities in ways that are culturally responsive, aware and effective. A great example of how the Alzheimer’s Association is working with diverse partners is our work with Gdavis Productions and Films to bring the stage play, “Unforgettable,” to communities across the country. The play provides important disease-related information in a format that is lively and entertaining. Audience response to the production has been overwhelmingly positive and provides a valuable engagement opportunity with communities that are underserved and disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s and or another dementia.

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. We need Black/African professionals in these fields to help add to perspectives around risk for dementia. Research tells us more every day about the importance of cardiovascular health along the lifecourse for dementia risk. Black/African researchers can play a vital role in helping identify barriers to quality health- care 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 to Black/African American families and communities in ways that are culturally responsive and effective. This is an urgent call to action, because Black/African Americans are disproportionately exposed to many factors that leave us vulnerable to Alzheimer’s or another dementia.