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Research program, organizations form bond by Chris West Public Relations In collaboration with two community service organizations, one MUSC research program has sought to address health care and solidify its commitment to the Charleston community. The Multi-Institutional Research on Alzheimer's Genetic Epidemiology Special Targeting of African Americans and their Relatives (MIRAGE-STAR) sought to determine whether environmental and genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease are similar to or different from that of Caucasians. The project, using data collected from family studies, environment and group habits, addressed potential risk factors for the disease. Some considered factors were alcohol use, smoking, head injury, age and use of estrogen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. “Some prior prevalence studies suggest an increased risk of the disease in African Americans over Caucasians,” said David Bachman, M.D., professor and co-director of the MUSC Alzheimer's Research and Clinical Programs. “MIRAGE-STAR was conducted to determine what risk factors exist in what groups, but not to measure prevalence or susceptibility.”  Yet some data from the findings have shown that there are risk factors that do increase an individual's risk.  “Some data have shown that the presence of the apolipoproteinE gene (APOE) demonstrates a similar risk for Caucasians and African Americans alike. And that for an individual with a first-degree family member with the disease, like a mother, father or sibling, that individual's risk increases. This increased risk appears to be higher in African American families than in Caucasian,” Bachman said.  Other data from the family studies have pointed to other existing factors of risk and protection among the groups. “Some data seem to indicate education levels of high school and beyond provide a protective barrier against the disease in Caucasians and even greater in African Americans. Preliminary data seems to show that alcohol use in Caucasians may lend a modest protective barrier, yet not in the case of African Americans. Prior head injury seems to show an increased risk for Caucasians though not in African Americans,” Bachman said. The program was made possible due to the participation of two local community service organizations, the Reid House Adult Services Program, which is a community outreach service of the Greater AME Church, and Delta Sigma Theta, an African American community service sorority. The four project volunteers, Albertha Fernandez, Harriet Simpson, Aleatha Brown and Anna Tolbert are members of the sorority.  The Reid House provides an adult daycare program, predominantly for African Americans with Alzheimer's Disease.  The program offers recreation and physician-approved exercise activities, case management and health care services, as well as meals and transportation. The collaboration with MUSC has aided the program in acquiring a grant from Novartis Pharmaceutical Company for an on-site registered nurse and in return the Reid house has granted access to large numbers of African Americans. “The relationship has provided structure and supervision to prevent or delay institutionalization of our guests and we have granted MUSC access to large numbers of African Americans that will offer education and awareness of the disease and its profound impact on African Americans,” said Delores Greene, director of the Reid House. “It has opened a true window of opportunity for us both.” A luncheon was held Sept. 6 to honor the volunteers of the Reid House and research project and as an opportunity for Bachman to present some of the findings from the MIRAGE-STAR study. Also speaking at the luncheon was Bishop Henry Allen Belin Jr., Presiding Prelate. Once analyzed, the remaining MIRAGE-STAR findings will be submitted for publication and presentation. A new grant is currently being established to build upon the initial study’s findings.