# Gender differences in Well-being, Behavior, and Interventions in Hospitalized Persons with Alzheimer disease and Related Dementias (ADRD).  In response to PA-18-591

> **NIH NIH R01** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · 2020 · $101,550

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Approximately three-quarters of hospitalized persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD)
experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). In hospitalized patients BPSD is
associated with accelerated and lasting functional and cognitive impairment, increased resource consumption,
institutionalization, caregiver burden, and premature death. The current standard of care is to use person-
centered behavioral approaches when responding to BPSD rather than psychoactive medications which are
frequently ineffective and often cause complications. An understanding of the factors influencing the
individual’s clinical presentation, needs, and response to treatment guides these approaches, including intrinsic
factors such as gender. Given that about two-thirds of persons with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia are
women, there is surprisingly little rigorous work on gender differences in the expression of BPSD, and even
less on staff response to BPSD by patient gender. The minimal research that has been done in this area has
been largely conducted in long term care and suggests that BPSD in men are more likely to be identified and
managed. Lack of identification and management of BPSD in women can result in emotional distress, a
decrease in the quality of interactions they have with staff., and increased complications. The purpose of this
supplement, entitled, Gender differences in Well-being, Behavior, and Related Interventions in Hospitalized
Persons with Alzheimer disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), is to utilize our ongoing study testing the
efficacy of Family -centered Function focused Care (Fam-FFC) versus Education Only (EO) in 438 patients in
three hospitals (two units each) to examine gender differences in how nursing staff identify and manage
behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia (BPSD) among men and women during
hospitalization. In Fam-FFC nurses purposefully engage family CGs in the assessment, decision-making, care
delivery and evaluation of function-focused care during hospitalization and the 60-day post-acute period in
order to improve behavioral and functional outcomes. We aim to use baseline data from this study and some
additional data to answer the aims of this supplement as follows: Aim 1: Test for gender differences in staff
identification and management of BPSD; Aim 2: Test for gender differences in quality of staff/patient
interactions and patient emotional wellbeing; Aim 3: Explore formal nursing staff experiences with the
identification, documentation and management of BPSD among women and men. This study is aligned with
the Trans-NIH Strategic Plan for Women’s Health Research goal of leveraging data sources to consider sex
and gender influences that enhance research for the health of women. Our long-term goal is to improve the
care delivered to the estimated 3.2 million U.S. women living with ADRD during periods of acute illness
requiring hospitalization.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10092371
- **Project number:** 3R01AG054425-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** Marie Boltz
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $101,550
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10092371

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10092371, Gender differences in Well-being, Behavior, and Interventions in Hospitalized Persons with Alzheimer disease and Related Dementias (ADRD).  In response to PA-18-591 (3R01AG054425-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10092371. Licensed CC0.

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