Discovering Solutions for Dementia Symptoms

Principal Investigator: Carolyn Pickering, PhD

Study Contact

Name: Carolyn Pickering

Email Address: Carolyn.e.pickering@uth.tmc.edu

Phone Number: 713-500-2087

This study is currently looking for people who:

• Are caregivers who are 18 years old or older and live (co-reside) with the care recipient
• Are care recipients who are 18 years old or older and have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias
• Have access to the internet
• Do not have active hospice orders

Study Description:

The purpose of this study is to understand why there are so many different behavioral symptoms of dementia, so that better and targeted care plans can be created.

There will be 6 home visits for the caregiver and patient participant. Caregiver and patient participants will be consented at the first in-home enrollment visit and be provided instructions for specimen collection.  Caregivers will fill out the baseline survey after baseline specimen collection. At each of the four subsequent visits, blood, fecal, and saliva samples will be collected from the patient, and the caregiver will fill out daily diary surveys and complete one diary a day for 30 days.

All participants (both caregiver and care recipient) will be compensated for their time.