Help for caregivers of people with dementia to find depression screening and treatment
Official title: Improving screening and access to treatment for depression in care partners of people living with dementia
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11169733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project adapts an online tool to help caregivers of people with dementia get screened for depression and connected to treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $156,843 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AG088962-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are unpaid caregivers or family members of someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia—particularly those who are worried about depression or live in rural areas—are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not caregivers for someone with dementia, those needing immediate inpatient psychiatric care, or individuals without any internet access may not benefit from this online pathway.
What this research studies
You would be using an adapted version of an online platform (iPath*D) designed to identify caregivers at risk for depression and link them with both online and local treatment options. The team will change the content and how the tool is offered so it fits the needs and challenges of dementia caregivers, especially those in rural areas. Then they will test whether the pathway is easy to use, acceptable, and practical for caregivers to follow. Feedback from participants will guide final changes before wider use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, caregivers could find depression sooner and more easily get evidence-based treatment, including remote options for those in rural areas.
How similar studies have gone: Related online screening and referral tools, including the original iPath*D used in rural cancer settings, have shown promise, but applying this approach specifically to dementia caregivers is a new adaptation.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mistler, Lisa a — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Mistler, Lisa a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Insomnia, Depression, and Sleep Medications in Mild Cognitive Impairment Leading to Dementia
This project looks at how sleep problems and depression, along with the medicines used to treat them, may affect the progression from mild cognitive issues to dementia in older adults.
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Morning activation deficits and depression in dementia caregivers
Aims to understand why some older family caregivers of people with dementia feel depressed in the mornings and whether this can be changed.
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Circuit-based brain stimulation to help memory and mood in older adults with Alzheimer’s dementia
A new NIH project tests safe, multi-channel brain stimulation to improve memory and mood for older adults with mild Alzheimer’s-related dementia.
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Serotonin and cell energy in depression, diabetes, and Alzheimer's
Looks at whether fixing serotonin-linked cell energy problems can help people with depression, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
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Improving access to depression treatment for caregivers of dementia patients
This study is working to make it easier for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias to get help for their depression by improving an online platform that connects them with the right treatment options, especially in rural areas.
-
Understanding Morning Energy Levels and Depression in Dementia Caregivers
This project looks at how low morning energy might be connected to depression in older family members who care for someone with 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.