Hope, Science, and Leadership: Dr. Charles Windon and Attorney Caprice Collins Unite at Alzheimer’s Los Angeles
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
On an October evening in Los Angeles, the Alzheimer’s Los Angeles @alzheimersla
“Advances in Alzheimer’s Research” forum unfolded with a powerful blend of scientific insight and community leadership. At the center stood Dr. Charles C. Windon, MD, a rising figure in neurology at UCSF’s Memory and Aging Center, and Attorney Collins, a long-time champion of underserved families and an Ambassador for Alzheimer’s LA. Together, they highlighted a simple truth: solving the Alzheimer’s crisis will take both groundbreaking science and unflinching advocacy.
Dr. Charles Windon: The Scientist as Connector
Windon’s career reflects both brilliance and conscience. A Princeton graduate and Rutgers-trained physician, he completed his residency at UCLA and fellowship at UCSF, where he now leads clinical and research efforts. His work focuses on novel biomarkers—PET imaging, plasma p-tau217, and neurofilament light—for earlier Alzheimer’s detection, particularly in communities that have historically been excluded from research.
He also studies how social determinants of health, neighborhood environment, access to care, cultural identity—shape dementia risk and outcomes. His work is generously funded by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association, and has earned him prestigious honors including the John A. Watson Faculty Scholar Award and the Solomon Carter Fuller Award.
For Dr. Windon, equity is not an afterthought; it is the foundation. His outreach in Bay Area clinics ensures that communities at highest risk receive education and care, not just data points in journals.
Attorney Collins: Legal Visionary and Alzheimer’s LA Ambassador
If Windon represents the cutting edge of science, Attorney Collins represents the civic conscience. As a celebrated estate planning attorney in Los Angeles and the head of Collins Law Group, she has built a reputation for safeguarding families against uncertainty. Her decades of work in the African American community have made her a trusted advisor on issues of generational wealth, elder care, and legacy planning.
As an Ambassador for Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, Attorney Collins brings her legal expertise and her platform to amplify the urgent need for awareness, early diagnosis, and resources for families affected by dementia. She has spoken openly about the disproportionate impact Alzheimer’s has on African American families, who face higher prevalence, more caregiving burdens, and fewer access points to clinical care.
Her ambassador role is more than symbolic. Collins leads community education seminars, organizes outreach in churches and local organizations, and ensures families know their legal rights and the steps they can take to prepare before crisis hits. In her words, “We cannot talk about brain health without also talking about legal health. Families need both.”
What Causes Dementia? What We Know Today
At the event, Dr. Windon reminded the audience that dementia is not a single disease, but a syndrome with multiple causes: Alzheimer’s, vascular disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal degeneration, or a combination.
Current research estimates that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors (Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, 2024):
Hearing loss
Hypertension
Excessive alcohol intake
Physical inactivity
Smoking
Social isolation
Encouragingly, lifestyle interventions—exercise, blood pressure management, quitting smoking, hearing aids, and social engagement, have shown measurable benefits in slowing decline.
Safe, Effective, and FDA-Approved: Where Treatments Stand
Windon also addressed therapies currently available. FDA-approved anti-amyloid therapies (such as lecanemab) can reduce amyloid plaque burden and modestly slow progression in carefully selected early-stage patients. These treatments are not cures, but they represent the first disease-modifying therapies.
Crucially, he emphasized both safety and equity. Clinical trials have often under-enrolled Black and Latino patients, raising questions about whether benefits and risks are consistent across populations. His research seeks to close that gap, ensuring diverse families have equal access to diagnostics and therapies.
Leadership for Families and the Future
The partnership between Dr. Windon and Attorney Collins at Alzheimer’s LA represents a holistic vision: scientific discovery paired with community empowerment.
Windon’s work pushes forward the timeline of detection and treatment. Collins’ ambassador role ensures those discoveries translate into action for families, especially in communities historically left behind. Together, they embody Alzheimer’s LA’s mission: bridging the laboratory, the courtroom, and the living room.
As the event concluded, Collins reminded the audience: “We cannot wait until tomorrow. Families need knowledge, tools, and courage today. That’s how we build legacy, not only through wealth, but through wellness and preparedness.”
Take Action Today
Reserve your seat at the next Collins Law Group Seminar — Please Join in person on Saturday, November 1st at the Westchester Library for a free seminar on Wills, Living Trusts, and Asset Protection. Learn how to safeguard your family home, prevent nursing-home poverty, and protect your legacy.
Register hereGet answers before crisis hits. At the seminar, you’ll learn how proper estate planning intersects with Alzheimer’s care — from protecting your assets against Medi-Cal recovery to ensuring your wishes are honored when health challenges arise.
Be part of the movement. Alzheimer’s LA and leaders like Dr. Windon and Attorney Collins are showing us that education, planning, and early detection can change the trajectory for families. Don’t wait for a diagnosis — be proactive now.
Save your seat today
Hope is not passive. It is built through knowledge, preparation, and leadership. On Nov. 1, the community has an opportunity to act — and to honor both the science of Dr. Windon and the advocacy of Attorney Collins.
@UCSFMemory @UCSF
#Alzheimers
#DementiaAwareness
#AlzheimersLA
#EndAlz
#AlzheimersResearch
#BrainHealth
#HealthEquity
#BlackHealthMatters
#CommunityCare
#PreventDementia
#HealthyAging
#CaregiverSupport
