BIN: Our Voices
Bill Preston, Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development
Bill Preston, Global Legacy Ambassador for the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development , discussed the ongoing mission to protect Rosa Parks’ legacy while addressing the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s disease on the Black community. Preston reflected on Parks’ life of quiet, extraordinary service alongside her time working with Congressman John Conyers, noting that she herself succumbed to Alzheimer’s in her later years. He emphasized that common chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and untreated sleep apnea significantly elevate Alzheimer’s risk, pointing out that women comprise two-thirds of those living with the disease. Sharing the personal loss of his mother and sister, Preston cautioned that early warning signs—such as unusual agitation, repetitive comments or questioning, combativeness, and confusion while navigating familiar routes—are too often overlooked by families until a crisis occurs. To address these challenges, Preston stressed the critical importance of early and accurate diagnosis, advocating for increased access to newly approved blood-based biomarkers alongside confirmatory CT-PET scans. He noted that while blood tests offer a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and serve as an accessible entry point akin to mammograms, securing reimbursement and broader access through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remains an ongoing hurdle. Moving beyond diagnosis, Preston highlighted his global advocacy and consulting work with startup biotechs like Innovative California Biosciences, which is developing promising treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s with backing from the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Health and Human Services. He urged greater participation of Black patients in clinical trials and called on faith-based communities to help dismantle the stigma surrounding cognitive decline, carrying forward Rosa Parks’ spirit of collective action to improve healthcare equity worldwide.
