A Special Performance of Forget Me Not, A Play About Alzheimer’s at Antioch Lithonia MB Church, to be Held in

African Americans are two to three times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than white Americans, yet they are less likely to be diagnosed. While Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, it is the fourth leading cause of death for older African Americans. Alzheimer’s is the only disease in the top ten that currently has no cure, treatment, or prevention.

A critical factor in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s is participation in clinical trials, which is the step-by-step process that studies or tests a new procedure, drug, or vaccine for prevention, treatment, screening or improving quality of life. African Americans make up over 13 percent of the population but are only five percent of clinical trials participants. And this number is even lower for older African Americans.

In Georgia, the Emory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is spearheading an effort to increase enrollment in clinical trials by meeting African Americans where they are – in churches, community centers, and through leading organizations – and providing them with the information they need to participate. As part of this effort, the Center is partnering with the Forget Me Not Project to raise awareness of the disease through local productions of the award-winning play, Forget Me Not. The play, directed by Garrett Davis, takes the audience into the life of a family facing a medical challenge – Alzheimer’s disease – and shows its impact on not just the immediate family but also friends, marriage, and those in the community. A component of the performance will include a panel of experts providing vital information about the disease.

The play will be performed at Antioch Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, February 18th.

WHAT: Production of the play “Forget Me Not” including a panel discussion on Alzheimer’s education

WHEN: Saturday, February 18, 2017

Doors open at 8:15 am

TICKETS ARE FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED at www.antiochlithoniaforgetmenot.eventbrite.com or call Cornelya Dorbin at 404-712-1416.

Panel discussion of experts

Monica Parker, MD, Emory University School of Medicine

James Lah, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, Emory University

Garrett Davis, President, Forget Me Not Project

WHERE: Antioch Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church

2152 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia, GA 30058