Improving how primary care doctors diagnose dementia
Official title: Advancing Diagnosis of Dementia in Primary Care Practice(ADDPCP)
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11172681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to help doctors in primary care better diagnose Alzheimer's and related dementias by creating a helpful toolkit that makes it easier for them to spot the signs early, especially for patients showing changes in thinking or behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,549,563 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085689-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing cognitive or behavioral changes that may indicate dementia, particularly those in medically underserved communities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already diagnosed with dementia and receiving appropriate care may not benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the ability of primary care practitioners to accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It focuses on developing a comprehensive diagnostic toolkit that includes clinical findings and biomarkers to support early and effective diagnosis. By addressing barriers such as time constraints and lack of confidence among primary care providers, the project seeks to facilitate timely evaluations for patients experiencing cognitive and behavioral changes. The toolkit will be tested in primary care settings to ensure its feasibility and acceptability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of dementia, allowing patients to access appropriate treatments sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that enhancing diagnostic capabilities in primary care can lead to improved patient outcomes, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosen, Howard J — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Rosen, Howard J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using health records and AI to improve dementia screening in primary care
A patient-friendly program uses existing medical records and smart computer tools to help doctors screen for memory problems earlier, especially for people aged 65 and up.
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Nurse practitioner care for older adults living with dementia
This project looks at whether different nurse practitioner primary care approaches help people 65 and older living with dementia—especially those in low-income, rural, or racial and ethnic minority groups—get more coordinated care and fewer emergency or hospital visits.
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Advancing Dementia Diagnosis in Primary Care
A project to help primary care doctors better identify the cause of cognitive problems like dementia earlier using a comprehensive toolkit.
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Strengthening primary care to improve dementia diagnosis
Aimed at helping primary care teams diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias earlier and more equitably, especially in diverse and underserved communities.
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Primary care checks and caregiver support to prevent neglect in people with dementia
This project will try a quick primary-care screening and a technology-based caregiver support program to help prevent neglect for people living with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
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Screening and intervention for elder neglect in dementia patients
This study is working on a new way to spot neglect in older adults with Alzheimer's and related conditions, and it will also create helpful tools for caregivers to prevent this neglect, all while comparing these new methods to regular care to see how well they work.
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.