According to studies conducted by the National Alzheimer's Association, African Americans tend be diagnosed in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease which significantly limits the effectiveness of interventions that could be used with earlier diagnosis. In addition, African Americans are significantly underrepresented in current clinical trials of potential treatments for the disease. Studies also show that African Americans have a disproportionately high amount of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes that may also lead to Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
The Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute (WAI) at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, under the leadership of Dr. Mark Sager, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease. The WAI's mission is to create a public health environment in which Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are widely recognized, well understood, aggressively and appropriately treated, and in which those who are afflicted and those who care for them receive the education, services and support they need to effectively cope with this devastating chronic disease.
In the spirit of the University of Wisconsin's Wisconsin Idea, the WAI in partnership with the Center for Urban Population Health (CUPH) has created a WAI Milwaukee site that will contribute to and collaborate with the rich programming that is already taking place to further increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease in Milwaukee's healthy aging community. The WAI Milwaukee project key focus areas include:
Community Education, Outreach and Public Awareness. With input from members of the community the WAI Milwaukee Project will promote existing resources and in partnership with the community work to create accessible resources that will further meet the needs of the community and reverse the adverse affects of Alzheimer's on individuals with the disease and their families.
Building Strong Collaborative Relationships with community-based organizations, especially minority organizations, state and local governmental aging agencies, local and regional medical systems as well as other organizations serving individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families.
Professional Education/CME Training for medical professionals about Alzheimer's disease and the importance of early diagnoses, treatment and prevention.
Research. The WAI's Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP) is a registry of adult children of persons with Alzheimer's disease who are being studied because of their increased risk for developing the disease. WRAP enrollees participate in early detection and prevention studies being conducted through the collaborative efforts of the WAI, the Section of Geriatrics and Gerontology, the Department of Neurology, and the Wisconsin Comprehensive Memory Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; and the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. WRAP is funded by the National Institute of Aging, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Extendicare Foundation, the Helen Bader Foundation and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
