Alzheimer's Disease

New program reduces burnout in dementia caregivers, novel research evaluation proves

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:41:27 +0000

New program reduces burnout in dementia caregivers, novel research evaluation proves Taylor Thomas Wed, 10/29/2025 - 08:41

In This Story

Y. Alicia Hong, PhD

As the old saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup. To give time and energy to others, it is vital to attend to one’s own well-being. As the U.S. population ages, there is a growing demand for tools that support the more than 19 million people who serve as caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD). Family caregivers of individuals with ADRD are vulnerable to poor mental and physical health due to long-term, strenuous caregiving and lack of support.

Kang Shen. Photo provided

A novel process (i.e., delivery and functionality) evaluation developed by Kang Shen, PhD health services research student at �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Public Health, establishes that user-friendly digital interventions are the solution. WECARE 2.0, a culturally tailored digital health program, is proof as it has enhanced caregivers’ physical and mental health.

“WECARE’s approach—combining cultural relevance with an accessible, widely used technology app—proved to be highly effective and well-accepted by users. High user satisfaction, participant retention, and significant improvements in caregiving skills and positive aspects of caregiving all point to WECARE’s promising early results,” said Shen, who is a first-generation student and also has a bachelor's and master's degrees in health informatics from George �鶹��Ƶ.

The study, Process evaluation of a digital health intervention for dementia caregivers: Integrating active and passive measurements, was published in September 2025 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the premier journal of the Alzheimer’s Association and the leading journal in the field.

Participants became more knowledgeable about ADRD, learned problem-solving strategies, improved their personal caregiving skills, reduced stress, increased social support, while being user-friendly.

“This program [WECARE] is so good, easy to understand, even for a 70-year-old. I don’t like reading text and can play the recording instead. I like your how-to videos; I can open them whenever I want and watch them multiple times,” one program participant shared.

WECARE, which was originally designed by Y. Alicia Hong, a Department of Health Administration professor and digital technologies intervention researcher and specialist, was delivered through the social media app WeChat. Through the platform, researchers provide easily accessible educational articles and videos, tips on practicing self-care, and opportunities for social connection with other caregivers.

Innovative Evaluation Methods

Shen’s process evaluation of WECARE 2.0 is the first to employ multiple—qualitative and quantitative—data collection methods. With data from surveys, interviews, self-reported reviews, and website engagement, Shen measured how often participants opened the app and its accompanying resources, how long they spent using the resources, and feedback of the program at the intervention’s conclusion.

Shen’s approach also highlights the importance of creating tools that do not simply exist but are observable to implementers for timely improvement. Unlike previous evaluative methods, her use of short surveys (active measurement) and tracking user activities on the backend (passive measurement) offers program developers comprehensive insight into what works, what doesn’t work, and why throughout the intervention process.

This innovative process evaluation method can facilitate developing more effective digital health interventions for underserved dementia caregivers. Results are being integrated into the next version of WECARE and can inspire future interventions.

“This study serves as a framework for creating and evaluating digital health tools that are culturally grounded and genuinely accessible for diverse, underserved caregiving communities. Our goal is to inspire a shift toward more inclusive and effective support systems that meet caregivers where they are, leveraging familiar technologies to overcome access barriers,” said Shen.

Her research was supported by Hong. Additional co-authors include Yixuan (Janice) Zhang from the College of William and Mary Department of Computer Science, Hae-Ra Han from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Jessica Lin from the George �鶹��Ƶ's Department of Computer Science, and Kenneth Hepburn from the Emory University School of Nursing.

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PhD in Health Services Research

Digital Health

Research

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Alumni

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise

Taylor Thomas — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:09:59 +0000

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise Taylor Thomas Thu, 10/16/2025 - 10:09

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

As we age, keeping our bodies active helps us stay healthier for longer and protects against chronic disease. We can also exercise our brains to prevent age-related mental decline with activities like reading aloud, writing by hand, and simple math exercises.

Photo by Getty Images

The idea of “working out” the mind is core to the StrongerMemory program, a rigorous brain training curriculum developed by the Goodwin Living Foundation and tested by �鶹��Ƶ social workers. Gerontology research specialist Emily Ihara, with co-investigator George �鶹��Ƶ Professor of Social Work Catherine J. Tompkins, found that mental exercise such as preventing age-related mental decline resulted in both self-reported and researcher-assessed improvements in key brain health indicators among older adult participants.

“The StrongerMemory program was associated with both objective and subjective improvements in cognitive functioning among older adults. The components stimulated and strengthened working memory, attention, and decision-making processes,” said Ihara, professor and chair in the Department of Social Work at George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Public Health (CPH).

Unlike previous cognitive exercise programs, which focused on a single aspect of brain health (e.g., memory or attention alone), the activities of this program were specifically chosen to stimulate multiple parts of the brain with the goal of combating progression of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD).

“By combining reading aloud, writing by hand, and simple math exercises, the program engages multiple cognitive pathways, offering broader benefits than single-domain approaches. The results can inform practitioners, policymakers, and families about practical, affordable, non-pharmacological ways to possibly mitigate cognitive decline and promote healthy aging,” said Ihara.

Emily Ihara. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

Older adults in the StrongerMemory program participated in three daily activities for 30 minutes per day: 10 minutes each of reading aloud, writing by hand, and completing simple math problems. The program was tailored, allowing participants choice in reading material and writing content. For example, some older adults chose to write letters to family. At the conclusion, implementers interviewed participants and conducted tests on memory recall, verbal fluency, attention, dates, and location.

Age-related cognitive decline can include memory loss, lapses in attention, trouble performing daily tasks, and confusion, among others that could be warnings of ADRD. Participants were recruited from older adult living communities, and self-reported cognitive decline but did not have a formal ADRD diagnosis.

Can brain exercises mitigate cognitive decline? A quasi-experimental evaluation of the StrongerMemory program was published July 2025 in Educational Gerontology.

Tompkins, who is also associate dean for faculty and staff affairs, and Hyun Kang from the James Madison University, and a former CPH postdoctoral researcher, served as co-authors of the study. Additionally, several George �鶹��Ƶ and CPH alumni were contributors, including Francesca A. Keesee, MSW ‘23; McKenzie S. Lauber, BSW ’23, MSW ‘24; Catherine M. Magee, MSW ‘23; Kendall Barrett, BSW ‘20, MSW ‘22; Madeline Holden, MSW ‘22; Harveen Pantleay, MSW ‘22; and Gergana N. Hardy, MA Sociology '24.

Read more about the efficacy of the StrongerMemory program:

I Have Decided to Read Out Loud for the Rest of My Life! Cognitive Health and the StrongerMemory Program

Boosting Cognitive Training through Social Engagement: Impacts on Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline

�鶹��Ƶ the researcher

Emily Ihara is a social work and gerontology researcher focused on developing and evaluating community-based interventions that support cognitive health for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Her expertise bridges practice-based innovation and rigorous research methods, with an emphasis on accessible, scalable solutions to pressing challenges in aging societies.

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$3 million National Institute on Aging grant will provide much-needed support to underserved dementia caregivers

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:11:07 +0000

$3 million National Institute on Aging grant will provide much-needed support to underserved dementia caregivers Taylor Thomas Wed, 10/15/2025 - 09:11

More than 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), supported by 12 million unpaid family caregivers whose contributions are valued at $413 billion annually. As the U.S. population continues to age, the number of people with dementia and their caregivers will nearly triple by 2050. Innovative solutions to support family caregivers are urgently needed.

Y. Alicia Hong. Photo provided.

Now, with a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), �鶹��Ƶ digital health intervention researcher Y. Alicia Hong is poised to change that. Hong led an interdisciplinary team to develop the Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE) as a culturally tailored, digital health intervention to enhance caregiving skills and improve the well-being of dementia caregivers. The new grant will allow her team to further refine WECARE using artificial intelligence (AI) and evaluate it with a randomized controlled trial.

“WECARE is one of the first personalized digital interventions for dementia caregivers,” said Hong, a professor in the College of Public Health's Department of Health Administration and Policy. "Though it is designed for Chinese American dementia caregivers, it can be adapted for other groups and serve the growing demand for digital support for dementia caregivers in an aging society

The seven-week program will provide participants with informational ADRD multimedia content, quiz games, social networking with other caregivers, personalized feedback, and additional individualized resources. WECARE’s success will be evaluated by measuring the depressive symptoms reported by participants. The project also intends to identify barriers to and facilitators of WECARE’s adoption and long-term use.

This resource comes at a critical time as the aging population grows, and more people with ADRD require caregivers. Additionally, most family caregivers have chronic conditions due to prolonged and intensive dementia caregiving, causing an increased need for resources that sustain the health of family caregivers.

Hong’s grant titled “WECARE: A Personalized Intervention for Underserved Chinese American Dementia Caregivers” will take place from September 2025 to August 2030, for a total of $3,088,427. WECARE is directly responsive to NIA’s priority of effective interventions for ADRD-affected populations.

Hong studies the intersection of health services delivery and consumer informatics. Her work explores chronic care and self-care solutions through innovative digital technologies to improve patient-centered outcomes and enhance health care accessibility. Hong’s research focuses on implementation and dissemination science and leveraging digital technologies to enhance health services delivery.

In This Story

Y. Alicia Hong, PhD

Grand Challenge Initiative

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Statistics professor aims to use fMRI data to identify, predict Alzheimer’s

Teresa Donnellan — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:58:51 +0000

Statistics professor aims to use fMRI data to identify, predict Alzheimer’s Teresa Donnellan Fri, 06/21/2024 - 10:58

In the quest to combat Alzheimer's disease, �鶹��Ƶ professor Abolfazl Safikhani is working with neuroscientists and imaging experts at the University of Washington's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) to pioneer groundbreaking advancements in biomarker identification.

Abolfazl Safikhani. Photo by Creative Services

"We're trying to understand and come up with the biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease using imaging data,” said Safikhani, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Statistics. “[We will] try to distinguish and classify between people who have Alzheimer’s disease or will be developing it in the near future compared to healthy individuals."

At the core of the ADRC project lies functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, which researchers are using to identify biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. Unlike conventional imaging techniques, fMRI provides researchers with a comprehensive view of brain activity, enabling them to discern subtle connectome-based changes associated with the disease.

Collecting and analyzing fMRI data comes with challenges, as imaging available for research is limited. Nevertheless, the researchers remain undeterred in their quest to unlock the secrets of Alzheimer's disease. They have already made early progress.

"We were able to get some really good preliminary results, from which a [National Institutes of Health] proposal has been submitted and is currently under review," said Safikhani. He added, "If we could come up with a combination of statistical and machine learning techniques to detect Alzheimer’s progression, it would be one of the most interesting projects I have ever worked on.”

By combining expertise from diverse disciplines and leveraging the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, this project promises to make an important step toward early detection and intervention strategies for Alzheimer's disease.

In This Story

Abolfazl Safikhani

Delve into Statistics at George �鶹��Ƶ

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College of Engineering and Computing

Strategic Direction

�鶹��Ƶ research on supportive decision making could help people living with dementia

Colleen Rich — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:24:59 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ research on supportive decision making could help people living with dementia Colleen Rich Fri, 07/21/2023 - 13:24

Guardianship has long been the traditional way to support decision-making for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, but recent research conducted by �鶹��Ƶ philosophy professor Andrew Peterson investigates an alternative that allows for more autonomy and a greater sense of dignity.

Andrew Peterson. Photo provided

The approach is called supported decision making, and Peterson and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania have received a $3.1 million grant funded by the National Institute on Aging to investigate how it can improve health outcomes for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The research is being conducted at the Penn Memory Center, an internationally recognized facility for diagnosis and care for persons living with dementia, where Peterson is an affiliate researcher.

“Dementia is a disease that robs people of their autonomy,” said Peterson, an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy. “A serious challenge for people in the early stages of disease is that they usually have mild impairments in only one aspect of decision making. This doesn’t mean that they can’t make decisions, as guardianship would suggest. Rather they just need support from trusted others: if they can’t remember facts from a doctor’s appointment, a care partner can attend and take notes; if they have difficulty deliberating between choices, a care partner can talk them over during morning coffee.”

In a New York Times opinion piece about Britney Spears’ high-profile court-appointed guardianship, Peterson and his fellow researchers wrote that the difference between guardianship and supported decision-making is analogous to the difference between a dictatorship and self-rule. “Unlike guardianship, which creates an all-powerful guardian and strips the subject of the right to make decisions, in supported decision-making, the individual retains final control over key decisions,” they said.

Supported decision making was originally developed for persons living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but Peterson said the framework holds great promise for people with neurodegenerative disease. The advantage of supported decision making, Peterson said, is its familiarity.

“We often, if not always, make decisions with the advice and support of trusted others, such as friends, family, mentors, and work colleagues,” he said. “This makes our decisions better, even for people with no cognitive problems. Supported decision making formalizes this process so expectations and roles are explicit, and persons living with dementia can maintain their independence for as long as possible.”

Peterson and his colleagues will develop best practices for supported decision making in memory care facilities. Although supported decision making is rapidly gaining traction in the law, there is a paucity of data about the benefits of this approach. Does supported decision making resolve decision making conflict? Do persons living with dementia show improvements in quality of life when using supported decision making? And what role should geriatricians play in facilitating this decision-making process? Peterson and his colleagues aim to answer these questions.

The research team is taking a phased approach. First, they will develop a supported decision-making toolkit. To do this, Peterson and his colleagues are interviewing patients and their care partners, memory care physicians, and law and bioethics experts. From these interviews and consensus process, they will develop a list of needs and plausible best practices for supporting decision making.

In the second phase of the study, the team will conduct a clinical trial, in which some patients and care partners will be encouraged to use supported decision making while others are not. They will compare these groups with outcome measures related to quality of life, life satisfaction, sense of dignity and agency, and decision-making conflict.

By the end of the study, Peterson said they aim to have a supported decision-making guide that can be scaled to other memory centers nationwide, as well as an evidence base that can justify changes to guardianship law.

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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Research

Alzheimer's Disease

George �鶹��Ƶ Faculty Support Aspiring High School Scientist

mthomp7 — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 18:16:41 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ Faculty Support Aspiring High School Scientist mthomp7 Wed, 04/14/2021 - 14:16

In This Story

Zoran Duric

Ron Nachum, Student at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Helps Fight Alzheimer’s Disease with Support from �鶹��Ƶ Faculty.

As teachers and mentors, �鶹��Ƶ faculty help nurture some of the brightest scientific minds. In addition to mentoring college students, �鶹��Ƶ faculty have consistently and persistently offered their expertise and academic support to our local K-12 schools and their students with tours, summer internships, presentations and mentorship.

This year, during the pandemic, faculty have designed and implemented virtual approaches to many of these historical commitments. One such is the effort to support a very gifted junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Ron Nachum. As a sophomore, Nachum first contacted Zoran Duric, associate professor in the Computer Science (CS) Department, Volgenau School seeking an introduction into research and a faculty mentor to supervise his project for the annual Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Science and Engineering Fair. Duric connected with CS PhD candidate, Kyle Jackson and long time collaborator Professor Lynn Gerber in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) to form Nachum’s transdisciplinary mentorship team.

Following the successful submission and presentation of an abstract at IEEE’s Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference in July, 2020, Nachum wanted to expand on his growing experience working with the mentorship team to take on new challenges. After losing his grandfather to a difficult battle with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Nachum set out to work on a project close to his heart, with the goal of developing an accessible system for assessment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). His idea was to apply computer vision to identify changes and deterioration in fine motor movements seen in neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s Disease and AD). After a literature review and Zoom sessions with the mentorship team, the framework for ‘PANDwriting’ was outlined: a system which requires just one smartphone camera for kinematic analysis of handwriting movements with computer vision, from which collected data would be used for classification with machine learning.

This solution was shown to be accurate, quantitative, easily administered, and inexpensive (requiring just a phone or camera). If shown to be valid in further clinical testing, PANDwriting could provide a very useful tool to identify abnormalities in fine motor movements in an accessible manner, serving both as an early warning system for disease onset and as a widely-available diagnostic tool. With the existing diagnostic process for NDs being expensive, long, and complex – around 50% of patients with NDs are not diagnosed in their lifetime – this accessible system could reduce delays in the treatment process and reliance on costly MRI imaging, improving treatment outcomes. Recently, in presenting his work, “PANDwriting: An Accessible Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Novel Diagnostic Framework Using Vision-Based Handwriting Kinematic Analysis and Machine Learning”, Nachum won first place in Translational Medical Sciences (TMED) category at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Science and Engineering Fair. He then went on to win the grand prize at the Fairfax County Science and Engineering Fair, which qualified him for the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair on April 10 where he earned an impressive second place. Nachum will now go on to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May.

Another example of how �鶹��Ƶ’s faculty expertise helps nurture local talent and develop the next generation of scientists.