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African American Focus
 The University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Memory Research Center has
committed itself to focusing on how Alzheimer’s disease uniquely affects
African-Americans. Previous research has indicated that African Americans
are 14-100% more likely to have Alzheimer’s disease than Caucasians.
This is a concern because African Americans are drastically
under-represented in research on Alzheimer’s disease. African Americans
also have a higher risk for vascular disease and diabetes, both of which
contribute to a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally,
African Americans tend to be diagnosed during the later stages of the
disease, which limits the effectiveness of treatments now available. It
is unclear whether a cure found as a result of current research would be
effective for African Americans, since they have not been adequately
represented in trials of new drugs. The UAMS Memory Research Center aims
to have 25% African American representation to
try to understand the risk factors in African Americans and ensure that
any cure found would also help them.
Do you know
the truth about research? Click here to reveal
the myths about participating in research.
What should you know
about memory loss? Click here to view the
brochure "What African Americans should know about Memory Loss."
The UAMS Memory Research Center has taken several steps to educate the
African American community in Arkansas about their increased risk of
developing Alzheimer’s disease.
As a first step, we developed an African American
Community Advisory Committee made up of persons from all corners of
the state to help us understand the unique concerns of African American
living in Arkansas. This committee not only advises us on community
concerns but actively works to educate their own communities about
Alzheimer’s disease. In El Dorado and Helena, committee members
periodically show educational videos to community members & hand out
educational brochures at community festivals.
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African American Community Advisory Committee, March 2004 |
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From left to right:
Dr. Elaine Souder, Memory Research Center Education Leader; Dr. Cornelia Beck, Memory Research Center Director; Miles Henderson, Memory
Research Center Lay Educator; Cynthia Wilborn, Helena,
AR; Mary Snowden, El Dorado, AR; Karen Jenkins, Conway, AR, & Tanya
Terry, Memory Research Center Education Coordinator.
Committee
members not present: Dovie Burl,
Pine Bluff, AR; Dr. Delbra Caradine, Little Rock, AR; Joy Carrington,
Little Rock, AR; Randy Hamlin,
Little Rock, AR; Rev. Arthur Hunt, Dumas, AR; Janet Nelson, Little Rock,
AR; Charlie Mae Palmer, fort Smith, AR; Christine Patterson,
Little Rock, AR; Wendell Scales, Carlisle, AR; Rev. Hezikahah Stewart,
Little Rock, AR; & Sophronia Williams,
Little Rock, AR.
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| Another
step to educating Arkansas' African Americans began in the
Summer of 2003 with development of the Lay Educator Program. For the two
past years,
we have been working with African American community
members interested in helping us educate their communities.
These community members take part in a training program on
Alzheimer's disease to become community lay educators. Our lay educators are available to
speak to any African American club, organization, agency, retirement
community or church interested in learning more about the risk
for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The lay educators often represent
the Memory Research Center at community and church health fairs and are
active in working one-on-one to educate individuals about their risks. |
Miles Henderson, Lay Educator |
Click
here to request a presentation for your organization.
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Click on the
photo to the left to download a brochure designed to help African
American's understand their risk for
Alzheimer's disease.
(You must have Adobe
Reader to view.
Click here to download Adobe Reader.) |
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