June 2, 2020

Dear Alzheimer’s Los Angeles Community,

We are profoundly saddened by the tragic murder of George Floyd. We strongly condemn the brutal acts of violence perpetrated by those who hold power over others, and we stand with our colleagues, community partners, clients, and the Black community against racism and inequality.

We are sadly too aware that inequalities in the healthcare system lead to poorer health outcomes for communities of color. African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, and their disease is likely to be further advanced at the time of diagnosis than white people. Latinos and Asian Pacific Islanders also get Alzheimer’s at significantly higher rates than non-Hispanic whites. Health outcomes in other chronic diseases are very similar for these communities.

And recently, we’ve seen that African Americans in Los Angeles are being diagnosed with COVID-19 twice as often as whites and suffer worse outcomes as well.

We respect and support those who gather peacefully to take a stand against institutionalized racism. However, we condemn the acts of violence and destruction.

Today, Alzheimer’s Los Angeles pledges to continue working with the Black community and the many other richly diverse communities that make up Los Angeles and the Inland Empire to eliminate stigma and increase understanding. Racism has no place in our community.