2023: Celebrating a Year of Gratitude and Achievements at the MAC

^{Above: Atlantic Fellows Luis Martinez (left) and Magda Kaczmarska (right) and fellow dancers perform during the Creative Minds “Community + Art + the Brain” exhibit in August 2023. Photo by Elisabeth Fall.}

Dear MAC Community,

On behalf of our faculty, staff, and leadership of the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health at UCSF, we want to express our deep gratitude for the incredible collaborations of the MAC to our program. Through the MAC, the Atlantic Fellows gain access to world class research and clinical opportunities. In turn, it is our intention that the MAC community benefits from their diverse wealth of experience and shared commitment to brain health.

I share a few highlights of our collaborative efforts here. These initiatives mark a significant step towards advancing global brain health and reinforce our commitment to making a lasting impact on a worldwide scale. They wouldn’t happen without you.

• International Impact: We celebrate the success of our collaboration on large international grants in Colombia and Argentina, including an $8M grant for dementia diagnosis tools in Latinos. In the coming year, we anticipate $4M in funding in Colombia for research on epigenetic modifications in dementia, as well as expanding research capacity at Universidad Javeriana, strengthening relationships between UCSF and Colombia. 
• Harmonizing Protocols Across Borders: We celebrate the successful rollout of harmonized cognitive assessment protocols in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Israel. These developments stem from a fellow-led and faculty- and staff-supported Cognitive Assessment in Diverse Populations Interest Group. With funding of a $3M grant from the Wellcome Trust, we will likely expand to other interventions using the World Wide FINGERS approach.
• Care Ecosystem: The Care Ecosystem has served as an important training opportunity for our fellows. In 2023, we celebrated the influence of Care Ecosystem on Medicare and Medicaid’s new payment model, GUIDE, which emphasizes the importance of addressing caregivers' needs.
• A Commitment to DEIB: Together, we are building a more inclusive community that reflects the diversity of perspectives needed for meaningful change. In October, we were honored to introduce Richard Wallace to the MAC community and consider his work on the economic and health effects of anti-Black racism.
• Unraveling Bolero: "UnRavelled," an original play examining the intersection of art, dementia, and science, made its stage debut in an acclaimed performance with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in July. We are proud to be part of this unique project that raises public awareness of the profound connection between creativity and brain health.
• Creative Minds in Action: The MAC Community Outreach continued to collaborate with Atlantic Fellows to make significant strides in improving brain health in the Bay Area through innovative events at the intersection of art and brain health, including an exhibit at SOMArts Cultural Center in August.
• Artistic Expression at Gallery190: The artistic expressions of Gallery190, including exhibits from Atlantic Fellows (Luis' gallery, Austin's gallery), offered diverse perspectives on the magic of art and its profound connection to brain health.
• Advancing Equity in Brain Health: Our commitment to diverse older adults is recognized through Population Health and Brain Health Equity awards, highlighting our dedication to inclusive and accessible brain health initiatives in San Francisco. Learn more about the 2023 award winning project focused on cross-cultural differences in cognitive testing.
• Advocacy through Film: Keys Bags Names Words, a new documentary film about dementia premiered in 2023. Featuring the research and clinical care of the MAC, the film has been screened at more than 130 events in 28 countries, driving awareness of dementia-related challenges across the world.
• Preventing Cognitive Decline: A study led by UCSF and Kaiser Permanente Washington, SMARRT (Systematic Multi-domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial), reveals that personalized health and lifestyle interventions can significantly improve cognitive scores and reduce dementia risk by addressing factors such as diabetes and physical inactivity.

• Expanding Latin American Reach: Our partnership in Latin America with ReDLat continues to surpass expectations with nearly 3000 enrollees to date across six Latin American countries with leadership from MAC faculty. A renewal of this R01 grant will be submitted in the new year. We are particularly delighted to have received a favorable score on a new R01 that will expand our understanding of dementia and the social determinants of brain health through the investigation of epigenetics.

And if we haven’t collaborated yet, we can’t wait to do so in the new year. Our program’s door is always open. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.

Sincerely,

Victor Valcour

^{Above: Atlantic Fellows gather with Richard Wallace and members of UCSF Memory and Aging Center Black Leadership Advisory Council (MAC BLAC) in October 2023.}