Practical tools to boost cognitive screening for older adults with diabetes
Official title: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial to Improve Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults with Diabetes
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11430899 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a practical way to screen for cognitive problems in people 65 and older with diabetes using new language-model tools and a real-world clinical trial.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $680,637 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG103426-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11430899 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 65 and older with diabetes who are receiving care in participating healthcare systems.
✕Less likely to help
Older adults without diabetes or those not eligible for screening may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and validate smart tools that can spot cognitive impairment in older adults with diabetes by analyzing electronic health records with advanced language models. It will test a clinical decision support system in everyday healthcare settings to help doctors screen for cognitive issues, diagnose more accurately, and manage care. The approach focuses on scalable, system-wide changes to improve screening rates and outcomes for seniors living with diabetes and at risk for dementia. The study is designed to fit into routine visits and use real-world data to guide practical improvements. By combining NLP technology with pragmatic trial design, it seeks to make screening more reliable and patient-centered.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could lead to earlier detection of cognitive problems and better management, reducing complications and improving quality of life for older adults with diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that decision-support tools can improve screening practices, but this project tests a scalable approach in a real-world population.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Selvin, Elizabeth — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Selvin, Elizabeth
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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.