Church Community Fights Alzheimer's Disease

Dec. 3, 2008— -- At the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, N.C., the people who fill the pews every Sunday are shaking their fists at Alzheimer's disease -- doing all that they can to keep the disease at bay.

During the week, some of the older church members, many of whom are well into their 80s, get together to exercise their hearts and minds, which according to several studies may help delay or ward off Alzheimer's disease -- a progressive and fatal brain disease for which there is no cure.

Congregation members take part in daily activities -- from horseback riding, exercising, organic gardening and learning Spanish -- all to stimulate the mind and invigorate the body. Even the sound of church members learning new languages can be heard by just walking down the church's halls.

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It's all thanks to the determination of the Church's senior pastor, Rev. James E. Brown. Brown's work on this holistic program, or what he has dubbed the five "ministries," began after his mother passed away from Alzheimer's disease.

"Mama's always been a go-getter. She taught for 39 years, one of the brightest stars in the Rocky Mount City school system," Brown said. "And then she would start to withdraw. And withdraw."

He recalls that his mother's mind had deteriorated to the point that she would water plastic flowers, and put the mail in the fridge.

"One of the frustrations for a person who has a loved one with the disease is you want to do something. You need to do something," the Reverend said. "Not just for the person, you need to do something for yourself."

With many First Baptist Church congregants also passing away from Alzheimer's in recent years, Rev. James Brown took a stand.

"I know that I have the gene. I can't change the gene. So I work twice as hard in other areas to combat it," he said. "And every time I look at my children, I know that we've got to find a cure before they're affected. I'm doing it for me, but I'm also doing it for those coming after me."

Statistical research shows that the African American community is at a high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and they are also a group which has historically been reluctant to get involved in research.