WASHINGTON (Feb. 6, 2023)— According to leading researchers, Black men are disproportionately affected by brain health disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, yet they often do not receive a diagnosis and have trouble accessing proper treatment. Robert W. Turner II, Ph.D., assistant professor of clinical research and leadership, and assistant professor at the department of Neurology at The George Washington University, is focused on bringing attention to these inequities and convening more researchers and healthcare professionals to address this serious public health challenge. Dr. Turner is a speaker at the 2nd annual Black Men’s Brain Health Conference (BMBH) scheduled on February 8-9 at Arizona State University on the eve of Super Bowl LVII.
This national conference, as part of the Men’s Brain Health Initiative funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging, and the NFL Alumni Association, is free and offers a virtual viewing option. The agenda features topics such as brain health, disparities in healthcare for Black men, cognitive aging and resilience, and recruitment strategies for men of color in research studies. Dr. Turner, a former NFL athlete and co-investigator for the conference, and colleagues at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences are studying traumatic brain injury among former athletes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and National Football League.
Dr. Turner is available to discuss health research and factors that lead to brain disease and disorders. As noted in his book, Not for Long; The Life and Career of the NFL Athlete, effective strategies to protect brain health must be understood and put in place by everyone from the elite professionals to weekend workout athletes. Using his own life experience as a former professional football player, Dr. Turner is able to navigate the theoretical context applied to the varied lived experiences of African American males of all ages.
To learn more about BMBH, please contact Mike Lynch and Amy Johnston at the Alzheimer’s Association ([email protected], ajohnston@
Media inquiries and speaking requests for Dr. Turner can be arranged through GW Media at [email protected].
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