Understanding the daily experiences and well-being of caregivers for older adults with Lewy Body Dementia.
Official title: Daily Experiences and Well-being among Caregivers for Older Adults Experiencing Lewy Body Dementia.
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11079627 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how taking care of someone with Lewy Body Dementia affects caregivers, so if you're a caregiver, you can share your experiences and help us understand how to better support you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $760,902 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG087118-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11079627 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are caregivers who are living with a spouse or partner diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not caregivers or those who do not have a diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), which includes Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia. Caregivers will participate by completing interviews and short surveys every few hours over four days to report on their experiences, stress levels, and the symptoms of the individuals they care for. Additionally, both caregivers and care recipients will wear Fitbits to monitor heart rate and sleep patterns, providing insights into the physiological impacts of caregiving. The goal is to identify how the symptoms of LBD affect caregiver stress and well-being, ultimately aiming to improve support for these caregivers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better support strategies for caregivers, enhancing their well-being and ability to manage caregiving demands.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding caregiver experiences can lead to improved interventions, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fingerman, Karen L — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Fingerman, Karen L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Daily life and well-being of caregivers for people with Lewy body dementia
This project asks family caregivers of people with Lewy body dementia to report on symptoms, tasks, stress, and well-being throughout the day and to wear Fitbits so researchers can link daily experiences with sleep and heart-rate patterns.
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How neighborhood environments affect health and well-being in people with dementia and their caregivers
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Long-term Effects of a Natural Disaster on Cognitive Aging and Dementia in Older Adults
This project follows older adults affected by a major natural disaster to understand how long-term stress may influence aging, memory, and risk for dementia.
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Adaptation of PATH-Pain for Dementia Family Caregivers Living with Persistent Pain and Negative Emotions
Aimed at helping dementia family caregivers who live with ongoing pain and negative feelings by adapting a pain-management program to fit their caregiving needs.
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Activities4Care: a digital assistive platform to boost well-being for people with dementia and their caregivers
A new digital platform will provide personalized, meaningful activities for people living with dementia to improve mood, behavior, and quality of life, with guidance for caregivers.
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Peer support program helping Black families caring for loved ones with dementia
A family caregiver support program led by peers helps Black families caring for older relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, delivered virtually.
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.