by: Alex Torres-Perez, Posted: Jun 30, 2025
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI) — Central Falls-based Progreso Latino has been awarded the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation’s prestigious Citizen Scientist Cultivator Award for its work bridging barriers to get more Hispanic people involved in Alzheimer’s studies, which could help millions in the future.
Studies show Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, yet they are underrepresented in clinical research.
“We want to be very, very sure that we’re making treatments that are applicable to everyone and not applicable just to certain people with certain genetic backgrounds, and the only way to do that is get people with diverse genetic backgrounds into the studies,” said Dr. Ted Huey, the director of Butler Hospital’s Memory and Aging Program.
That’s why Butler used a diversity grant to create the Brain Health Room at Progreso Latino, where doctors and community members can have one-on-one conversations about their memory concerns and research opportunities.
“That’s been very important, because at a hospital, especially a psychiatric hospital like Butler, sometimes there’s stigma,” Dr. Huey said.
Progreso Latino says it’s helping break that stigma by simply starting conversations. The hope is that by bringing in more diverse patients, researchers at Butler and Brown University will be able to make an Alzheimer’s treatment that will work for everyone.
“It will take time. I think we are doing the first steps, and I think we can get better clues soon,” said Dilenia Cruz, the community liaison for Progreso Latino.
Patients say they’re seeing the progress as they take things one step at a time.
“They made a little difference in me. Made a new person,” Manuel Olivares said.
If you’re interested in participating in Butler’s Alzheimer’s study, you can sign up here or call (401) 455-6402.