Understanding differences in dementia diagnosis and its effects on care and costs

Disparities in undiagnosed and misdiagnosed dementia and the impact on health care utilization and costs - a novel approach using probabilistic dementia classifications

['FUNDING_R01'] · RAND CORPORATION · NIH-11169081

This project looks at how often dementia is missed or misdiagnosed, especially in minority and rural communities, and how that affects their healthcare and expenses.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorRAND CORPORATION (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SANTA MONICA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11169081 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This project uses a new way to identify dementia in over 10 million Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older. It will use existing health information to see if certain groups, like racial and ethnic minorities or people in rural areas, are more likely to have their dementia undiagnosed or diagnosed late. By understanding these patterns, we can learn how delayed diagnoses affect healthcare visits, hospital stays, nursing home admissions, and overall costs for patients and the healthcare system. This information helps us understand the true burden of dementia and identify areas where care can improve.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This project focuses on understanding health data from Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older, particularly those from racial and ethnic minority groups and underserved rural populations.

Not a fit: Patients not included in Medicare data or those under 65 years of age would not be directly represented in this particular data analysis.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: This work could help improve early and accurate dementia diagnoses, especially for underserved groups, leading to better care and potentially lower costs in the future.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon prior research that developed an improved classification model for AD/ADRD, suggesting a foundation of existing success in related methodologies.

Where this research is happening

SANTA MONICA, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.