# CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH AND AD PATIENT OUTCOMES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 1992 · $169,041

## Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive and
behavioral impairment.  Over time, the patient is less able to care for
him/herself, becoming more restricted to the home and the psychosocial
environment of the caregiver (usually a spouse).  As such, the patient's
functioning may increasingly reflect the functioning of his or her spouse
caregiver.  Conversely, increased cognitive and behavioral decline in the
patient may result in increased burden in the caregiver.  This vicious
cycle may lead to patient decline beyond that due to neuronal degeneration.
At present, we know relatively little about how initial patient-caregiver
dynamics affect long term outcomes.  In our progress report we use a
theoretical distress model to examine these issues.  We demonstrate that
caregiver risk (personality, health, distress) and resource (coping, social
supports) variables at baseline predict subsequent caregiver burden,
patient activities of daily living (ADLs), and nursing home placement.

The proposed study will extend this work by interviewing our surviving
couples twice (15-18 months apart) over the next 3 years.  Although 71
couples are now available for follow-up, our power estimates have been
evaluated downward from this figure because of expected attrition between
now and the anticipated start date.  Three hypotheses will be tested:  1)
Caregivers who are most vulnerable to distress at baseline will report the
most burden at follow-up; 2) AD patients living with caregivers who are the
most vulnerable to distress and have the fewest resources at baseline, will
have the lowest ADL levels at follow-up; 3) Caregivers who are more
vulnerable to distress at baseline will, over time, admit their AD spouses
into nursing homes at a higher rate than caregivers who are less vulnerable
to distress.  In each analysis, we will control for patient ADL levels and
caregiver burden at baseline.

Results of this research should have implications for public policy and
intervention with caregivers of AD patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122722
- **Project number:** 5R01AG010760-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **Principal Investigator:** PETER P. VITALIANO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $169,041
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-09-30 → 1995-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122722

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122722, CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH AND AD PATIENT OUTCOMES (5R01AG010760-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122722. Licensed CC0.

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