Health and Disability

The Aging Brain Care Medical Home, a novel population health management program implemented in the homes of older adults, achieves significant health improvement for individuals with depression and also substantial stress reduction in family caregivers of dementia patients, according to a new study by investigators from the Regenstrief Institute, Indiana University Center for Aging Research and Eskenazi Health.

The researchers report at least a 50 percent reduction in symptoms in two-thirds of patients with moderately severe depressive symptoms such as feeling hopeless, feeling bad about oneself or having trouble concentrating. They also found a 50 percent reduction in stress symptoms in half of caregivers of patients with dementia.

"Depression and dementia, which typically impact other medical conditions, are difficult for primary care doctors to treat during their limited time with patients," said Regenstrief Institute investigator and IU Center for Aging Research scientist Michael LaMantia, M.D., MPH, who led the study. "The Aging Brain Care Medical Home program may be an attractive option in response to some of the challenges posed by our nation's rapidly aging population and the anticipated lack of geriatricians and primary doctors to care for them.