A message from the Director |
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February is Black History Month, so I wanted to bring your attention to an unsung early pioneer in Alzheimer’s disease research, African-American Solomon Carter Fuller. A psychiatrist and pathologist, Dr. Fuller astutely recognized that, while amyloid might be an essential feature of Alzheimer’s disease, it was not sufficient by itself to cause the disease. He made this seminal observation early in the last century, but his accomplishments were largely forgotten. In the early 1900’s, the barriers to academic success and independence for a Black man were impenetrable. Dr. Fuller never received his due. The environment is better now, but we still have much work to do. We at the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center will continue striving to reduce barriers to professional entry and success for people of color.
In support of Black History Month, you’ll also find details below for several virtual events. Our past junior investigator trainee, Dr. Sheria Robinson-Lane will speak later this month on the topic of “Dementia, Health, and the Black Family Caregiver.” She will present her research as as she works toward a novel intervention for this important work. A colleague in the national Alzheimer’s Disease Center network, Dr. Lisa Barnes of the Rush University Alzheimer’s Disease Center will also present on behalf of the U-M School of Social Work. She will present about the risks and protective factors for cognitive decline and dementia in Older African Americans. Lastly, our friends at the Alzheimer’s Association are presenting an important lecture on Health Equity and Alzheimer’s Disease, moderated by Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Carl V Hill, PhD, MPH. Details below for these many great educational opportunities. We hope you’ll join us in continuing to learn about and commit to making changes in this important work.
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— Henry Paulson, MD, PhD
Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center Director
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Center Wellness Initiative Managing Director, Laura Rice-Oeschger, Provides a Caregiver Check-In in Recent Michigan Medicine Blog Post |
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Laura Rice-Oeschger, LMSW, Managing Director of our Wellness Initiative and creator of our many wellness programs to support those caring for someone with memory loss, shares four ways to best support the caregiver in your life in a blog post written with Michigan Medicine. Take a look at the link below! |
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Join us on Giving Blue Day
March 10, 2021
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In the United States, there are more than five million people living with dementia. Since 2012, the Wellness Initiative at our Center has focused on creating a community of resilient caregivers caring for someone with memory loss. Our Wellness Initiative staff lead several groups for family caregivers of persons living with a dementia, including:
Catching Your Breath
A free monthly program for learning and practicing stress resilience skills for continued health, balance and well-being;
Caregiver Wellness Days
Half-day wellness, creativity and social retreats;
and Mindfulness-based Dementia Care,
An 8-week program that teaches how the practice of mindfulness can help cope with the challenges and stresses of dementia care.
In the last year, our Center has expanded the Wellness Initiative to also include those living with a dementia or memory loss. This includes a new educational series for those with a recent diagnosis of memory loss, a support group specifically for those with a recent diagnosis, and brain health and dementia education for youth and students interested in careers in dementia care. (See the Mitten Minds programs below for more information or to register).
If you're able, we hope you'll join us for Giving Blue Day on March 10. This year, we're raising funds specifically for the growth of our Wellness Initiative to continue to grow and develop programs such as these. With your help and the help of others like you, we will be able to enhance our programming to support those folks living with and caring for someone with memory loss.
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Dr. Gerlach and Team Investigating Goals and Challenges of Hospice Care for Individuals Living with Dementia |
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Dr. Gerlach, a Geriatric Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at U-M, is recruiting participants for a research study focused on understanding thoughts and opinions on dementia care. Dr. Gerlach’s study is looking for individuals living with mild cognitive impairment or diagnosed with dementia by a doctor in the past two years. For more information, and to participate, contact Molly Turnwald at turnwald@umich.edu or fill out a brief form at the link below.
If you have interest in getting involved in other research studies, please contact Kate Hanson at katsch@med.umich.edu or visit our website at alzheimers.med.umich.edu/research for a full list of recruiting studies.
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This initiative of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Community Service Commission provides free masks to Michigan residents so they can better protect themselves from COVID-19. Our friends at the Area Agency on Aging 1-B are a distribution partner of this great initiative. They distribute masks out of their Southfield office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Click the button below for more details. |
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Dementia, Health, and the Black Family Caregiver: Towards a Novel Intervention
Tuesday, February 23
2:00 - 3:30PM
The event will be presented by Dr. Sheria Robinson-Lane of the University of Michigan School of Nursing
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2021 Leon and Josephine Winkelman Memorial Virtual Lecture with the U-M School of Social Work
Tuesday, February 23
4:30 - 5:30PM
Keynote Presentation:
Risk and Protective Factors for Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Older African Americans
Presented by Dr. Lisa L. Barnes
The Alla V. and Solomon Jesmer Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical College,
Neuropsychologist, Rush Medical Center
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Dr. James S. Jackson Seminar on Health Equity and Alzheimer's Disease
Wednesday, March 3
5:00 - 6:30PM
Alzheimer's disproportionately impacts certain populations. Older Black/African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer's or other dementias as older whites, and Hispanic/Latinos are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer's or other dementias as older whites. Health equity can be achieved when people have resources to protect their health and well-being. However, social determinants of health can lead to differences in the access of quality of care, access to treatment, and higher rates of disease and death for these and other populations. The COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent vaccine rollout have shined an even brighter light on the need for more work to be done across the public health spectrum.
Join the Alzheimer's Association as they talk with some of the nation's leading scientists and experts about the latest in health equity research focused on Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Alzheimer's Association Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Carl V. Hill, PhD, MPH, will speak and moderate.
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Successful Aging Through Financial Empowerment (SAFE)
Tuesday, March 23
12:00 - 1:30PM
This event will be presented by Latoya Hall of the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology
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Mitten Minds Dementia Education Series
Registration is now open for our next session of the Mitten Minds Dementia Education Series. This program is a free virtual dementia education series specifically for those with a recent diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or in the early stages of a dementia.
The program will take place weekly from March 9 – April 13 from 10:00AM - Noon.
Registration is required below.
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Mitten Minds Support Group
for those living with MCI or early-stage dementia
Mitten Minds Support Group is available specifically for individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia. The group will meet monthly on the third Tuesday of the month from 3:00-4:00pm, and newcomers are welcome at any time.
The next session is:
Tuesday, February 16
3:00 - 4:00PM
Registration is required for each session to receive the virtual log-in information.
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