SAGE LEAF 2: Online positive-emotion program to ease Alzheimer's caregiver burden
Official title: SAGE LEAF 2: An Online Self-Guided Positive Emotion Regulation Program to Reduce Alzheimer's Dementia Caregiver Burden Delivered through Caregiver-Serving Organizations
Funded at Brightoutcome INC. · NIH-11181595 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An online self-guided program that helps people caring for someone with Alzheimer's build positive-emotion skills to reduce stress and loneliness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brightoutcome INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo Grove, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $762,135 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG065080-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181595 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Unpaid family members or other informal caregivers who provide care for a person living with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not caring for someone with dementia, those who prefer in-person support, or caregivers without reliable internet access may not benefit from the online program.
What this research studies
You would work through an online, self-guided program that teaches positive-emotion skills developed from an earlier facilitator-led LEAF program. The program is packaged to be offered through caregiver-serving organizations so you can join via a trusted local or national partner. Researchers will collect information from participants before and after the program about mood, caregiver burden, social connection, and well-being. The program focuses on practical activities and exercises you can do at home to increase positive feelings and cope with caregiving demands.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help caregivers feel less stressed, less lonely, and more positive about their caregiving role.
How similar studies have gone: A prior facilitator-led LEAF intervention produced improvements in positive emotion, depression, and anxiety, but fully self-guided online delivery is less studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Brightoutcome INC.
Buffalo Grove, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Dershung — Brightoutcome INC.
- Study coordinator: Yang, Dershung
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
An online program to help caregivers of Alzheimer's patients manage stress and improve emotions
This study is testing an easy-to-use online program that helps family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's feel better and manage stress, so they can take care of themselves while supporting their loved ones.
-
Understanding how caregiving for a spouse with Alzheimer's affects health and well-being
This study looks at how taking care of a spouse with Alzheimer's affects the health and emotions of the caregiver, focusing on how different personalities and relationships play a role, so we can find ways to better support those caregivers who might be struggling.
-
Activities4Care: a digital assistive platform to boost well-being for people with dementia and their caregivers
A new digital platform will provide personalized, meaningful activities for people living with dementia to improve mood, behavior, and quality of life, with guidance for caregivers.
-
Family caregiver programs in nursing homes and dementia care outcomes
This grant studies how state essential caregiver programs during 2020-2021 affected the care and outcomes of nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
-
Matching care to need in dementia transitions: tailoring services for people with dementia and their caregivers
A dementia-focused project aims to tailor hospital-to-home or SNF care transitions to fit each patient and caregiver, improving safety and reducing readmissions.
-
PERSEVERE: Peer mentor support and caregiver education for Lewy body dementia
A caregiver-focused program using peer mentors and education to help families caring for Lewy body dementia and reduce caregiver strain.
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.