# Mapping the Dynamics of Caregiver Burden in Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $130,423

## Abstract

SUMMARY AND ABSTRACT
In this Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01) Mapping the Dynamics of Caregiver
Burden in Alzheimer's Disease, medical anthropologist and health policy researcher Dr. Alissa Bernstein, PhD,
MPH, based at the University of California, San Francisco, requests research and salary support to provide
protected time and dedicated mentored training in her transition to becoming an independent investigator. Dr.
Bernstein's goal is to build the skills and knowledge required to become an independent investigator who can
use mixed methods to understand and address challenges that occur at the intersection of clinical practice, the
community, and policy in dementia. The research project proposed in this application focuses on the challenge
of caregiver wellbeing as a first step towards her long-term career objective. Through the project, Dr. Bernstein
aims to integrate knowledge about the social and environmental conditions of caregivers of individuals with
Alzheimer's disease into understandings of caregiver burden, resilience, and resource use.
To become an independent researcher, Dr. Bernstein will be supported by an outstanding mentorship team of
clinicians and social scientist researchers at UCSF, a world-class research and training institution with a strong
commitment to multidisciplinary research and clinical practice focused on dementia, aging, and caregiving. Dr.
Bernstein will utilize these resources to develop knowledge and skills in the following areas through
coursework, seminars, mentored tutorials, and practical experience: (1) Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
technology; (2) Advanced mixed-methods research and data analysis; (3) The science of caregiving in
dementia; (4) Professional advancement skills required for independence.
Using these skills, the proposed research assesses the social and emotional experiences and spatial
movement of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the home and community. Over 15 million
family members or friends provide care for individuals with AD or other dementias in the U.S. Many caregivers
experience caregiver burden, and are at a high risk for social isolation and loneliness, all of which can have
negative impacts on health and wellbeing. Yet, only a quarter of caregivers access support resources. We do
not fully understand how to intervene in caregivers' experiences in the home and community to reduce burden.
The proposed research will be conducted amongst spousal caregivers of people with AD through the following
research aims: (1) Map and analyze the objective spatial activity of family caregivers living with people with
Alzheimer's disease; (2) Examine and characterize family caregivers' subjective social networks and emotional
experiences; and (3) Create and analyze integrated visual representations of objective spatial data and
subjective social experiences to identify potential interventions. This research will provide guidance in
designing...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10443754
- **Project number:** 5K01AG059840-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Alissa Bernstein Sideman
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $130,423
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-06-15 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10443754

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10443754, Mapping the Dynamics of Caregiver Burden in Alzheimer's Disease (5K01AG059840-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10443754. Licensed CC0.

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