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🌟 Today is Senior Citizens Appreciation Day! 🌟 Join us in celebrating the wisdom, experience, and love that our seniors bring to our lives and communities. Let's honor their stories, cherish their contributions, and make this day special for them. Thank you to the mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles and grandparents, who do so much for us all! 💖👵👴 #SeniorCitizensAppreciationDay #CelebrateSeniors #ThankYouSeniors
🌟 August is National Immunization Month! 🌟 🌟 August is National Immunization Month! 🌟 Vaccines protect us, our loved ones, and our community. They're a powerful tool in preventing diseases and ensuring a healthier future for everyone. 🛡️ Let's spread the word and stay informed about the benefits of immunization. 💉 #nationalimmunizationmonth
Self-care is not selfish! We encourage everyone to Self-care is not selfish! We encourage everyone to take some time out for you to calm down, enjoy the moment, and get back to what brings you joy! #internationalselfcareday
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, take some time to care for your mental health: @blackbeingla hosts weekly meditation workshops. @_beamorg is hosting a virtual leadership training for Black men and masculine folks. Curtis R. Tucker Center for Community Wellness is hosting a series of wellness classes, including line-dancing http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/chs/Docs/CurtisTuckerCCWCalendar_FINAL.pdf @thetreeyogacoop is hosting a number of accessible classes, including instructor training @bw4wla hosting a “Sister Circle”, online check-in to create a safe support group for Black women. @losangelescrc is hosting an event to celebrate International Self-Care Day. #nationalminoritymentalhealthawarenessmonth
Bebe Moore Campbell was a journalist, teacher, aut Bebe Moore Campbell was a journalist, teacher, author, and advocate who worked tirelessly to improve access to mental health for the Black community. As a writer, she authored 9 books and multiple essays, some of which investigated Black Americans’ health. When she struggled to find the appropriate care for her daughter, she launched into action, spearheading conversations about mental health in the Black community and linking discrimination in the health care system to the persistent stigma community members experience. She founded NAMI Inglewood, later renamed NAMI Urban Los Angeles, to serve Black Los Angelenos and create a space for mental health education and resources. Bebe passed away in 2006 and two years later, the U.S. House of Representatives designated July as “Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.” Learn more about Bebe here: https://www.nami.org/african-american/honoring-and-upholding-bebe-moore-campbells-legacy/
✨ Lab Member Spotlight: Chaunise Johnson -What ✨ Lab Member Spotlight: Chaunise Johnson -What do you do in the Lab? I am a staff research associate in the lab, overseeing an MRI study that seeks to understand how education, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic and biological processes come together to shape later-life cognitive functioning and decline in the nation’s high school class of 1972. -What is your academic background? Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience ’21 (UCSD) Master of Science in Neuroimaging and Informatics ’23 (USC) -Why is studying racialized disparities in Alzheimer's and dementia important to you? By studying these disparities, I aim to shed light on the biological, social, and environmental factors that contribute to the higher prevalence and severity of Alzheimer's and dementia in the Black community. I want to use my skills and experiences to make a difference in my community and to push for a future of equitable healthcare. -What are you most proud of that you've accomplished thus far? I’m most proud of my efforts to engage and educate my community about neurological diseases and the disparities that exist. Seeing community members gain a better understanding of these diseases and feel empowered to seek help and resources is incredibly rewarding. -What is most challenging about being a neuroimaging specialist/scientist/doing this work? One of the most challenging aspects of being a neuroimaging specialist is navigating the complexity of data analysis. Understanding the technical intricacies of various imaging modalities, like MRI, PET, or EEG, and applying advanced statistical methods to extract meaningful insights from these data can sometimes be daunting. -What are you looking forward to next in the Lab? I’m looking forward to starting my own research project, which will focus on examining the effects of sleep disturbances on Alzheimer's disease, particularly within the Black community. I look forward to exploring how factors such as sleep fragmentation, sleep apnea, insomnia, and circadian rhythm disruptions may contribute to increased Alzheimer's risk.
Mental Health Organization Spotlight: BEAM is a Mental Health Organization Spotlight: BEAM is a trailblazing, LA-based organization that supports Black mental and emotional health and wellness. BEAM stands for “Black Emotional and Mental Health” Collective. The founder, Yolo Akili, sought to break down the barriers preventing Black people from accessing mental and emotional health care. BEAM believes that Black wellness and healing should be grounded in “healing justice”, a term coined by the Kindred Southern Healing Justice Collective. Healing justice addresses structural inequality and intergenerational trauma. It draws on ancestral practices while building new, inclusive practices too. One example of this is honoring that “healing” does not mean that you are 100% well and living without disabilities, it means honoring individual capacity and ability as it exists. BEAM offers in-person community events, online networking spaces for mental health professors, leadership trainings, grants, and a wellness directory. To learn more about BEAM, visit their Instagram or website: https://beam.community/ #blackmentalhealth
Lab member Spotlight: Kate Mooney What do you d Lab member Spotlight: Kate Mooney What do you do in the Lab? As a PhD student, I spend the majority of my time conducting research while also taking classes, attending seminars and conferences, and teaching. My current research involves understanding how genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease/cognitive decline influence vascular health using neuroimaging analysis. Why is studying racial disparities in Alzheimer's and dementia important to you? I've had the personal experience of witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD) on both those diagnosed and their families, having recently lost my grandfather to the disease. Seeing someone I was close to gradually lose themselves was a deeply emotional experience that inspired my decision to pursue a PhD in neurodegeneration research. As I delved into AD research, I became acutely aware of the disparities placed on Black communities, specifically the Black community. This added an extra layer of urgency to my work and fueled my motivation to study racial disparities in AD, so that I can contribute to efforts in understanding how risk factors drive this unequal AD burden. What are you most proud of that you've accomplished thus far? I am most proud of my most recent project, investigating how APOE-TOMM40 haplotype variants influence diffusion MRI metrics of white matter health in Black and white individuals. I’m fairly new to this research lab, so completing a project that was out of my comfort zone initially is very rewarding. I will actually be presenting these findings at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference this summer as well as publishing a paper on them. What is most challenging about being a PhD student or scientist in training? Time management! I find that I get "sucked" into certain projects I am working on - sometimes too much - and need to work on not only immersing myself in my own work but also maintaining my involvement in seminars, reading current literature, and training in new techniques. What are you looking forward to next as a training PhD? AAIC this summer! I am really looking forward to presenting my findings and connecting
Community based participatory research or "CBPR" c Community based participatory research or "CBPR" creates important connections between researchers and communities. Although creating partnerships between research and communities is not new, the concept was created by Barbara Israel and the Detroit Urban Council in 1998. It includes the community in every aspect of research and shares decision-making and power. It is also grounded in seeking to serve and support communities to improve overall health and quality of life for the long-term - not just for a few months or a year. CBPR enables everyone to contribute their expertise, knowledge, and understanding on how solve health issues in the community. The ten principles of CBPR are: 1. CPBR recognizes community as a unit of identity. 2. Builds on Strengths and Resources within the Community. 3. Collaborative, Equitable Partnership in All Research Phases. 4. Promotes Co-learning and Capacity Building among All Partners. 5. Integrates and Achieves a Balance between Research and Action for the Mutual Benefit of All Partners. 6. Emphasizes Public Health Problems of Local Relevance and Ecological Perspectives That Attend to the Multiple Determinants of Health and Disease. 7. Involves Systems Development through a Cyclical and Iterative Process. 8. Disseminates Findings and Knowledge Gained to All Partners and Involves All Partners in the Dissemination Process. 9. Requires a Long-term Process and Commitment to Sustainability. 10. Addresses Issues of Race, Ethnicity, Racism, and Social Class and Embraces Cultural Humility. We will share examples of successful CBPR studies! #CBPR
Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! How are you t Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! How are you taking care of your mental health? #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters
What is CBPR? Community based participatory resear What is CBPR? Community based participatory research is a way of doing research that counters the typical relationship between academics and communities – it centers a mutual benefit and partnership between research and community. CBPR is about collaboration and building together.
Mental health and physical health are deeply inter Mental health and physical health are deeply interconnected. In fact, research is showing that stress has a significant role in our cardiovascular health and autoimmune systems. Be kind to your mind as much as possible through using stress management techniques like getting a good night’s rest, exercise, nutrition, community and of course, spending time with family and friends. It’s not just good for your body, it’s good for your mind! #selfcare #mentalhealth #dementia #alzheimers
Alzheimer’s Disease has many myths attached to i Alzheimer’s Disease has many myths attached to it. Alzheimer’s and dementia are sometimes used interchanegeably, but they are different. Dementia is a term used to describe a number of different symptoms including confusion, memory loss, language difficulties, and behavior change. Alzheimer’s is one type of dementia, but there are others such as Frontotemporal, Lewy-Body and more. As our loved ones age, we may dismiss memory loss and confusion as part of aging, but it could indicate Alzheimer’s or another cognitive impairment conidtion. Generally, when daily life becomes impacted – like forgetting a home address or how to use a familiar appliance, it’s time to talk to a medical professional. Finally, one of the greatest myths about Alzheimer’s is that it only runs in families. Although researchers have found that there is a genetic component to Alzheimer’s, there are many factors related to one’s risk for dementia. It’s one of the many mysteries that scientists are trying to understand. #alzheimers #dementia
Dementia is a syndrome that describes numerous bra Dementia is a syndrome that describes numerous brain conditions including Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular, Lewy body, Frontotemporal, Traumautic Brain Injury, Huntington's Disease and Other dementias.
Dementia is a syndrome that describes numerous bra Dementia is a syndrome that describes numerous brain conditions. In the 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, it is defined as “an overall term for a particular group of symptoms. The characteristic symptoms of dementia are difficulties with memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Changes to the brain cause dementia, and many different brain changes can lead to dementia”. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Caregivers needs support as much as loved ones dia Caregivers needs support as much as loved ones diagnosed with dementia. Caregiver support groups offer a space to vent, release, ask questions and take care of YOU. ACTS (Actively Caring Through Sharing) is a Christian caregiver group in Inglewood that meets monthly virtually and in-person to support caregivers and share resources. Visit https://actscsg.org/ to learn more. #caregiversupport #alzheimers #dementia
Black Scientist Spotlight Karen D. Lincoln, PhD Black Scientist Spotlight Karen D. Lincoln, PhD is a sociologist, social worker, professor of environmental and occupational health and Director of the UCI Center for Environmental Health Disparities Research at University of California, Irvine. Dr. Lincoln’s groundbreaking “Sleep Tight” study on sleep quality and cognitive decline showed that the number of hours of sleep we have per night directly correlates to the proteins in the brain that lead to cognitive decline: too little or too much sleep can be detrimental to our brain health. In an interview, Dr. Lincoln explains why studying African American health disparities are important: “The experiences of African Americans are worthy of study in and of themselves. We don’t need to be compared to anyone else. There is more than enough to learn about in our own lived experiences to inform policy, practice, and research in medicine.” Dr. Lincoln’s research is guided by the principles of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR). She works with community members to make research accessible, culturally responsive, and relevant. Learn more about Dr. Lincoln here: https://www.karendlincoln.com https://medium.com/authority-magazine/inspirational-black-men-and-women-in-medicine-dr-karen-d-lincoln-of-uci-public-health-on-5-things-ab220c7cc785 #blackscientist #karenlincoln
Meet the Deters Lab! Professor Kacie Deters is th Meet the Deters Lab! Professor Kacie Deters is the Director and Principal Investigator of the Deters Lab based at UCLA in Los Angeles. Dr. Deters is driven to understand why Black Americans are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. The Deters Lab is committed to research that is driven and co-led by the community. We are excited to partner with communities to launch initiatives and offer resources to people with dementia, caregivers, and their families. Learn more at our website: https://deterslab.ibp.ucla.edu
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