Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month
raising the volume on brain health | AlzInColor newsletter
In English & En Español
En honor al Mes de la Herencia Hispana, te damos la más cálida bienvenida a esta edición especial del boletín de salud cerebral y Alzheimer de AlzInColor, un espacio dedicado a celebrar las voces, historias y vivencias de nuestra comunidad latina. Juntos, estamos creando conciencia, compartiendo recursos valiosos e impulsando conversaciones fundamentales sobre la salud cerebral en nuestras familias.
Sabemos que hablar de la salud cerebral dentro de nuestra comunidad no siempre es fácil. Cada generación enfrenta este camino de manera distinta, lidiando con estigmas, barreras de idioma o el inmenso esfuerzo emocional que implica cuidar a nuestros seres queridos en casa.
Pero no estás solo. En AlzInColor, caminamos junto a ti y a tu familia, haciendo el trabajo día a día para abrir puertas, derribar mitos y asegurar que nuestras comunidades reciban el apoyo que merecen.
Tu voz y tu experiencia tienen un valor incalculable. ¡Rompamos el silencio juntos! Comparte tu historia, inspira a otras familias y ayúdanos a sacar al Alzheimer a la luz. ¡Subamos el volumen!
Hello, Brain Health Champion!
AlzInColor is so grateful you're here and excited to share what our community has been learning and building together to raise awareness about brain health and Alzheimer's. As we continue recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month through October 15, we're highlighting important voices, stories, and resources that help educate, engage, and empower our Black and Latino communities.
Whether you're advancing brain health research, providing healthcare, caring for a loved one, or simply staying informed, we hope you'll join us in our mission to "Raise the Volume" on brain health and Alzheimer's.
Taking Action This Hispanic Heritage Month
When Juan Carlos noticed changes in his abuela's memory and thinking, he did what many Latino family members do: he packed up his bags and moved back to Texas to be by her side. Dr. Elena Rios witnessed something similar unfold in her own family: While she pursued med school, her cousins were in a very different position— putting their own futures on hold, dropping out of activities, and even selling their house to care for her aunt with Alzheimer’s.
"Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia than White Americans, yet too many families face these challenges in silence."
During Hispanic Heritage Month, AlzInColor is partnering with Latino leaders and advocates to mobilize our community to take action. Members of our community are speaking out for change because the earlier a family recognizes the signs and seeks support, the better the outcomes—for the person living with the disease and for everyone who loves them.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
Step 1: Visit www.AlzInColor.com to access the resources and support you need. Explore our comprehensive resource library, including state-specific information; take our Brain Health Quiz to test your knowledge; learn from experts through our educational webinar series; and visit our Storywall, where real people share their lived experiences with Alzheimer’s, caregiving, and brain health.
En Español: AlzInColor partnered with the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy (OLHA) as part of our Community Brain Health & Alzheimer’s Webinar Series to host a Spanish-language webinar featuring leading experts and voices from the Latino community.
The session, titled “Brain Health in Our Communities: From Early Conversations to Early Detection & Access” (La salud cerebral en nuestras comunidades: abriendo el diálogo, promoviendo la detección temprana y facilitando el acceso a la atención), explored important topics related to brain health, early detection, access to care, and the Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act.
Watch & Share.
English subtitles available: select English under CC
Step 2: “Raise the volume” and start the conversation with your friends and loved ones about brain health and Alzheimer’s. And take it a step further by talking with your healthcare provider (HCP) (e.g., doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant) about your or a loved one’s brain health, which includes a downloadable family history questionnaire. Blogs are also available in Spanish.
Step 3: Share your story and help normalize conversations around brain health. Whether you are a patient or caretaker, or someone who simply wants to talk about brain health and why it matters, our community wants to hear from you.
Step 4: Advocate for change. There are active policy solutions that could help prioritize the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, especially in underserved communities. The ASAP Act is a bipartisan bill that would open the door for Medicare to cover FDA-cleared blood tests that detect the disease before symptoms even appear. If you believe in earlier detection and better care planning for dementia, we'd encourage you to contact your Representative and Senators and ask them to support this legislation. Learn more about the ASAP Act with this fact sheet, including how you can engage your Member of Congress.
Featured Hispanic Heritage Month Stories
Dr. Elena Rios, President of the National Hispanic Health Foundation and former President/CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association , talks about how Alzheimer’s challenges misconceptions around brain health and highlights advances in blood-based biomarker testing, calling on us to support the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act to help expand access to earlier screening.
Watch & Share.
Read Dr. Rios' RealClear Health op-ed here.
Juan Carlos Frias talks about how he found something unexpected while taking care of his grandmother with dementia—moments of clarity, connection, and love that brought them closer than ever. Now he’s encouraging others to know their family history, talk about it openly, and pass it down.
Watch & Share.
Alicia Cansino shares the heartbreak of watching her grandfather's memory change and what it meant for her whole family.
Watch & Share.
Hispanic nurses "Raise the Volume," sharing important messages about taking small, sustainable steps to support your health and being proactive about brain health. Hear from Leticia Acevedo, National Association of Hispanic Nurses – NC Chapter, and Major Isis Rosario, Brigade Nurse Counselor, Army, along with a special message from Dr. Julian L. Gallego (English – Spanish), President-Elect of the American Association for Men in Nursing, about the importance of normalizing conversations around Alzheimer’s and brain health.
