Preparing for blood-based Alzheimer’s biomarker testing: a decision-support tool for diverse primary care patients
Official title: Preparing for Blood-Based Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker Testing in Diverse Populations: Development of a Decision-Support Tool for Primary Care
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11385571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist is being trained to create an easy, patient-friendly tool to help diverse people decide about blood tests that detect Alzheimer’s risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,489 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG083131-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who receive care in primary settings and represent diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not considering biomarker testing or those outside primary care or diversity-focused settings may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports training an early-career clinician-scientist to develop interventions that help diverse patients understand and make decisions about blood biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s risk in primary care. The project combines qualitative research, user-centered design, and behavioral intervention methods within healthcare settings. The aim is to pilot a decision-support tool that improves communication and decision-making around preclinical biomarker testing, with a focus on inclusivity for racially and ethnically diverse populations. The work will culminate in a pilot study within real primary care environments to test feasibility and acceptability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients will have clearer information and support to make timely, informed choices about biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that well-designed decision-support tools can improve patient understanding and shared decision-making in similar contexts, though this specific approach for AD biomarker testing is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ketchum, Fred — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Ketchum, Fred
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping primary care patients and clinicians use Alzheimer’s biomarkers
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High-Quality Primary Care for Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
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Improving how primary care teams handle advance care planning for Alzheimer's and related dementias
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Scalable tools to help primary care detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier
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Better primary care for older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementias
This project explores how older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementias get primary care and what helps clinics deliver better care.
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.