CIRAD News & Events

From left: Leah Estrada, Kendra Ray, Miguel Arce.

Summer 2024 Community Engagement Events

Alzheimer's Info Session in Harlem - en español!

On Thursday, May 30, CIRAD Year 2 scientist and current co-director of the ADRC’s Outreach, Recruitment & Engagement Core gave a talk in Spanish at Saint Lourdes Church in Upper Manhattan. He talked about dementia, explaining what it is and how to recognize its early signs.

Dr. Arce pointed out that forgetting where you placed your cell phone or keys or struggling to find the right words might or might not be a normal part of aging. He emphasized that getting much more forgetful is not always a normal part of getting older. We must be careful with continuous symptoms, especially if they are repetitive or evident to others. He said that finding out early if someone has dementia can help improve their life.

The event was free to attend in person or watch online, allowing an additional 25+ persons who could not come to the church to learn about this condition.

CIRAD leadership and scientists participated in a community screening of the documentary Keys Bags Names Words on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Directed by Kate Stout, this film highlights the global impacts of Alzheimer’s disease through compelling stories of people living with dementia, their families, and researchers.
Our Co-Director, Dr. Jennifer Manly, delivered the opening remarks, and CIRAD scientists Miguel Arce (Year 3) and Kendra Ray (Year 7) participated in a round table discussion following the screening. The discussion touched on important topics such as available resources, financial concerns, and barriers to support.

Dr. Miguel Arce at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

Charla informativa sobre el Alzheimer en español!

El jueves 30 de mayo, el Dr. Miguel Arce, quien fuera investigador de CIRAD durante nuestro segundo año, ofreció una charla informativa sobre Alzheimer en español en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes.

El Dr. Arce discutió los primeros síntomas, y explicó que olvidar dónde uno ha puesto su teléfono celular o sus llaves, o que olvidarse alguna palabra cuando uno está hablando, no necesariamente es parte normal del proceso de envejecimiento. Por ello, es importante tener cuidado con los síntomas si son muy continuos o si otras personas también los notan. A pesar de que la cura para la enfermedad aún no ha sido descubierta, recibir un diagnóstico cuando la enfermedad todavía se encuentra en su fase inicial puede ayudar mucho a mejorar la caliidad de vida de las personas afectadas.

Este evento fue de libre y ocurrió simulatáneamente en persona y de manera virtual, lo que permitió que al menos veiticinco personas que no pudieron ir a la iglesia siguientra la charla a la distancia.

Pamplin appointed to the NYS HEC

John Pamplin II (Year 6) was appointed to the New York State Health Equity Council. Legislatively mandated by NYS PHL § 241 and operating under the NYS Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention, it serves as an advisory body to the Commissioner on health equity issues. Appointments are made through nomination by the Governor, with approval of the State Senate.

Kendra Ray in Media

In April 2024, our new scientist Kendra Ray (Year 7) was one of the ten researchers who received funding from the the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement and had the chance to meet Dr. Jill Biden to share their research in Washington DC. Dr. Ray discussed “The role of women as caregivers of people with dementia and how music can help.”

Dr.Kendra Ray (third from left) met Dr. Jill Biden (center-left) in April.

Also in April, she participated in the “Ask the Expert” Series hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association to discuss how “Music Makes a Happy Home.” Watch it here.

In May 2024, she participated in the show Get Connected hosted by Nina Del Rio on iheart Radio, 106.7 Lite FM discussing “Benefits of music therapy for people with dementia and their family members.” Listen to it here.

Other Scientist Highlights

Maryam Zolnoori (Year 7) presented at the RCMAR National Coordinating Center Annual Meeting on June 27. She discussed her project, "Speech Processing Algorithm for Early Evaluating Cognitive Impairments" (photo below.)
Ganga Bey (Year 4) was invited to participate in the Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute in Chicago on August 26-28, 2024.
Paris Adkins-Jackson (Year 5) and Ganga Bey (Year 4) were accepted to the NIH's Butler-Williams Scholars program.
Paris Adkins-Jackson (Year 5) received a K01 award titled "The role of adverse community-level policing exposure on disparities in Alzheimer's disease-related dementias and deleterious multidimensional aging" and has a newly accepted publication in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
Indira Turney (Year 2) was invited to give the opening plenary talk at the 2023 Alzheimer’s Imaging Consortium (AIC.) The Plenary Session is titled "Neuroimaging in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders: What Have We Learned?"