Barriers and Facilitators to Cognitive Evaluation and Diagnosis for Cherokee Older Adults
Official title: Barriers and Facilitators of Cognitive Evaluation and Diagnosis among Cherokee Older Adults
Funded at Cherokee Nation · NIH-11369410 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant helps improve how dementia is detected and managed for Cherokee older adults through interviews, expert input, and a care pathway in tribal clinics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cherokee Nation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tahlequah, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $250,280 |
| NIH project number | 1S06GM164777-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369410 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include Cherokee Nation members aged older adults at risk for or living with ADRD, as well as family caregivers and healthcare providers involved in dementia care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing cognitive concerns or ADRD may have limited direct benefit from this specific pathway implementation.
What this research studies
The project will listen to patients, families, and clinicians to identify obstacles and enablers in cognitive evaluation and ADRD diagnosis. It will use a three-phase approach: qualitative interviews, a Delphi process to design practical interventions, and a pilot implementation of a brain care navigation pathway in two Cherokee Nation primary care clinics. The aim is to see if the pathway improves accuracy of diagnosis, uptake of treatments, and ongoing dementia care. Findings will guide larger future efforts to enhance dementia care in tribal communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience earlier and more accurate ADRD diagnosis and better access to treatments and care support within their tribal health system.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that stakeholder-informed care pathways can improve dementia care processes, though this exact tribal-community approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Cherokee Nation
Tahlequah, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jennings, Lee Alexandra — Cherokee Nation
- Study coordinator: Jennings, Lee Alexandra
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.