A new film, “My Mama Joe, Hope and Help,” aims to shed light on the alarming racial disparities in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and treatment within the Black community. The condition affects over 6 million Americans, but Black Americans are twice as likely to be affected yet often receive delayed diagnoses and inadequate care.
The film delves into the systemic barriers that contribute to these disparities, including structural racism within the healthcare system and societal factors. To facilitate the conversation, the film’s creators have assembled a panel of experts, including medical professionals who specialize in Alzheimer’s research.
Among them are Herb Caldwell, producer and director of the film; Cindy Womack, Certified Nurse Practitioner at SIU Medicine’s Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment; and Ann Jirmasek, Clinical Gerontology Specialist at SIU Medicine’s Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment.
Source: https://will.illinois.edu/21stshow/story/a-conversation-on-alzheimers-disease-in-the-black-community