A recent New York Times article, How Black Churches Are Raising Dementia Awareness, spotlights the work of NIA IMPACT member Fayron Epps, PhD, a professor of nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

The feature highlights Alter, an initiative founded by Dr. Epps to partner with Black churches to increase dementia awareness, reduce stigma, and support people living with dementia and their care partners.  While about one in five Black Americans aged 65 and older lives with Alzheimer’s, stigma and medical mistrust often delay diagnoses.

Dr. Epps and her team work with churches to become more dementia friendly through various efforts, including shortening worship services, using familiar hymns and prayers, and embedding cognitive health education, caregiver resources, and clinical trial awareness into a trusted environment.

“The church has traditionally been that haven, that safe place that individuals can go to,” Dr. Epps told The New York Times. “Why not make sure they have the resources?”

Read the full story on how faith leaders and scientists are joining forces on The New York Times.