Improving how primary care teams handle advance care planning for Alzheimer's and related dementias
Official title: Improving Primary Care Clinicians' Advance Care Planning for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11379091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $765,667 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG083828-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and their families who receive care in primary care settings are the ideal participants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not engaged in primary care settings or without an upcoming ACP need may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on primary care teams and their patients with AD/ADRD, aiming to improve conversations about future care. It builds on a previously tested AD ACP Toolkit that combines dementia-focused education with skills for talking about and documenting patient preferences. The study will implement and evaluate this toolkit in real-world primary care settings to see if it improves alignment of care with patient wishes. Researchers will work with clinicians, patients, and families to tailor conversations to the progression of dementia and individual values.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and families could experience care that better matches their preferences, even as dementia progresses.
How similar studies have gone: Prior feasibility and preliminary efficacy were shown for the AD ACP Toolkit with primary care teams, supporting potential effectiveness in broader use.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kistler, Christine E — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kistler, Christine E
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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.