North Carolina Church Pioneers Alzheimer's Therapy for their Parishioners

(Jacksonville, NC)—First Baptist Church in Jacksonville has developed a program—with the aid and oversight of researchers at Duke University—to help their parishioners fight Alzheimer's disease, and it's been so successful that the researchers are saying other churches should follow suit.

Pastor James Brown was inspired to start the classes after his own mother, now deceased, suffered with Alzheimers. 'Every time I look at my children, I know that we've got to find a cure before they're affected," he said. "I'm doing it for me, but I'm also doing it for those that will come after me."

As reported in Voice of America, parishioners, like 72-year-old Fredrick Hill, are learning to speak Spanish, sing, play instruments, and ride horses, among other things.

"Every chance I get, I come out here," said Hill, who believes the classes are not only helping his memory but also helping him feel better physically.

Said Duke researcher Kathleen Welsh-Bohmer: "We've noticed that people seem to be more spry and engaged and happy."