The DMC Foundation, a supporting organization of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, promotes the well-being of the metropolitan Detroit community through support of health and medical research, education and community benefit activities. Michigan has a greater than average incidence of MS than other states, Dr. Gow said. Recent studies at WSU indicate that African-Americans tend to develop more severe MS symptoms and forms of the disease, including neurodegenerative changes, than any other ethnic group, making the disease burden more keenly felt in Detroit than other regions because of its ethnic composition.