TAMPA, Fla. — New breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, but doctors say more research is needed, particularly in the African American community. Conveniently, a study being done right here in the Tampa Bay area is looking for participants.
Doctors say are making progress in treating Alzheimer's, but while 6 million Americans suffer from the disease, African Americans are more than twice as likely to develop it and still face significant disparities when it comes to diagnosis, treatment and care.
That's why more research is still needed, particularly in the Black community. There is a current study underway, called the AHEAD study. It is looking at ways to prevent symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia by intervening at a younger age. They have discovered medications that could even slow the progress of the disease.
Dr. Doris Molina-Henry of the Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute at the University of Southern California says that even with the under-representation of the Black community in these studies, they have learned some valuable information from those who have taken part.
"Just that participation has allowed us to understand something very important about the prevalence of certain factors in the Black and African American community and other racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in these studies," she said. "Particularly, that there may be other factors in addition to this protein that we might address through anti-amyloid treatments that are present in these groups."
Dr. Molina-Henry says there are things everyone can do to decrease the risk and keep our brains healthy. She says to eat a healthy diet, exercise, get good sleep, and control chronic health conditions.
And taking part in research studies like the AHEAD study. There is a location right here in Tampa where they are doing research at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute.
Since researchers are looking at catching possible symptoms early, they need people aged 55-80 who have not been diagnosed with Alzheimer's to participate. If that sounds like you, click here to find out more from their website.