Understanding undiagnosed dementia and its cost impact in older adults
Official title: Undiagnosed and misdiagnosed dementia and the impact on health care utilization and costs - a novel approach using probabilistic dementia classifications
Funded at Rand Corporation · NIH-11373028 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will use probabilistic dementia classification to better identify Alzheimer’s and related dementias among people 65 and older and understand how misdiagnoses affect healthcare use and costs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rand Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Monica, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $757,168 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG088896-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373028 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+) whose care could be affected by dementia diagnoses, misdiagnoses, or delays in identifying AD/ADRD.
✕Less likely to help
Adults under 65 or those without risk factors for dementia are not the target for this study.
What this research studies
This project will use linked data from a large national study and Medicare records to create a probabilistic model that classifies dementia in adults aged 65 and up. It builds on prior work to improve accuracy across different population groups, including lower socioeconomic status. The researchers will examine how misdiagnosis and delays influence emergency visits, hospitalizations, nursing home stays, out-of-pocket costs, and overall Medicare spending.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to earlier and more accurate dementia detection and better-planned care, potentially reducing unnecessary costs and burdens for patients and families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed improved classification accuracy in population subgroups, supporting the potential for meaningful gains.
Where this research is happening
-
Rand Corporation
Santa Monica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hudomiet, Peter — Rand Corporation
- Study coordinator: Hudomiet, Peter
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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.