Nationwide tracking system for Alzheimer's and related dementias
Official title: Developing and Evaluating a Surveillance System for Alzheimer's Dementia In the United States
Funded at National Opinion Research Center · NIH-11285413 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Building a public system that uses Medicare and Medicaid records to track Alzheimer's and related dementias among older adults across the U.S.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Opinion Research Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $509,394 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075730-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11285413 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People aged 65 and older who are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid or who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or related dementias are the primary focus of this work.
✕Less likely to help
People under 65 who are not on Medicare or Medicaid or who do not have dementia are unlikely to see direct benefits from this surveillance project.
What this research studies
You may benefit from a new public system that uses Medicare and Medicaid records to count and follow dementia diagnoses across the United States. The team will link claims data with clinical assessments to understand how diagnosis codes match real-life dementia and to identify differences by race, income, and rural versus urban areas. They will create tools and make the data accessible so public health leaders and researchers can monitor trends and plan services. The work aims to give communities clearer information about who has dementia and where care and support are most needed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this system could help health officials and providers spot where dementia is increasing and target resources and services to patients and families more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Researchers have successfully used Medicare and Medicaid data for other public health tracking, but a unified national surveillance system specifically for Alzheimer's and related dementias is new and still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
National Opinion Research Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rein, David B — National Opinion Research Center
- Study coordinator: Rein, David B
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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.