A Black History Month conference this weekend is addressing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease concerns in the community.

The African American Child Wellness Institute and the Alzheimer’s Association organized the conference at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in Minneapolis.

The groups highlighted that Black families often face the highest risks and barriers due to stigma, chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes, and a complex health care system.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, older Black Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia when compared with their white peers.

Conference speakers explained dementia symptoms, emphasizing the importance of recognizing signs like memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with familiar tasks.

“Main thing is, memory loss is not a normal part of aging, and so many times we’re experiencing that, it’s important to talk to our family,” said Nassise Geleta from the Alzheimer’s Association. “It’s important to go get a mini cognitive assessment, talk with our primary care providers, and then seek support and seek help. There are treatments available now that they’re only effective in the early stages. And so we want folks to be mindful of kind of where they’re at and take charge of their brain health.”

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.