For many families, conversations about brain health and dementia can be difficult. In some Black communities, cultural stigma and concerns about judgment can make those conversations even harder, leaving families to manage symptoms and challenges on their own.
A Hamilton-based initiative is working to change that narrative.
The Afro-Canadian Caribbean Association (ACCA) recently hosted the Black Seniors Brain Health Forum, bringing together seniors, researchers, and health professionals to discuss healthy aging, brain health, and ways to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. The event also created an opportunity to address the stigma surrounding dementia and connect members of the Black community with information and resources.
Breaking the Silence Around Dementia
According to ACCA president Evelyn Myrie, one of the major barriers to addressing dementia in some Black families is not necessarily a lack of concern, but the difficulty of talking openly about it.
Myrie explained that some Caribbean, African, and other racialized families may avoid discussing dementia because they fear being judged or because they consider it a private family matter. Others may misunderstand dementia or associate it with mental illness.
When families do not feel comfortable discussing symptoms, they may delay seeking help or miss opportunities for early intervention.
That is why the forum intentionally focused on brain health, rather than dementia alone. By starting the conversation around healthy aging and prevention, organizers hoped to create a more comfortable environment for people to learn about cognitive health and recognize potential concerns.
The Importance of Prevention and Healthy Aging
The forum highlighted several factors that can contribute to healthy brain aging, including physical activity, healthy eating, and social connection.
One example was Joyce Agnes King, a 96-year-old Hamilton resident originally from Guyana. King remains active through gardening, knitting, crossword puzzles, walking, friendships, and community activities.
For King, staying connected and maintaining a positive outlook are important parts of her approach to life.
“I live alone now, but I’m not lonely,” she said.
Her experience illustrates the importance of maintaining social connections and staying engaged as people age.
A Growing Need for Awareness
The need for greater awareness is significant.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, nearly one million people in Canada are expected to be living with dementia by 2030, with that number projected to exceed 1.7 million by 2050.
The organization estimates that the number of people of African ancestry living with dementia in Canada could increase substantially over the same period, from approximately 4,800 in 2020 to more than 29,000 by 2050.
These figures highlight the importance of ensuring that Black communities have access to information and resources that reflect their experiences.
Myrie also pointed to health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, which are more common in some Black populations and have been linked to increased dementia risk.
For families, understanding these connections can help encourage earlier conversations about prevention and overall health.
Connecting Health With Culture
A particularly important element of the Hamilton initiative is its emphasis on culturally relevant programming.
Toronto-based dancer and choreographer Michael Mortley led therapeutic movement activities at the forum, using movements and music connected to Caribbean culture.
Rather than relying exclusively on conventional gym exercises, Mortley’s activities incorporated familiar actions such as sweeping, washing clothes by hand, hanging laundry, and rolling dough. The movements were designed to support balance, mobility, and coordination while also engaging memories and experiences from participants’ past.
Music was another important part of the activities. Familiar songs and rhythms helped participants reconnect with memories while encouraging physical and mental engagement.
The approach resulted in seniors singing, smiling, moving together, and participating enthusiastically.
Why Cultural Relevance Matters
For Myrie, the response to Mortley’s activities demonstrated why culturally appropriate programming can be effective.
People may engage more readily with health information when it is presented through familiar music, food, traditions, language, and experiences.
Cultural familiarity can also help create trust. When community members recognize aspects of their own lives in a health program, they may feel more comfortable participating and discussing concerns that might otherwise remain private.
This approach is particularly valuable when addressing subjects such as dementia, where stigma and misunderstanding can prevent people from seeking support.
Building Long-Term Community Support
The Black Seniors Brain Health Forum is part of a broader effort rather than a one-time conversation.
The forum represents the beginning of several planned discussions on brain health and dementia awareness through a three-year partnership between the Afro-Canadian Caribbean Association and the University of Waterloo.
The strong turnout at the Hamilton event suggests that there is a significant interest in creating more opportunities for culturally relevant health education within Black communities.
For community organizations, partnerships with researchers and health professionals can help make reliable information more accessible while ensuring that programs are responsive to the realities of the communities they serve.
Changing the Narrative
Improving brain health awareness requires more than sharing medical information. It also requires creating environments where people feel safe asking questions, discussing symptoms, and seeking support.
For Black families, culturally appropriate initiatives can help reduce stigma and make those conversations easier.
The Hamilton initiative demonstrates how community organizations can play an important role in connecting people with information while creating spaces that celebrate culture and encourage healthy aging.
As Myrie observed, there is an openness within the community for organizations to connect with diverse populations and help change the narrative.
By bringing together culture, community, health education, and professional expertise, initiatives such as the Black Seniors Brain Health Forum are helping ensure that Black seniors and their families have the information, support, and confidence they need to talk openly about brain health and dementia.