Episode #8
Exposing Dementia through the Arts w/ C. Nathaniel Brown
Dementia does not affect all communities equally. In the United States, African Americans are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, shaped by a complex interplay of cardiovascular health, structural inequities, access to care, lifelong socioeconomic factors, and genetic influences. Addressing these disparities requires more than medical advances—it calls for trusted community leadership, culturally relevant education, and powerful storytelling that can reduce stigma and inspire action. In this episode of the Dancing into Brain Health podcast, we are joined by award-winning filmmaker, best-selling author, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and founder of Expose Dementia , Chuck Nathaniel Brown. Following his own family's experience with dementia, Chuck has dedicated his career to using film, literature, community engagement, and the arts to transform how we understand dementia—particularly within African American communities. Through his documentary Remember Me: Dementia in the African American Community , his book Exposing Dementia: 8 Critical Takeaways for African Americans , and the annual Expose Dementia Conference, he has built a vibrant grassroots movement that brings together artists, researchers, healthcare professionals, care partners, and people living with dementia. Together, we explore the extraordinary role that the arts can play in increasing awareness, fostering dialogue, challenging stigma, and creating spaces where communities can learn, heal, and advocate together. Learn more about C. Nathaniel Brown: www.ExposeDementia.org . Read and watch more: Remember Me: Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease in the African American Community https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31958645/ Papa’s Song – Short Film About a Family Navigating Dementia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2ms3GOT3fA Expose Dementia Conference https://exposedementia.org/conference Join a national survey led by Expose Dementia and Dr. Natalie Douglas from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette to better understand the Experiences Around Dementia Diagnosis and Care – specifically among the African American community https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=zrCzE3XNpEm_6goDsB_xq2fP86K4aSJBnluew-DLwLtUMDJaVlFESlpQSTBJN0dDUVBRSTM4RUo1NS4u&route=shorturl This episode of Dancing into Brain Health was edited and produced Magda Kaczmarska and Hilary Brown-Istrefi. The music for this show is the title cut from the album, Critical Path by Joe Venegoni and Carl Weingarten.
