Today, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is announcing a new, multiyear collaboration to engage students, faculty and university leaders from TMCF’s 47 member schools in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
The collaboration is aimed at developing Alzheimer’s advocates and champions in the Black/African American community — a community disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Older Black Americans are twice as likely as older white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and they tend to be diagnosed at later stages of the disease, when they’ve experienced more cognitive impairment. These missed or delayed diagnoses of Alzheimer’s and other dementias prevent individuals from accessing available treatments when they are most likely to improve quality of life.
TMCF provides the Alzheimer’s Association a respected and needed ally in its work to expand its reach into diverse communities, connecting families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia in these communities to disease information, education programs and access to care and support services. Nearly 300,000 students attend TMCF member schools, including some of the country’s best known Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Colleges (PBIs). These organizations have nearly 190 years of experience serving and educating African Americans, and producing Black leaders and health care professionals.
“The Alzheimer’s Association is excited to engage TMCF students, faculty and leaders in our important work,” said Carl V. Hill, Ph.D, MPH, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “As a proud graduate of Morehouse College and Morehouse School of Medicine — both HBCUs — I know firsthand the expertise and dedication these students and faculty will bring to expanding our reach to more Black/African American families and communities impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.”
The TMCF collaboration will include four primary components, including:
- A paid internship program for students
- Stewardship for scientific researchers at TMCF member schools
- Engagement opportunities for TMCF students and faculty in Alzheimer’s Association education programs and community events
- Summit program with TMCF leaders and faculty to discuss health disparities and other relevant Alzheimer’s and dementia-related issues adversely affecting Black/African American communities.
“The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association in this important work,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “Our students, faculty, and leaders have a long history of tackling important challenges affecting the Black community. Alzheimer’s disease is an issue that demands our attention.”
The collaboration kicks off this this spring with student internship programs being piloted at three local Alzheimer’s Association chapters (California Southland, Greater Maryland and Houston and Southeast Texas) with students from six TMCF member schools:
- Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Morgan State University
- Prairie View A&M University
- Texas Southern University
Six paid internships will be available this year, but will be expanded in subsequent years of the partnership. A major goal of the internship program is to engage interested students in the Alzheimer’s Association work across multiple areas with the aim of attracting students to dementia-related professions and work following graduation. Students completing their internships will serve as campus ambassadors to help increase Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness and education.
A second component of the collaboration will provide stewardship to HCBU-based researchers, including mentorship, webinars and opportunities to participate in Alzheimer’s Association research forums, including Alzheimer’s Association International Conference Neuroscience Next — a global, no-cost virtual conference that showcases the work of students and early career investigators in cognitive, computational, behavioral, and other areas of neuroscience research.
A third component will engage TMCF students and faculty in volunteer opportunities, creating “campus ambassadors” to promote and participate in Association education programs, community forums and fundraising events, including Walk to End Alzheimer’s and The Longest Day.
The final component, which will launch next year, is aimed at hosting an educational summit with TMCF faculty and leaders to examine factors that lead to disparities affecting Alzheimer’s and other dementia for Black/African Americans.
“We intend for this to be a robust partnership,” Hill said. “We want TMCF to be engaged in all areas of the Alzheimer’s Association mission. TMCF is a powerful voice and proven champion on so many important Black/African American issues. We’re proud to join with them in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”
“I’ve been enlightened of the suite of services and programs the Alzheimer’s Association provides,” Dr. Williams said. “It is helping support many families facing Alzheimer’s across the country. Our partnership will help connect the Black community with more of these resources, so people can get the critical help and information they need.”
