New Center in Greensboro Will Provide Alzheimer’s Outreach

North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro will use funds from a $1 million grant to create an outreach and education center for Alzheimer’s disease.  

Credit A & T State University

Dr. Goldie Byrd, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at A&T State University, says as baby boomers age, the number of Alzheimer’s cases is expected to increase nationwide.

The College of Arts and Sciences at North Carolina A&T State University recently received the first installment of a $1 million grant from Merck & Co. Inc. The money will be used to create a new facility called the Center for Outreach Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health. Dr. Goldie Byrd, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at A&T says the center will create awareness about the growing disease.

“Right now there are 4.5 million Americans that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and we firmly believe that number is grossly underrepresented and the numbers are expected to triple by mid-century,” says Byrd.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. Byrd says the center will provide education about healthy lifestyles and maintaining a healthy brain. A&T State University will work with various community organizations to extend the center’s resources outside of campus.

Byrd says the center will also provide research opportunities for faculty.

“We will go out and conduct town hall meetings and educational galas. We will create performing arts opportunities. We will have a mobile unit where we will visit agencies and we will visit community dwellers who are impacted by Alzheimer’s,” says Byrd. “We will also create a certificate program in this area in health disparity and aging.”

The Center for Outreach Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health at A&T State University will open by July 1.