Cognitive empathy training for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s
Effect of Cognitive Empathy Training on Dementia Caregivers
Short cognitive-empathy training for family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s that aims to lower stress, improve mood, and reduce inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, I would be randomly assigned in a crossover design to receive a short course of cognitive empathy training or a control activity, then switch to the other arm later. Before and after each phase I would complete questionnaires about caregiver burden, depression, and anxiety and provide small bloodspot samples to measure inflammatory and immune markers. The researchers will compare changes in mental health scores and blood markers to see if the training relates to lower stress and inflammation. They will also study psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that might explain any benefits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult family or unpaid caregivers who regularly care for a person living with Alzheimer’s dementia.
Not a fit: People who are not caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s, who cannot commit to the training schedule, or who require immediate clinical psychiatric treatment are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the training could reduce caregiver stress and depression and lower inflammation, improving overall health for family caregivers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational studies link higher cognitive empathy to lower caregiver stress and depression, but randomized trials testing empathy training with immune and inflammation outcomes are limited and relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rilling, James K — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Rilling, James K
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 below.