Research Opportunities
Our Center is part of the Stanford/VA Aging Clinical Research Center and the VA Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Care Center. We refer patients to clinical trials evaluating new ways of treating and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. We also refer patients to studies of aging that focus on how different factors such as regular exercise may slow down cognitive decline in old age. Depending on your eligibility you may be invited to take part in one or more of these studies.
Current Studies
VA Cultivating Access to Resources, Education, and Skills for Dementia Caregivers (VA CARES)
Ultimately, dementia will have a large impact on quality of life in Veterans and families, lead to expensive nursing home placement, and decrease life expectancy for patients and family caregivers. To address the high burden of caring for a Veteran with dementia, The VA CARES project studies the effects of an education and skill-building rehabilitation (ESBR) intervention on family caregivers of Veterans with dementia. Our novel approach will use video technology that can reach caregivers in rural areas who do not have easy access to major VA medical centers.
Mobile Tablet Education to Advance Caregiver Health for Dementia Caregivers (Mobile TEACHing)
The Mobile TEACHing project studies the effects of an education and skill-building rehabilitation (ESBR) intervention, designed to be low-cost and clinically translatable through direct-to-home video telehealth, on family caregivers of Veterans with dementia.
Call for more info: 650-849-0481
Medication Reassessment in Alzheimer's Disease Patients
- A study evaluating the effectiveness of routine clinical treatment of individuals with Alzheimer's or related memory problems. Included will be individuals treated with FDA-approved drugs such as Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl, and Namenda, as well as those who are not receiving these medications.
- This ongoing study evaluates the effectiveness of anti-Alzheimer’s medications, with a particular focus on ethnic minority patients. While recruitment for the study is closed, we continue to follow active participants. Preliminary findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP)and manuscript preparation is currently underway.
Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic
Alzheimer’s Disease (A4 Study)
Am I Eligible?
- Healthy older adult (65 to 85 years of age) without dementia
- Physicians and researchers will use amyloid imaging scans to determine the
- Evidence of elevated amyloid buildup
- Individuals with elevated amyloid buildup will be eligible to become participants in the A4 study
This could be the right time for you to join the fight to prevent the memory loss of Alzheimer’s disease.
For additional information, please contact:
Steven Chao, MD, PhD, 650-852-3234; or
Tamara Beale, MA, 650-852-3234
Psychosocial Factors in AD Progression
Disease progression in AD leads to increased dependence, depression, caregiver stress, and institutionalization. The emotional and financial burdens to both patients and their families are high. While there is evidence linking different support interventions to delayed institutionalization, information systematically documenting how often these services are used, levels of unmet needs, and perceived barriers to their use and their influence on patient rate of decline and institutionalization is limited. The objective of this collaborative project is to determine:
- The prevalence of Day Care and Support Group use among California Alzheimer's Disease Center (CADC) subjects diagnosed with AD and their caregivers.
- Factors associated with Day Care and Support Group participation among CADC subjects diagnosed with AD and their caregivers.
- If regular participation in these programs slows rate of cognitive decline and delays institutionalization.
Recruitment for this study is closed. Data analysis is in progress and findings will be submitted for publicatiion.