A National Conference
A National Conference on:
“Risk and Resilience to Alzheimer’s Disease in African Americans”
Thursday, May 14th (12noon) – Friday, May 15th (2:00pm), 2020.
Rutgers University-Newark.
Paul Robeson Campus Center,
350 Dr. M.L.K. Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102
Although African Americans are at elevated risk for age-related cognitive decline and memory loss—with double the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared to white Americans—we do not sufficiently understand the causes of this health disparity, nor how to best focus future interventional efforts to remediate this health crisis among older African Americans. This day-and-a-half conference in, sponsored by the Aging & Brain Health Alliance of Rutgers University-Newark, will include presentations and discussion about the factors that influence risk and resilience to Alzheimer’s Disease among African Americans. The interdisciplinary program will cover research on biological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors that influence individual differences in aging, cognitive wellbeing, and Alzheimer’s disease. Each of the primary presentations will be 25 minutes long—including 5 minutes devoted to summarizing the community-engagement, recruitment, and retention methods of the investigators—followed by a 5 minute discussion period.
We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health & Human Services, the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging, the Rutgers University-Newark Office of the Chancellor, and Life Molecular Imaging, Inc.
THURSDAY, MAY 14th.
12:00n-12:30pm. Registration
12:30n-1:45pm. Buffet Lunch and Informal Socializing
1:45-2:00pm: Introductory and Welcoming Comments
2:00-3:00pm: Session #1
Goldie Byrd (Wake Forest, NC). “Genetic susceptibility of Alzheimer’s Disease in African Americans.”
William Hu (Neurology, Emory University, GA). “CSF and imaging biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in African Americans.”
3:00-3:30pm: Mid-Afternoon Brief Cardio-Dance Fitness Break (plus chocolate)
3:30-4:30pm. Session #2:
Robert Newton, (Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA), “The effective of a physical activity promotion program on cognitive function in older African American adults.”
Mark Gluck (Rutgers University-Newark, NJ), “Interactions between Physical Fitness and Genetics on Neural and Cognitive Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease in Older African Americans.”
4:45-5:45pm: Reception & Poster Session, with Community Research Participants
5:45-6:00pm: Gospel Choir Concert
6:15-7:30pm. Buffet Dinner, with Community Research Participants
FRIDAY, MAY 15th
7:00am-8:15am. Optional Gym Workout at the Golden Dome Athletic Center
8:30-9:30am: Brain-Healthy Mediterannean-Style Buffet Breakfast
9:30-11:00am: Session #3:
Thomas Obisesan (Howard University, D.C.), “Alzheimer’s Dementia in African Americans: Role of Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Opportunities for Prevention.”
Lloyd Webb (Public Health, Tuskegee University, AL), “Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Black Belt Counties of Alabama.”
Carey Gleason (Wisconsin ADRC, University of Wisconsin, WI), ”Incident Dementia in Non-Hispanic African Americans and Whites with Mild Cognitive Impairment.”
11:00am-11:30am: Guided Standing Yoga and Mindfulness (plus coffee)
11:30am-12:30pm: Session #4:
Carl Hill (Alzheimer’s Association), “Diversity and Health Disparities in Alzheimer’s Research”
Cerise Elliot (NIH/NIA). “Advancing African American Involvement in Alzheimer’s Disease Research.””
12:30pm-1:00pm General Discussion: Important challenges, unanswered questions, and promising future directions.
1:00pm-2:00pm: Final Luncheon