The annual Solomon Carter Fuller Brain Health Brunch is presented by the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) and the African Americans Fighting Alzheimer's in Midlife (AA-FAIM) study. Free and open to all, the event aims to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease in the African American community. Alzheimer’s disease is twice as common among African-Americans than non-Hispanic whites. Attendees will enjoy a complimentary brunch and keynote address, “Brain Health Justice: Science and Solidarity," by Jennifer J. Manly, PhD, from Columbia University in New York City.
The 2025 Solomon Carter Fuller celebration event has reached full capacity. We are no longer accepting reservations, but we do hope to welcome you to future Wisconsin ADRC events. Subscribe to Headlines e-newsletter to receive updates on news and events from the Wisconsin ADRC. If you wish to be added to the waiting list if there are cancelations, please email Annik Dupaty with your complete contact information. Thank you.
Dr. Jennifer J. Manly will be the keynote speaker
Jennifer J. Manly, PhD, is a professor of neuropsychology in neurology at the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and the Taub Institute for Research in Aging and Alzheimer’s disease at Columbia University in New York City. Dr. Manly’s research aims to improve the diagnostic accuracy of neuropsychological tests when used to detect cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease among African American and Hispanic elders. This work clarifies the independent influences of language, acculturation, educational experiences, racial socialization and socioeconomic status on cognitive test performance, with the ultimate goal of understanding more about the relationship between culture and cognition.
Additional details
- Registration/check-in will begin at 9 a.m.
- The Health & Wellness fair will be open from 9:15 to 10 a.m.
- All attendees must check in before the program begins at 10 a.m.
- Attendees will enjoy a free brunch buffet, a performance by the Precious Memories Choir directed by Dr. Sheryl Henderson and Dr. Solomon Carter portrayed by actor Esun Morales
- Guests arriving after 10 a.m. will be seated in an overflow room for viewing speakers only.
- Parking is free in the rear lot of the Goodman South Campus (From S. Park Street turn onto W. Badger Road heading west; then turn left on Perry Street to access the rear parking lot behind the main building)
Honoring Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller
We remember and celebrate Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller’s vast contributions to the field of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Fuller is recognized as the first African American psychiatrist. In 1904, he traveled to Munich, Germany, as one of five foreign doctors chosen to work with Dr. Alois Alzheimer at the Royal Psychiatric Hospital.
Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Fuller published the first papers in English on “presenile dementia,” which would later be referred to as Alzheimer’s disease. He performed vital research into the physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease on the brain. Dr. Fuller faced racism during his career, and acknowledgment and celebration of his work during his lifetime was scarce. Despite this, he was a pioneer in medicine, and today we recognize his career as a cornerstone in building a diverse and inclusive medical profession.
About the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC)
The Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is the hub for aging and dementia research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The center supports 42 investigators, more than 100 scientists-in-training and approximately 50 research studies annually. The Wisconsin ADRC provides resources and sponsors events that educate the general public about the latest news and information on Alzheimer’s disease prevention and care.
The center was established in 2009 with funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and is one of 37 federally funded, NIA-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers across the United States. The Wisconsin ADRC is part of a national network of scientists who are working toward the common goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s disease by 2025.
