RALEIGH, N.C. — A Cary teen is making boxes filled with intellectual activities to help people living with Alzheimer's. They're called "NeuroBoxes."

What You Need To Know

  •  A Cary teen is running an organization to help people living with Alzheimer's

  •  She makes boxes filled with activities to help with memory loss, attention span and difficulty with visuals

  •  According to the Alzheimer's Association, racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care extend to dementia care 

According to a study released this month by the American Academy of Neurology, Black people and those living in less affluent areas are less likely to have access to memory care clinics, which are a vital tool in the treatment of Alzheimer’s. 

Researchers said the results are concerning, especially as these centers become a major point of access for new Alzheimer’s treatments. But, 16-year-old North Carolina high school student Bianca Chan is trying to change that narrative.

Chan created an organization called NeuroLOGIC Foundation to bring care activities to people living with the disease.

She is making NeuroBoxes that consist of activities that can help people with things like memory loss, attention span and difficulty with visuals.

In 2021, Chan worked on a research project with a University of California neuroscientist.

Through her work, she connected with patients and was able to hear their personal stories on how Alzheimer’s is impacting them. From there, she knew she wanted to step in and make resources readily available.

“A lot them experienced a lot of concerns with this disease and kind of the gaps that are still in this area,” Chan said. “And, a lot of them expressed financial gaps and geographical locations are major barriers in accessing their treatment options and different treatment plans.”

Chan said being able to support these families is a positive feeling. She gives them different activities like puzzles, coloring books, squishy toys and more.

“It really feels amazing and rewarding just being able to know that the things that I’ve done and the things that I do will have a direct impact on these patients and their families,” Chan said.

Each of the items have a purpose to help with patients’ Alzheimer’s symptoms.

“Someone will tell me that they like to use coloring books more because it helps them bond with other family members, so that’s just really touching and really eye opening to me,” Chan said.

Chan donates these NeuroBoxes to elderly care facilities, memory care homes and senior homes across the state. So far, she’s donated around 200 of them, and she’s not stopping there.

“I definitely want to expand this to different states and so maybe even potentially internationally, so I hope to do that when I get to college,” Chan said.

NeuroBoxes were given out this week to a facility in Raleigh. With all the activities inside of the boxes, Chan’s hoping it can provide comfort, hope and to slow down the progression of the disease.