Smartphone training for Alzheimer's caregivers
Official title: Biobehavioral mechanisms of smartphone-based cognitive emotion regulation training for unpaid primary caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11135487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers smartphone-based training to help unpaid caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease manage their emotions and reduce stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $479,710 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG074229-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11135487 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This opportunity is for unpaid primary caregivers of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who are 21 years or older.
✕Less likely to help
Patients themselves would not directly participate in this specific training, though they might experience indirect benefits from their caregiver's improved well-being.
What this research studies
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be very challenging, often leading to significant stress and depression for caregivers. This project explores a new, easy-to-use smartphone program designed to teach caregivers skills for managing their emotions, specifically focusing on cognitive reappraisal. The goal is to help caregivers feel less stressed, reduce their burden, and improve their overall mental well-being. Researchers also want to see if this support for caregivers can positively affect the quality of life for the person with Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could offer a convenient and effective way for caregivers to cope with the demands of caregiving, leading to better mental health for them and potentially improved well-being for those they care for.
How similar studies have gone: While other caregiver interventions exist, this project tests a novel, entirely smartphone-based approach to cognitive emotion regulation that is designed to be brief and highly scalable.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Denny, Bryan Thomas — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Denny, Bryan Thomas
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Smartphone-based emotional regulation for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease
A brief smartphone-based program helps unpaid family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or related dementias manage emotions and reduce stress.
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Social media support for Alzheimer's caregivers powered by AI chat help
A caregiver-focused program for families of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias uses an AI-enhanced social media approach to provide daily supportive messages and online discussions.
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Token-Based Community Network to Support Family Caregivers of Adults with Alzheimer's and Related Dementias
A new app-based program called Help-Full aims to help family and friend caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias feel more supported and connected while managing caregiving tasks.
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Transitional Care for Alzheimer’s Patients in SNFs and their Caregivers
A program tested in skilled nursing facilities to help people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias transition home or to other care settings with less stress for caregivers.
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How past trauma and stress affect caregivers and people with dementia
This work looks at how past and ongoing traumatic experiences and stress affect the mental and physical well-being of family caregivers and the people they care for with Alzheimer's or related dementias.
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Peer Caregiver Navigation for Alzheimer’s: Support by a paraprofessional peer coach
A caregiver-support program led by trained paraprofessionals helps family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease manage stress, learn coping skills, and access peer support.
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.