Alter Dementia, Dementia Care Aware Give 100+ Free Screenings Across Black Churches

A community-based cognitive screening initiative in Atlanta has brought early dementia detection into a setting where many older African Americans already feel comfortable: trusted faith and aging-support organizations. The 100 Minds Cognitive Screening Project, a collaboration among Alter Dementia, Dementia Care Aware (DCA) and SageNavigator, provided free screenings to 106 adults aged 60 and older during the 2026 Alter Dementia Summit and Aging Well Expo. More than 68% of participants said they had never undergone a memory screening or discussed brain health with a healthcare professional, highlighting a persistent gap in access to early cognitive evaluation.

The project was designed to address racial disparities in dementia diagnosis by moving screening beyond conventional clinical settings and into community spaces. African Americans experience Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias at nearly twice the rate of non-Hispanic white older adults, yet they are about 35% less likely to receive a timely formal diagnosis, according to research cited by the organizers. Earlier identification can provide opportunities for medical evaluation, treatment of modifiable risk factors, advance planning and connection to support services, although a brief screening cannot by itself diagnose dementia.

Alter Dementia and SageNavigator led the initiative, while Dementia Care Aware supplied training for the volunteers who conducted the assessments. Alter Dementia works with African American faith communities to build dementia-friendly environments through education, worship materials, caregiver support and practical resources. SageNavigator, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, focuses on older adults and people living with disabilities by connecting them with community services and developing grassroots support networks. DCA provides healthcare teams and community partners with education, implementation tools and guidance for dementia detection and brain health planning.

The screenings used the Mini-Cog, a short, validated cognitive assessment intended to identify people who may need additional evaluation. The tool combines a three-word recall task with a clock-drawing exercise. Because it takes only a few minutes and requires limited equipment, the Mini-Cog can be used in community settings where lengthy neuropsychological testing is not practical. Its role is to flag possible cognitive impairment, not to establish a medical diagnosis. Participants with results suggesting the need for further evaluation were encouraged to discuss the findings with their primary care providers.

Volunteers were recruited in partnership with Clark Atlanta University’s Whitney M. Young School of Social Work and the Atlanta Black Nurses Association. Their DCA training covered administration of the screening, confidentiality, cultural humility and referral procedures. These safeguards are critical because cognitive testing can raise sensitive questions about memory, independence, family responsibilities and future care. By preparing volunteers to explain the purpose and limitations of the Mini-Cog, organizers sought to make the process informative rather than alarming and to ensure that participants understood what their results could and could not indicate.

Every participant received information about cognitive wellness and an opportunity to establish a personal baseline for future conversations about brain health. They were also given educational materials, a list of local resources and the option to make a personal Brain Health Pledge. Such steps reflect a broader shift in dementia prevention and care toward risk reduction and early planning. Brain health discussions may include blood pressure and diabetes control, physical activity, sleep, hearing care, social engagement and review of medications that can affect cognition. These measures do not eliminate dementia risk, but they can help address factors associated with cognitive decline.

The organizers said the project succeeded because it placed screening alongside existing community activities rather than asking residents to navigate an unfamiliar healthcare system. The summit and expo brought African American faith communities together for education, worship and conversations about dementia, creating an environment where participants could approach a potentially stigmatized subject with support from trusted institutions. Dr. Fayron Epps, founder of Alter Dementia, said the initiative was built around the trust already present at the events and aimed to open access to screening without separating brain health from community life and faith.

Dementia Care Aware executive director Dr. Anna Chodos said that improving diagnostic equity requires more than validated tools. It also requires partnerships capable of delivering screening and follow-up in places where underserved populations already gather. The Atlanta project illustrates how technical training, a brief cognitive instrument and referral support can be combined with culturally responsive outreach. The model may be particularly valuable in communities where transportation barriers, limited healthcare access, cost, mistrust or previous experiences of discrimination delay conversations about memory changes.

The 100 Minds project also demonstrates why screening results must be connected to continuing care. A positive or concerning result is not a diagnosis and can be influenced by factors such as anxiety, fatigue, hearing or vision problems, language, education and temporary medical conditions. Participants who require additional assessment need access to primary care professionals who can review their history, perform physical and neurological evaluations, assess medications and order laboratory tests or specialist referrals when appropriate. The screening team said it continued supporting participants as they considered those next steps.

By exceeding its goal of reaching 100 people and identifying that most participants had not previously discussed memory or brain health with a clinician, the initiative offers a measurable example of community-based dementia detection. Its organizers hope the approach will encourage more partnerships between healthcare systems, faith organizations, universities and local aging-service networks. As Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias continue to affect communities unevenly, bringing scientifically grounded screening into trusted cultural settings could become an important part of narrowing the diagnosis gap and helping more people plan for healthier aging.

Web References: https://alterdementia.com/; https://www.dementiacareaware.org/; https://www.sagenavigator.org/; https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/data-shows-racial-disparities-alzheimers-disease-diagnosis-between-black-and-white-research

References: Alter Dementia; Dementia Care Aware; SageNavigator; National Institute on Aging