Investigating the use of Electroconvulsive Therapy for dementia patients in nursing homes
Official title: Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Electroconvulsive Therapy Use in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-10850834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) might help older adults with dementia in nursing homes who are feeling agitated or depressed, by checking Medicare data to see how well it works and what effects it has on their overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $156,354 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG078972-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10850834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults with dementia residing in nursing homes who exhibit severe agitation, aggression, or depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild neuropsychiatric symptoms or those not residing in nursing homes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) can be used to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation and depression in older adults with dementia living in nursing homes. It aims to analyze data from Medicare claims to understand the effectiveness of ECT in improving these symptoms and its impact on overall health outcomes. By examining a large cohort of patients, the study seeks to fill gaps in knowledge regarding the long-term benefits and risks associated with ECT in this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option for managing severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients, potentially improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary evidence from case series suggests that ECT may be effective for treating severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia, but this research aims to provide more comprehensive data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rhee, Taeho Gregory — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Rhee, Taeho Gregory
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
-
Synthetic protein mimetics to treat Lewy Body Dementia
A new therapeutic approach using engineered protein-like molecules to block the harmful protein clumps that cause Lewy Body Dementia.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a US survey for use in many countries
A study is adapting and testing a survey for dementia care workers in the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why workers stay in their jobs and how to improve care.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a survey for use in many countries
A multinational study will adapt and test a U.S. dementia-care worker survey in Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why staff stay in or leave long-term care settings.
-
Study of Dementia Care Staff in 4 Countries: Adapting Caregiver Surveys Across Cultures
A multinational project will adapt and test a dementia care worker survey so researchers can compare care environments across the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana.
-
New biomarkers to distinguish LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in dementia
A study to develop blood and CSF tests that can tell apart LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in people 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.