Care Navigation Supports Research Participation in Underrepresented Populations with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Strategic Insights -

New research suggests that care navigation can increase research participation among underrepresented populations with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The study, conducted by researchers at Duke University Medical Center, found that a program designed to address individual medical and nonmedical caregiver and patient needs can support research participation of underrepresented groups. The researchers evaluated the effectiveness of care navigation in recruiting participants for a biomarker clinical research study and found that 89% of patients and caregivers enrolled in the study.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that care navigation can increase research participation among underrepresented populations with ADRD, including racial minorities and individuals with low educational attainment, low income, or nonmetropolitan residence.
  • The care navigation program consisted of an initial discussion of individual unmet needs and available resources, evaluation for patient cognitive, behavioral, and affective signs, and assessment of caregiver burden and caregiver self-efficacy.
  • The primary outcome measure was the rate of enrollment in a biomarker clinical research study, and the study found that 37% of participants were Black, 31% had a high school education or less, 40% had a household income of $45,000 or less, and 25% were nonmetropolitan dwellers.
  • The study suggests that individualized care navigation can support recruitment of underrepresented groups based on race, education level, income, and dwelling.
  • Offering assistance to patients and families in medical crisis has the potential to increase receptivity to research participation as well as improve participant and community health and well-being.

Statistics:

  • 18 patient-caregiver dyads were enrolled in care navigation.
  • 16 (89%) of the 18 dyads enrolled in a separate biomarker clinical research study.
  • 37% of participants were Black.
  • 31% of participants had a high school education or less.
  • 40% of participants had a household income of $45,000 or less.
  • 25% of participants were nonmetropolitan dwellers.

Sources:

  • Care Navigation Supports Research Participation in Underrepresented Populations with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: A Pilot Study. Health Equity, 2025, 9(1):562-571. (Health Equity - http://www.liebertpub.com/heq).
  • NewsRx. Duke University Medical Center Researchers Add New Study Findings to Research in Alzheimer Disease (Care Navigation Supports Research Participation in Underrepresented Populations with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: A Pilot Study). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 13, 2025; p 202.