By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor
Are you one of the millions of Black Americans serving as a caregiver for someone impacted by Alzheimer’s disease? The Alzheimer’s Foundation is sponsoring an Educating America Tour-Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Conference Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 am to 1:00 pm (registration opens at 9 am) at Whittemore House (1526 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036)
More than 20% of Black Americans will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime. This is more than twice the rate of White Americans and impacts not only millions of Black Americans living with the disease, but millions of loved ones and caregivers who are connected to the Alzheimer’s patient.
Moreover, two thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women. Today’s panel, The Women & Alzheimer’s Empowerment Forum, features women who will speak their personal and professional truth about their daily journeys in caring for and loved ones and patients with Alzheimer’s on a daily basis.
Wednesday, The Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Conference, includes sessions on Preserving Brain Health, Managing Legal and Financial Issues for Alzheimer’s patients and Disparities in Risk and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Ironically, the neurologist, Solomon Carter Fuller, an American psychiatrist of African descent, was the first researcher to publish a comprehensive review of Alzheimer’s disease in 1912. The Liberian born doctor and researcher proved the disease was not the result of insanity and instead, represented a distinct disease of the brain.
Registration for both events is free and open to everyone. Individuals are encouraged to register in advance by visiting https://alzfdn.org/dcevents or calling AFA at 866-232-8484.
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