Understanding barriers to identifying dementia early in underserved healthcare settings
Official title: Barriers to early identification of dementia in a safety net healthcare system
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10913589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how older adults, especially those from different backgrounds, can have a hard time recognizing memory problems and getting help for dementia, so we can find better ways to help them get diagnosed and treated sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $165,958 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AG082997-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10913589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults receiving healthcare in safety net systems, particularly those from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds or lower socioeconomic status.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already diagnosed with dementia or those who do not access safety net healthcare services may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the challenges faced by older adults in recognizing and seeking help for cognitive impairment and dementia, particularly in safety net healthcare systems. It aims to identify both patient beliefs and systemic barriers that contribute to delays in diagnosis, especially among racial and ethnic minorities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The study will use a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and analysis of electronic health records to assess how health literacy and self-reported memory symptoms influence the likelihood of receiving timely evaluations for dementia. By understanding these barriers, the research seeks to improve early identification and treatment pathways for dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved early diagnosis and treatment of dementia, enhancing the quality of care for affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing barriers to healthcare access can significantly improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes for various conditions, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joe, Elizabeth Bartelt — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Joe, Elizabeth Bartelt
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
-
Synthetic protein mimetics to treat Lewy Body Dementia
A new therapeutic approach using engineered protein-like molecules to block the harmful protein clumps that cause Lewy Body Dementia.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a US survey for use in many countries
A study is adapting and testing a survey for dementia care workers in the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why workers stay in their jobs and how to improve care.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a survey for use in many countries
A multinational study will adapt and test a U.S. dementia-care worker survey in Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why staff stay in or leave long-term care settings.
-
Study of Dementia Care Staff in 4 Countries: Adapting Caregiver Surveys Across Cultures
A multinational project will adapt and test a dementia care worker survey so researchers can compare care environments across the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana.
-
New biomarkers to distinguish LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in dementia
A study to develop blood and CSF tests that can tell apart LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in people with dementia.
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.