Madison Cowan’s culinary artistry has ignited the palates of notable celebrities like Halle Berry, Mos Def and former President Bill Clinton, as well as won him top honors on hit television shows like the Food Network’s “Chopped” where he became the first ever Grand Champion in 2010. It’s safe to say he knows more than a thing or two about making good food, but these days, much of his focus is on sharing the benefits of foods that are good for you – particularly your brain.
Alzheimer’s disease, which African Americans are twice as likely to develop late onset, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, is an illness that’s very personal to him, taking the lives of his father and well as his wife’s father. “It’s really, really impacted and hit our family hard,” said Cowan in an interview with BlackDoctor.org. With the exposure that he’s had, he feels he was “chosen by a higher power” to advocate for this cause.
As an ambassador for The Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter, Cowan – who many years ago was hungry and on the street homeless in both Paris and in New York – is invested in helping to find a cure for the dementia-related disease and educating people globally on the food-mind-body connection.