Reducing unnecessary breast cancer screenings in older women with dementia

Messaging Strategies to Reduce Breast Cancer Over-Screening in Older Women

NIH-funded research Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10937283

This study is looking at ways to help older women, especially those with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, make better choices about breast cancer screenings, so they don’t get unnecessary tests that might do more harm than good.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionJohns Hopkins University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project IDNIH-10937283 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how to decrease unnecessary breast cancer screenings among older women, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It focuses on understanding the decision-making processes of these women and their caregivers regarding mammography, which can often lead to more harm than benefit in this population. By utilizing messaging strategies developed in a related project, the research aims to determine their effectiveness and acceptability for this specific group. The goal is to provide insights that could help in reducing inappropriate preventive care in older adults.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older women aged 65 and above who have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 65 or do not have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more appropriate breast cancer screening practices for older women, minimizing unnecessary medical interventions and associated harms.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in using messaging strategies to influence health screening behaviors, making this approach promising yet focused on a specific population.

Where this research is happening

Baltimore, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.