Stopping antipsychotic medicines for behavior in dementia in nursing homes
Deprescribing antipsychotics in patients with Alzheimers disease and related dementias and behavioral disturbance in skilled nursing facilities
['FUNDING_R01'] · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · NIH-11090572
This project compares ways to safely reduce or stop antipsychotic medicines for people with Alzheimer's or related dementias who live in nursing homes and have behavioral symptoms.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11090572 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one live in a skilled nursing facility with Alzheimer's or a related dementia and are taking antipsychotic medicines for behavior symptoms, this work will look at different ways clinicians stop or reduce those drugs. Researchers will use detailed clinical information from nursing homes to compare outcomes after different deprescribing approaches, including who does well and who has problems. The goal is to produce clearer, practical guidance for safely tapering or stopping antipsychotics in frail, complex older adults. This effort is designed to include residents often left out of small trials so the findings apply to routine care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are residents of skilled nursing facilities with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who are currently taking antipsychotic medications for behavioral or psychological symptoms.
Not a fit: People who do not live in skilled nursing facilities, who are not taking antipsychotic drugs, or who have severe acute psychiatric symptoms requiring continued antipsychotic treatment may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help patients avoid unnecessary antipsychotic exposure and its harms by identifying safer deprescribing approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small trials produced mixed, inconclusive results and underrepresented frail nursing-home residents, so this larger, more detailed effort aims to fill that evidence gap.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LIN, JOSHUA K — BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: LIN, JOSHUA K
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 below.
Conditions: Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia