UCSF Brain Health Check for finding memory and thinking problems in primary care
A Pragmatic Trial of the UCSF Brain Health Assessment for the Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care
This project tests a short tablet-based Brain Health Check to help primary care doctors find memory and thinking problems in people aged 65 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11182678 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would complete a brief, user-friendly tablet test available in English or Spanish that automatically scores and links results to your medical record. The tool was previously validated and now will be used across 26 Kaiser Permanente Southern California primary care clinics to see if it helps doctors identify cognitive impairment more often. The team will work with clinics to solve practical problems for using the test routinely and will refine the scoring to account for social and economic factors that affect brain health. The goal is to make the test fairer for diverse older adults and sustainable in everyday primary care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 or older receiving primary care at participating clinics, especially English or Spanish speakers.
Not a fit: People younger than 65 or those who do not receive care at the participating Kaiser Permanente Southern California clinics are unlikely to be able to take part or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors find memory problems earlier and increase access to follow-up care and support for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier UCSF work validated the tool in English and Spanish and increased diagnosis rates at one primary care site by about 40%, so this builds on promising prior results.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Possin, Katherine Laurel — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Possin, Katherine Laurel
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.