MassaChusetts General Hospital ROybal CeNter For BehavIoral Dyadic ResEarch in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (CONFIDE-ADRD)

PROJECT SUMMARY (OVERALL): The scientific theme of the “MassaChusetts General Hospital ROybal CeNter For BehavIoral Dyadic ResEarch in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias” (CONFIDE-ADRD) is the development, optimization, testing and implementation of dyadic behavioral prevention interventions (DBPIs) across the spectrum of ADRD in both hospital and

community settings, to improve health and prevent negative individual and dyadic health outcomes. ADRDs (herein called dementias) are progressive, debilitating, and terminal illnesses associated with progressive negative health outcomes.

Dementia drastically alters the lives of both the person diagnosed and their informal care-partner (spouses, children, other

family, friends), and often disrupts established roles, identities, relationships, and future plans. Most dementia interventions

focus on patients or care-partners alone, without accounting for their interrelation and interpersonal processes. The few

existing dyadic behavioral interventions are limited because: 1) they often lack dyadic theoretical foundation and conceptual framework; 2) they are not mapped onto the NIH stage model; 3) they do not use principles of the Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) to inform dyadic mechanisms of change and appropriate measurement; 4) they are not developed across

the spectrum of primary, secondary or tertiary prevention; 5) they do not incorporate the NIA Health Disparities Framework

to provide a mechanistic understanding of health disparities and levels of analyses relevant to dyadic research; and 6) they

do not account for dyadic interdependence and interpersonal relationships to maximize potency and avoid negative effects for one of the partners. CONFIDE-ADRD will address these limitations and catalyze the development of interdisciplinary research to create, test and implement innovative and rigorous DBPIs mapped onto our novel conceptual model that

incorporates the NIH Stage Model, SOBC, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention model, the NIA Health Disparities Framework and dyadic theory. CONFIDE-ADRD will: 1) develop a diverse, next generation of scientists committed to dementia DBPIs; 2) use an experiential learning approach to dementia DBPI research that prioritizes mechanisms of

behavior change; 3) will swiftly move DBPIs across the NIH Stage Model for effective and efficient implementation. Our

three overarching aims will be met by the Center’s two cores. The Administrative Core will: 1) coordinate the Center’s activities, promote interactions and networking among pilot awardees, co-investigators and collaborating partners; 2)

integrate with local and national centers, institutes and organizational partners; 3) use experiential learning activities (e.g.,

DBPI Salon, grant writing workshops, mock grant reviews) to provide hands on learning of relevant DBPI research aspects. The Behavioral Intervention Development Core will provide awardees with support and practical experience in working

with a dedicated research team to conduct DBPI pilot research that is feasible, rigorous, and mechanistic, prioritizing the

patient-care-partner relationship. The MPIs (Vranceanu & Okereke) are senior investigators with extensive expertise in the NIH stage model, dementia care, dyadic research, leadership and mentoring, and, with support from nationally acclaimed investigators and local and national resources, are well poised to lead this center.