Better emergency room care for people living with dementia
Official title: Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research network 2.0 – Advancing Dementia Care
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11397946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds a national network to help emergency departments more reliably identify and care for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $38,729 |
| NIH project number | 3R33AG069822-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who receive care in emergency departments, and their caregivers, are the primary focus for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without dementia or those who never use emergency departments are unlikely to see direct benefits from this ED-focused project.
What this research studies
Younger and older emergency departments, dementia experts, caregivers, and advocacy groups will be joined into a single network to tackle problems dementia patients face in the ED. The team will use stakeholder meetings and proven engagement methods to map gaps in identification and care, then develop practical tools and protocols to address those gaps. Pilot efforts will link existing dementia and emergency-care programs and test approaches in participating hospitals. The work aims to create steps hospitals can adopt so ED visits are safer and less stressful for people with dementia and their families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, emergency departments could become easier and safer for people with dementia, with fewer avoidable visits and hospital admissions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous NIH-funded efforts have improved geriatric emergency care and informed dementia-friendly approaches, but specifically adapting and testing these strategies for dementia in EDs is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hwang, Ula Y — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Hwang, Ula Y
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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GEDA: Does geriatric ED accreditation improve care for older adults with dementia?
This project looks at whether EDs with geriatric accreditation provide better care and outcomes for people living with dementia who visit the emergency department.
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Improving emergency care for older adults with dementia
This study is looking at how to make emergency departments better for older adults with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, so they can get the right care and avoid unnecessary hospital stays.
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Understanding the Long-Term Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Dementia Symptoms
This project looks at how electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) might help adults with dementia manage challenging symptoms and improve their long-term well-being.
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Improving emergency care for older adults with dementia
This study is all about making emergency care better for older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementias by figuring out the challenges they face in hospitals and finding ways to help them get the right support when they need it most.
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Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
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Synthetic protein mimetics to treat Lewy Body Dementia
A new therapeutic approach using engineered protein-like molecules to block the harmful protein clumps that cause Lewy Body Dementia.
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.