As we celebrate the day set aside to remember Martin Luther King Jr., it is appropriate for us to look back on his legacy. Not only did he give his life to become a Baptist preacher, but he also began a movement that continues to this day. His goal was for all people to look beyond the color of the skin and examine the content of the character. In so doing, people of all nations are able to give peace a chance.

To be no respector of persons is critical for harmony and inclusion. Any prejudice is a liability. The same rings true with diseases that ravage certain ethnicities more than others. Unfortunately, as we examine the elderly today, dementia/ Alzheimer’s affects all races, creeds, and colors. Recent research from the Alzheimer’s Organization, however, has detected that minorities may be at greater risk for developing dementia.

African Americans and Hispanics are two times more likely to have dementia and Alzheimer’s. The most unfortunate statistic in these studies is that African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to receive a diagnosis of their condition. Statistics tell us that only 34% will receive a diagnosis for treatment.

Equality comes in all shapes and sizes, in all manners and procedures. The biggest piece of the puzzle for African Americans with Alzheimer’s probably comes down to finance. With knowledge comes truth. It would behoove us all to remember one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous quotes when it comes to the elderly: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?"