Creative Alzheimer's Education & the Black Community
- Emma Rice
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
As research continues to expand our understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) and moves closer to developing effective treatments, there remains a persistent lack of inclusion of populations most affected by the disease. Black Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to develop ADRD (Alzheimer’s Association 2024), yet they account for less than 5% of participants in ADRD clinical trials (Franzen et al. 2022). Considerable effort within the research community has been devoted to addressing this mismatch, with researchers seeking ways to increase the representation of Black individuals in ADRD clinical trials. Art-based knowledge translation (ABKT) is one approach that allows researchers to connect with communities and educate them about ADRD, helping to bridge knowledge gaps with the goal of encouraging research participation. ABKT can take many forms, including visual arts, photography, creative writing, or video, though theater performance is the most common modality (Archibald et al. 2020). One notable example of theater used to increase awareness and research participation within the Black community is the Alzheimer’s Association’s play Unforgettable, which was shown to successfully increase community interest in ADRD clinical trial participation in a recent study.
Unforgettable was created by Garrett Davis and produced in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and Gdavis Productions and Films. The story centers on Davis and his grandmother, Mama D, as their family begins to recognize that Mama D may have Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Throughout the play, the family grapples with the many challenges associated with AD, including accepting the diagnosis, navigating care, combating stigma, and considering whether to participate in clinical trials. The Alzheimer’s Association conducted a study to determine how effective the play was at education the community about ADRD. Between 2022 and 2025, the play reached over 10,000 Americans across 20 cities nationwide. Among the 334 individuals surveyed about their experience, 78% identified as Black, reflecting the cultural background portrayed in the play. Survey results indicated that audiences enjoyed the performance and gained valuable information about ADRD. Approximately half of the participants had prior experience as caregivers, and many expressed a shared desire to learn more about ADRD and opportunities for clinical trial participation. Overall, the implementation of the two-hour play was highly successful, engaging members of a community that is significantly underrepresented in ADRD research, while providing accessible and meaningful education about the disease and the importance of research participation.
Unforgettable is not the only ABKT initiative designed to educate underrepresented communities about ADRD and clinical trial participation. Recuerdos de mi Abuelo is an Alzheimer’s Association telenovela created to educate and inform the Latino community about ADRD by drawing on cultural narratives to foster engagement and genuine curiosity. Cultural connection is a powerful element of ABKT, giving it strong potential to address underrepresentation in clinical research and to promote more inclusive participation. Such representation is essential to ensuring that ADRD research benefits all populations, particularly those most affected by the disease.
Closer to home, our research team at UCSD partners with UCLA on the Black Women: Inflammation and Tau Study (BWITS)- a study dedicated to advancing brain health research specifically for Black/African American women. While Black women face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, they remain underrepresented in research. BWITS aims to change that by exploring how factors like inflammation, insulin resistance, physical activity, and social determinants of health may influence memory, thinking, and tau protein changes over time.
We are currently enrolling Black women aged 60 and older. Participants complete 3 study visits over 2 years, all conducted in community settings. By joining BWITS, you can contribute to research that centers Black women’s health and helps shape more equitable approaches to Alzheimer’s prevention and care.
To learn more, visit www.b-wits.org or contact our team at study@b-wits.org.
Check out Unforgettable and Recuerdos de mi Abuelo here:
“Recuerdos de mi Abuelo”
“Unforgettable”
Article of Interest:
Berry BM, Davis G, Reyes Y, et al. Unforgettable: The power of community in the pursuit of health equity for Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2025;12(1):e70195. Published 2025 Dec 29. doi:10.1002/trc2.70195
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