Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) is a focus of both the research teams and educators at HIGN. Through grant support, HIGN has developed numerous products, including assessment tools, interactive modules and community focused materials to educate interprofessional teams and families and caregivers on caring for people with dementia.

This includes Aliviado Dementia Care, a product developed and tested in multiple NIH and foundation grants, that provides innovative training and resources to home health and hospice teams in the complexities of dementia care. HIGN investigators also play leading roles in helping researchers develop non-pharmacologic interventions in ADRD and pragmatically test them through leadership in the NIA funded Asian Resource Center for Minority Aging Research and IMPACT Collaboratory, respectively.

HIGN investigators have also led multiple NIH-funded cutting-edge studies to examine the linkages between oral health and ADRD.  This includes an ongoing NIH funded clinical trial to improve the oral health of people with cognitive impairment. In addition, our faculty members serve as mentors for junior faculty on NIH funded training grants to improve support for dementia caregivers.