Welcome! The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Mayo Clinic promotes research and education about healthy brain aging, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other related dementia disorders. For patients and families affected by Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, the ADRC at Mayo Clinic offers education and support programs, as well as opportunities to participate in clinical trials and research discoveries.

This website is dedicated primarily to the community outreach activities of the ADRC at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. To view the main Mayo Clinic ADRC website, click here.

Use the menu above or click on the tiles below to learn more and get involved in our community outreach efforts.

MAYO CLINIC FLORIDA ADRC NEWS

Mayo Clinic and Bethel Baptist event on May 6 to promote brain health

May 1, 2023

More than six million people in America have Alzheimer’s disease, including nearly 600,000 people living in Florida. Racial and ethnic minorities are at an even greater risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

To educate the public on ways to improve brain health and reduce the risk of memory loss, Mayo Clinic and The Bethel Baptist Church will hold a community event open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 6 at the downtown church titled: "Pathways 2 Brain Health."

"African Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and we believe it’s important to promote brain health to reduce the risk of memory loss and promote healthy aging," says Gregory Day, M.D., a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer Disease Research Center. "Our goal is to provide attendees with an understanding of brain health and memory loss, and practical strategies for reducing the risk of memory loss and improving the quality of life for those living with memory disorders."

Attendees will receive information on the latest research and treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related memory disorders. They will learn from leading experts in brain health, aging, and caring for a loved one with memory loss. Topics include:

  • Proactive brain health for all ages
  • Strategies for maintaining brain health and reducing the risk of memory loss
  • Understanding brain health
  • What is dementia, and is it reversible?
  • Risk factors for memory loss and Alzheimer's disease
  • Caregiving techniques for those living with memory loss

Brain health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, yet many people need to be aware of the steps they can take to promote brain health and reduce the risk of memory loss.

"For far too long, the issues of the brain and its health have not been a priority in the African American community," says Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Jr., senior pastor of The Bethel Church. "I am thankful that Mayo Clinic will partner with us to bring attention to brain health so that our resilience begins with healthy streams of consciousness that result in health and wholeness in our living."


Mayo Clinic Jacksonville gets $41 million grant for major Alzheimer's study

March 29, 2023

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville has received a $41 million federal grant for a potentially groundbreaking study to better understand Alzheimer's disease and how the brain disorder affects people of different ethnic groups. Alzheimer's disease afflicts African-Americans at a rate twice as high as that in white populations. For Latino Americans, the risk is 1.5 times greater than that in whites. According to Dr. Nilufer Ertekin-Taner, a Mayo Clinic professor of neuroscience and neurology who is a co-principal investigator of the study, "These populations have traditionally been understudied for Alzheimer's disease, leading to a major knowledge gap.” With this study, Dr. Taner hopes to bridge that gap and create opportunities for all Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity, to benefit from the right treatments at the right time. Such breakthroughs are made possible by the participation of African Americans and Latino Americans from the Jacksonville community in Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center studies. For more information about this study, please visit: Mayo Clinic Jacksonville gets $41 million to study Alzheimer's


Seeking Current and Former Family Caregivers

March 28, 2023

Caring for a family member with dementia is demanding, and research has shown that it can negatively affect the physical and mental health of caregivers.

The Connect2Caregivers research study is being done to develop a unique matching process for connecting current and former caregivers with one another for the purpose of peer-to-peer emotional support.

The study will help researchers determine whether caregivers of persons with dementia would find a technology-based caregiver matching program valuable. if you are interested in learning more, please visit the study recruitment flyer or contact the study coordinator at connect2caregivers@mayo.edu.


ADRC Researchers Discuss the Latest Findings from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference

August 23, 2022

Drs. Gregory Day and Jun Min Koay appeared on the News4Jax morning show to discuss the work they presented at the recent Alzheimer’s disease conference. “Research is key to finding the solution” and bringing hope to people with dementia, but there remains a “need to engage people across our diverse landscape and have all communities represented.”  If you would like to join the fight against Alzheimer's disease and participate in a study, contact us at 904-953-6523


Mayo Clinic Investigators Work to Develop a Blood Test to Accurately Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease in African Americans

Drs. Minerva Carrasquillo (left), Nilufer Ertekin-Taner (right), and their team of investigators.

June 30, 2022

Mayo Clinic researchers are developing a simple blood test to make it possible for African Americans to get an accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. This is possible because Jacksonville community members consented to donate blood samples to advance Mayo Clinic studies on aging, memory loss, and dementia. We are grateful to our local community for their support and partnership in working towards a cure for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. To quote Dr. Minerva Carrasquillo, “Determining the most relevant risk factors and mechanisms of disease in each community will help us develop ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease equitably in all communities.” Please visit the Jacksonville Free Press website to learn more about this study. If you are interested in joining the fight against Alzheimer's disease, contact us at 904-953-6523.


Mayo Clinic Conference on Brain Health & Dementia to take place virtually on October 29th, 2021

Conference on Brain Health & Dementia at a Glance:

Date: Friday, October 29th

Time: 10:30am-5:30pm ET

Location: Virtual

Formerly known as 'Meeting of the Minds', the Mayo Clinic Conference on Brain Health & Dementia will pay tribute to all that families impacted by dementia are going through during these unprecedented times, while providing a unique opportunity to learn, feel connected, and gain a renewed sense of hope for a brighter path forward.



Songfest for Alzheimer's: HBCU choirs partner with Mayo Clinic Florida ADRC to help the community learn about Alzheimer's disease.

February 1, 2021

Members of the Aeolian Choir of Oakwood University, Bethune-Cookman University Choir, and Hampton University Concert Choir have partnered with the community outreach program of the Mayo Clinic Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) and The Bethel Church to create a virtual concert program to help raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease. Pre-recorded selections from prior live performances at The Bethel Church were compiled along with important messages about Alzheimer's disease from Drs. Floyd Willis and Maisha Robinson of the Mayo Clinic Florida ADRC. This hour-long event streamed on The Bethel Church social media platforms on Saturday, January 30, 2021.

If you would like to view the program, please click on this link to The Bethel Church YouTube channel.


Pressing Toward the Mark: A Faith-Based Approach to Dementia Education

Dr. Maisha Robinson

August 26, 2020

Dr. Maisha Robinson of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Center was awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida to forge partnerships with local Black Churches and the Alzheimer’s Association to help provide resources in their approach to congregation members who are having memory issues or other signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.


Mayo Clinic ADRC investigators study form of Alzheimer's disease that strikes younger adults.

June 17, 2020

Mayo Clinic researchers have defined a form of Alzheimer’s disease that can strike younger people as early as their 40s, presents with symptoms that are different from typical Alzheimer's disease, and affects a different part of the brain than is typically seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

In a paper published in the journal Brain Communications, the ADRC researchers report a series of 55 patients with this form of Alzheimer's disease. The average age of symptom onset was approximately 54 years old, whereas typical Alzheimer's is most likely to appear after age 65. In these patients with younger onset Alzheimer's disease, the progressive dementia syndrome more prominently affected the ability to multitask, organize and plan, whereas the memory deficits seen in typical Alzheimer’s disease were not as significant. In fact, many patients showed no dysfunction or cell loss in the memory center of the brain. This pattern of Alzheimer's disease has been observed before, but the new study helps characterize and understand it better.


A Message to the Community from the Mayo Clinic Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Outreach Team

June 8, 2020

We recognize the long-standing social, economic and political inequalities that underlie current nationwide demonstrations for social justice. We are committed to maintaining and strengthening relationships with our community partners to address disparities in all forms and to eliminate the systemic racism and discrimination that perpetuate these social ills.

We understand that these are unprecedented times but our priority will always be the health and well-being of our community members. We strongly believe that change is needed and we strive to be a positive force for change in the communities we serve.


Statement from Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., President & CEO, Mayo Clinic and Jeff Bolton, Chief Administrative Officer, Mayo Clinic

May 27, 2020

We were deeply saddened and troubled to learn the tragic news of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, so close to home to many of us. Mr. Floyd died on Monday after being held down by a Minneapolis police officer.

This is just one of several recent incidents drawing national attention that show that we as a society still have a long way to go in stamping out violence and hate, negative biases and stereotypes.

Mayo Clinic stands united in rejecting all forms of discrimination against our staff, our patients and people in our communities. These incidents are deeply troubling, and combined with daily news about COVID-19, they are even more stressful.

We invite everyone to renew your commitment to supporting our colleagues. Be there for each other, help one another, be a force for good and hope for one another, inside and outside of Mayo Clinic.


Mayo Clinic Florida Resumes Alzheimer's Disease Research Visits & Community Outreach Events

June 1, 2020

The Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Center has re-opened and will gradually resume research visits and community outreach activities in the coming weeks. We look forward to resuming our important work of discovering and developing effective therapies in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementia.

Mayo Clinic has taken several extra precautions to safely resume in-person visits, including enhanced cleaning, robust screening, new safety guidelines and strategies to minimize the risk of the COVID-19 virus on our campus.

If you are in a research study, you may receive a call from a study coordinator to schedule an appointment. Some visits may be in-person but for other visits we may be able to offer a virtual visit online. Please feel free to ask your study coordinator about these options. If you have questions, please call us at 904-953-6523.

Similarly, we will be continuing our community partnerships in education, skill-building, and caregiver support. Although some of the larger community events we had planned for this year will need to be scaled back or postponed, we soon plan to move forward with activities such as our Memory Cafe and Community Support groups. Please know that we will do everything possible to ensure community health, wellness, and safety as our top priority, and that we will continue to offer virtual online activities for those unable to join us in person.

Please visit our event calendar for updated information about virtual and in-person events, dates, locations, and links.

Thank you! We hope that you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy.


COVID-19 UPDATE: Mayo ADRC Research Visits & Community Outreach Events Postponed

May 4, 2020 (updated from March 16, 2020)

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center executive team has suspended all in-person research visits and outreach activities through May 31, 2020. This includes visits to Mayo Clinic for study exams, brain imaging, blood draws, and lumbar puncture procedures. It also includes all in-person educational and support programs and events through at least May 31, 2020.  If you are a research participant who also receives medical care at Mayo Clinic, those appointments will be managed by your healthcare provider on an individual basis. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates on our research visits and outreach events as the COVID-19 situation evolves. We would like to thank you all for your dedication to dementia awareness and education, and for your support and commitment to dementia research.

If you are a Mayo Clinic ADRC study participant and have questions about your study visit, please call 904-953-6523.


Dr. Maisha Robinson awarded Florida Department of Health Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer's Disease Research Program Grant

January 13, 2020

Dr. Maisha Robinson

Congratulations to Mayo Clinic ADRC investigator, Dr. Maisha Robinson, for being one of 4 Mayo Clinic recipients of a Florida Moore grant. Her project: Between Here and There: Addressing End-of-Life Disparities Among African Americans with MCI and Dementia Through Community-Based Training in Advance Care Planning seeks to empower African American communities to ensure that the end-of-life wishes and preferences of community members with memory loss and dementia are made known, documented, and respected. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the awards at a press conference on January 13.

The Ed & Ethel Moore grant program funds research seeking to improve the health of Floridians through better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and AD-related dementia. Congratulations are also in order for the three other Mayo ADRC investigators awarded Moore grants:

  • Dr Pamela McLean, Modeling Lewy body dementias: Towards a better understanding of amyloid-beta and alpha-synuclein in ADRDs.
  • Dr. Rickey Carter, Racial and Ethnic Differences in Gene Expression Data.
  • Dr. Pritam Das, Detection of vascular and inflammatory plasma biomarkers in patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and cerebral small vessel disease.

National Institutes of Health Receive Boost in Alzheimer’s Disease Funding

December 20, 2019

The US Senate has approved a $350 million increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementia. This raises the total NIH budget for AD research to $2.8 billion for fiscal year 2020, recognizing the widespread public health crisis presented by this disease.
  
Over the last five years, advances in research have led to many discoveries, including new genes and pathways linked to the disease. The increased funding will help keep momentum going towards the discovery of new and effective treatments.

AD cannot currently be cured and is considered the most expensive disease in the country, costing taxpayers $290 billion in 2019. More than 5 million Americans are currently living with the disease and an estimated 16 million more are providing unpaid care to loved ones with dementia. As noted by the Alzheimer’s Association, "we owe it to these individuals and the millions more who will be impacted in the coming years to leave no stone unturned so we can advance treatments and find a cure for this devastating disease."


DR. FLOYD WILLS HONORED AS "COMMUNITY HEALTH HERO"

October 18, 2019

Dr. Floyd Wills, Family Medicine physician and investigator in the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, has been named a recipient of the inaugural "Community Health Heroes" award from Agape Family Health, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to make comprehensive healthcare services available to the entire Jacksonville community, regardless of race, national origin, gender, age or socioeconomic status.

Dr. Willis is recognized for his research in Alzheimer’s disease among African-Americans, as well as for his current partnership with Edward Waters College to examine the potential role of students from minority-serving institutions in providing health education to the surrounding community.