ALTER Dementia Summit Brings Black Faith Leaders and Researchers Together in Georgia

The 2026 ALTER Dementia Summit brought together Black faith leaders, healthcare researchers, and caregivers for three days of education and collaboration in East Point, Georgia.

The conference ran April 23-25 at Impact Church. AARP served as the presenting sponsor, with the Alzheimer's Association as the champion sponsor. Additional support came from the Lewy Body Dementia Association, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, and the National Institute on Aging.

African Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia at higher rates than the general population, a disparity that researchers attribute to a combination of genetic, social, and economic factors.

The summit addressed that gap directly. Sessions covered how to challenge misconceptions about dementia within church communities, how to support families caring for loved ones with non-Alzheimer's forms of the disease, and how to translate research findings into practical community action.

One session, "Seeing the Unseen: Supporting Families within the Black Church Facing Non-Alzheimer's Dementia," drew particular attention for its focus on Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal degeneration, conditions that are often misdiagnosed or overlooked.

Faith leaders at the summit said the church is a natural partner for dementia awareness work because of its trusted role in Black communities. Several pastors described starting memory care ministries and caregiver support groups within their congregations.

The summit is part of a broader national effort. Alzheimer's Los Angeles hosted a Faith and Health Luncheon in May at West Angeles Cathedral, and churches in Richmond, Virginia, have used a documentary series to run community education programs.