Developing a tool to help primary care doctors test for Alzheimer's disease using blood biomarkers.
Official title: Preparing for Blood-Based Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker Testing in Diverse Populations: Development of a Decision-Support Tool for Primary Care
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10914936 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a helpful tool for doctors to make better decisions about blood tests for Alzheimer's and related conditions, making sure it works well for all patients so they can get diagnosed and treated sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $137,646 |
| NIH project number | 5K99AG083131-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914936 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds who may be at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for Alzheimer's disease or those who do not have access to primary care services may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to create a decision-support tool that assists primary care providers in making informed choices about blood-based biomarker testing for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The project focuses on ensuring that the tool is inclusive and meets the needs of diverse patient populations. The principal investigator, Dr. Fred Ketchum, will utilize qualitative research methods and healthcare systems engineering to design and test this intervention. By improving communication and decision-making processes, the research seeks to reduce diagnostic delays and enhance access to early treatment options for Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, allowing patients to receive timely interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using decision-support tools in healthcare settings, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ketchum, Fred — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Ketchum, Fred
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping primary care patients and clinicians use Alzheimer’s biomarkers
A patient-friendly project to help primary care teams use blood biomarkers to better understand and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in people with memory or thinking problems.
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High-Quality Primary Care for Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
A national study looks at how access to high-quality primary care for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias has changed over time and what system factors help or hinder it.
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Preparing for blood-based Alzheimer’s biomarker testing: a decision-support tool for diverse primary care patients
A doctor-scientist is being trained to create an easy, patient-friendly tool to help diverse people decide about blood tests that detect Alzheimer’s risks.
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Improving how primary care teams handle advance care planning for Alzheimer's and related dementias
A program to help family doctors and care teams talk with people living with Alzheimer's and related dementias about their care preferences and wishes.
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Blood tests and simple cognitive tests to detect Alzheimer's early in clinics
A study will test new blood biomarkers and quick cognitive tests to detect Alzheimer’s disease more accurately in doctors’ offices and memory clinics.
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Scalable tools to help primary care detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier
A nationwide approach helps primary care teams use new tools and blood tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease Earlier and more accurately.
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.