Robert Reid spent four doctor's appointments watching the medical system dismiss his wife Kim's memory struggles as perimenopause. Kim was 50 years old with a full life ahead of her — and she had Alzheimer's. Reid has now told their story in two outlets, and it is one that too many Black families know all too well. Read his op-eds in the Tennessean and the Courier Journal.

From the Tennessean and the Courier Journal, by Robert Reid:

"According to the Alzheimer's Association, Black Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's as white Americans, yet we are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials and research. We are less likely to get an early diagnosis, less likely to be enrolled in the studies that shape treatment and less likely to receive the kind of care that comes from being seen and taken seriously."

"Had we known more, we could have acted sooner. Earlier diagnosis opens a window for things like dietary changes, cognitive exercise, physical activity, medication that can slow progression and simply more time to make decisions together as a family."

"Preventative care shouldn't be a privilege reserved just for those who can afford it; it should be the standard we build our healthcare system around."

"The more you know, and the sooner you know it, the more life you have left to live well."

Robert Reid's op-eds in the Tennessean and the Courier Journal are a sobering reminder that early diagnosis and preventative care should never be a privilege — and that the ASAP Act cannot wait.

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