African Americans are at a significantly higher risk than whites of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and they also report lower levels of AD literacy than their white counterparts.

Karen Lincoln, associate professor and founder of Advocates for African American Elders, launched the BrainWorks research study to promote Alzheimer’s disease literacy within the African American community. This study aimed to help individuals identify AD symptoms and encourage them to seek help from a physician or mental health provider.

Lincoln’s study shows that older African Americans who received culturally tailored text messages about Alzheimer’s disease had the highest increase in Alzheimer’s disease literacy levels when compared with other participants.