# Tailoring Rehabilitation to the needs of Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

> **NIH NIH K76** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2024 · $242,935

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Outpatient physical therapy use is common among older adults who have Alzheimer’s Disease and Related
Dementia (ADRD). Unfortunately, physical therapist approaches in this setting do not effectively address the
needs of this growing population that has a substantially elevated risk for disability, morbidity, and mortality.
Physical therapists in the outpatient setting are in significant need of tools to identify and manage ADRD. The
purpose of my National Institute on Aging K76 Career Development Award is to develop a toolbox that
improves physical therapy services delivery for older adults with ADRD. In the proposed award, I will leverage
Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) data in the Health and Retirement Study to identify
domains of cognitive function that should be targeted with the rehabilitation toolbox (AIM1) and use qualitative
methods to define barriers and facilitators to physical therapy service delivery for older adults with ADRD
(AIM2). I will then use an iterative human-centered design approach to develop the refined rehabilitation
toolbox for working with older adults who have ADRD (AIM3). Using a human-centered design with multiple
stakeholder groups and the substantial formative knowledge gained from AIM1 and AIM2 will facilitate rapid
toolbox development while optimizing acceptability, feasibility, and potential for future outpatient rehabilitation
practice implementation. The study aims are tightly aligned with my training objectives, which are to: 1) apply
advanced epidemiology and health services research skills in aging populations; 2) develop effective
rehabilitation-focused interventions for older adults with ADRD; 3) become an expert in implementation science
and pragmatic clinical trial design; and 4) enhance skills in dissemination, grant writing, and leadership.
Together, my study aims and career objectives will accelerate my progress toward becoming a leader whose
work improves the health, disability, and quality of life of older adults with ADRD. The proposed K76 career
development award will set the foundation for an NIH R01 that will test the effectiveness of the refined toolbox
in rehabilitation service delivery for older adults with ADRD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10952126
- **Project number:** 1K76AG083308-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew Miller
- **Activity code:** K76 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $242,935
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-23 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10952126

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10952126, Tailoring Rehabilitation to the needs of Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (1K76AG083308-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10952126. Licensed CC0.

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