Symposium to look at racial and ethnic disparities of Alzheimer's

VALHALLA - Research indicates that African Americans and Hispanics face a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease, possibly because of generic factors. To examine this issue, the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will host a free symposium “Racial and Ethnic Disparities of Alzheimer’s Disease: Exploring a Genetic Link” at the Gateway Center Davis Auditorium at Westchester Community College in Valhalla from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

An expert panel will discuss their research on the relation between race and Alzheimer’s disease as well as treatment options and community resources. Among the panelists is Christiane Reitz, Ph.D., who serves as an assistant professor of neurology and epidemiology at the Institute for Research on the Aging Brain at Columbia University.

Although Reitz does not have any personal connections to Alzheimer’s disease, she has devoted her career to studying the genetic links to Alzheimer’s and the affect the disease has on the community.

“I plan to talk about the burden of Alzheimer’s on society, and specifically the burden it places on African Americans,” Reitz said. “There are various genetic factors that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s in African Americans, and genes causing Alzheimer’s differ between ethnic groups.”

She said she also plans to discuss signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and the importance of early detection.

Reitz said she thinks future research on genetic links to Alzheimer’s should aim to broaden the current findings.

“We need large-scale genetic studies that are combined with other approaches, such as metabolism and protein studies.”

Other speakers will include:

• Goldie S. Byrd, Ph.D., a professor of biology and interim executive director for the Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s Aging and Community Health at North Carolina Technical State University

• Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., director of the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the recipient of the Bengt Winblad Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alzheimer’s Association and holds a seat on the organization’s Scientific Advisory Board. Her article describing her pivotal discovery that the vast majority of late-onset AD risk is due to a common variant, the E4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene (Corder et al, Science, 1993), is a seminal work – the most frequently cited paper in Alzheimer’s disease biomedical research.

• Jamir R. Couch, founder and president of Knowles Hall Consulting, Inc., who has more than 25 years in law, public service and finance. Couch’s public sector experience includes executive level government management, policy development, legislative strategy, regulatory enforcement and litigation management

To register for the symposium, call 800.272.3900 or visit alzgeneticlinksymposium.org.

About the Hudson Valley Chapter

The Hudson Valley Chapter serves families living with dementia in seven counties in New York, including Duchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. To learn more about the programs and services offered locally, visit alz.org/hudsonvalley.

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit www.alz.org or call 800.272.3900.