MISSION STATEMENT

The Rutgers University-Newark African-American Brain Health Initiative is a unique university-community partnership promoting brain health among African-American seniors in the greater Newark, New Jersey, area. Combining research, education, and community engagement, we seek to understand why African Americans are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, and other age-related brain health problems, and what we can do to help improve people’s memory and brain health.

RESEARCH PROJECTS & GRANTS:

(Study #1). INTERVENTIONAL STUDY OF EXERCISE AND BRAIN HEALTH. This five-year (8/2015-8/2020) grant of $1,000,000 from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through, and with the NJ State Department of Health’s Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, supports a project on “Improving Mental Health and Physical Activity in Older African Americans.” This study addresses two questions: (i) Can participation in a dance-based exercise class improve memory and brain function in older African Americans? (ii) Will regular exercise reduce the risk for getting Alzheimer’s disease?

(Study #2). LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF RISK FACTORS FOR DECLINE TO ALZHEIMER’S DEMENTIA. There is a dearth of data on the various factors that influence individual differences in cognitive resilience among older African Americans, especially for those living on low incomes and in public housing. This study, “Pathways to Brain Health for African Americans: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study,” is expected to last 5 or more years. It has been given, initially, one year of probationary funding for $582,800 (9/2016-9/2017) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s National Institute of Aging. The project aims to: (1) characterize the relative contributions of modifiable health and lifestyle factors to age-related cognitive decline in African Americans and (2) identify early predictors of future cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease. A key component of this project is our new partnership with the University of California at Irvine and their NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC).

Learn More

EVENTS AT RUTGERS-NEWARK:

Thursday, November 10th, 2016. “Food & Brain Health”

Friday, April 21st, 2017. “Jazz Your Brain! Improve Your Memory and Reduce Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease”

Saturday, April 22nd, 2017. “Free Classic Car Show Promoting Men’s Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Awareness”

VIDEOS

2016 Rutgers University – Newark AABHI

The Rutgers University-Newark African-American Brain Health Initiative is a unique university-community partnership promo-ting brain health among African-American seniors in the greater Newark, New Jersey, area. Combining research, education, and community engagement, we seek to understand why African Americans are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, and other age-related brain health problems, and what we can do to help improve people’s memory and brain health. This 15 minute overview was given on Friday, April 29th, 2016 at the AABHI’s Jazz Your Brain! event for Newark community seniors.

“Six Steps to a Better Memory”, Dr. Mark A. Gluck (Rutgers Univ-Newark).
In this half-hour talk, given at the Rutgers University-Newark, “Jazz Your Brain!” event for community seniors, I describe six lifestyle choices and habits that will help keep your mind sharp and reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Mark A. Gluck, Professor of Neuroscience. Co-Director, African-American Brain Health Initiative. Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, NY. April 29, 2016.

Community Engagement

Annual African-Americans and Brain Health Event: A half-day educational event at Rutgers for seniors, providing information on brain health, aging, and avoiding Alzheimer’s disease.
“Brain and Heart-Healthy Soul Food Cooking”: A cooking class and nutrition lecture on how to make soul food recipes healthier, but just as tasty.
Brain health awareness events at partner churches, senior centers, and local public housing.
Dance-based exercise classes for seniors at partner locations and open to the public at no charge.

Education

Brain Health Pioneers: Newark high school students learn about brain science and brain health by attending a summer Brain Camp at Rutgers.
Brain Health Scholars: Undergraduates, native to Newark, participate in community-based research on brain science.
Brain Health Ambassadors: Retired or semi-retired nurses assist in community education programs and community-based research on aging and brain health.

Community-Based Research

Who is most at risk for getting Alzheimer’s disease? What regular habits and lifestyles are best for reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s? We are seeking African Americans, 55 and older, to participate in a study of aging, memory, and other assessments of health and lifestyle.
Can participation in a dance-based exercise class improve memory and brain function in older African Americans? Will regular exercise reduce the risk for getting Alzheimer’s disease? In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, we offer exercise classes at local churches, senior centers, and public housing. By assessing people’s memory, mood, and health, we can evaluate the ability of exercise to improve memory functions that often decline with aging.