STELLA-FTD: Support for family caregivers of frontotemporal dementia

STELLA-FTD: Examination of a Behavior Change Intervention for FTD Family Care Partners

NIH-funded research Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11130957

A new tech-supported program to help family caregivers of frontotemporal dementia manage difficult behaviors and reduce caregiver stress.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOregon Health & Science University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Portland, United States)
Project IDNIH-11130957 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you care for a person with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), this project is testing STELLA-FTD, a program that combines technology, rehabilitative ideas, and nursing approaches to teach behavior-change skills. The program uses the ABC method—looking at a behavior, its triggers, and its consequences—to help you respond to problems like disinhibition, apathy, and agitation. Researchers will deliver the program to family care partners and measure whether it lowers caregiver burden and which parts of the ABC approach are most essential. The goal is to refine the program so it can be used more widely in communities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are family members or unpaid care partners of people diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia who are dealing with behavior-related caregiving challenges.

Not a fit: People who do not care for someone with frontotemporal dementia, who have no behavior-related caregiving burden, or who cannot use the required technology may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower caregiver stress and give practical tools for managing challenging FTD behaviors, improving day-to-day life for families.

How similar studies have performed: ABC-style behavior-change approaches have helped caregivers in other dementia studies, but this tech-supported program specifically for FTD is new and has not yet been proven.

Where this research is happening

Portland, 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.
Conditions Alzheimer's disease and related dementiaAlzheimer's disease and related disordersAlzheimer's disease or a related dementiaAlzheimer's disease or a related disorderAlzheimer's disease or related dementia
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.