Leveraging the Trusted Role of Churches to Disseminate Research, Resources, and Support to Communities Disproportionately Affected by Dementia

Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (ADRD) illnesses affect the African American population at alarming rates, with African Americans twice as likely to have ADRD than White Americans. The rate of diagnosis and prevalence of ADRD among African Americans are disproportionately increasing compared with White Americans, and prevalence rates for ADRD in the African American community are expected to rise as the population of older adults increases. Because of the centuries-old disadvantaged social history of African Americans, several unique stressors and vulnerabilities exist for African American families affected by ADRD. Experiences by these families underscore the need to identify relevant and relatable support, resources, and research opportunities. Despite the elevated risk of ADRD among African Americans, they remain significantly underrepresented in research, accounting for less than 4% of participants in clinical trials on ADRD. This underrepresentation emphasizes the urgent need to improve the communities’ exposure to active research opportunities. Additionally, limited awareness and education about ADRD in these communities often contribute to delayed diagnoses and missed opportunities for early intervention. This conference grant seeks to build upon the work of the Alter program (a national dementia-friendly program for African American churches) and leverage the trusted role of places of worship in African American communities to disseminate resources, support, and research by hosting a Dementia Summit. This Summit also addresses the critical issue recognized by NIH, which is keeping participants informed about research findings. Building upon the success of the 1st Dementia Summit, we propose to host the Summit annually and pursue the following aims: 1. To generate a meaningful Summit agenda each year to address ADRD-related concerns in the African American community; 2. To present the NIA strategic directions for research and disseminate ADRD-related research findings to faith leaders and the African American community; and 3. To actively disseminate research opportunities to faith leaders and the African American community. This proposal aligns with the NIA 2020-2025 Strategic Direction for Research and ADRD Research Milestone (13.X) to expand the use of and disseminate information about community-engaged ADRD care and caregiving research to the public, healthcare professionals, and the scientific community. This application has the potential to support research enterprises by addressing the challenges associated with effectively communicating health information and research to historically disadvantaged populations. This “one of a kind” Summit series provides a unique and timely opportunity to accelerate the application of evidence into the real world by bringing together researchers, health professionals, and the African American community to address ADRD-related concerns, improve care support for families, and create and sustain change. Project Number: 1R13AG099734-01 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute on Aging (NIA) | Principal Investigator: Fayron Epps | Institution: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TX | Award Amount: $50,000 | Activity Code: R13 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 SCIL-S (80)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11321307