The Virginia Alzheimer's Disease Center seeks to promote and improve support services to care partners looking after persons living with dementia. We know that care partners face unique challenges and rewards that directly impact their own physical and mental health. Our research examines the impact of caregiving and seeks to develop rigorously tested, care partner-focused supports and interventions. 

Over 16 million US care partners (typically family members) provide unpaid care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. These caregivers provide more than 18.5 billion hours of care annually, valued at 234 billion dollars¹. Care partners have the potential to slow the trajectory of decline in the individual with ADRD. 

We honor the courage and compassion of dementia care partners, and also recognize the demands and sacrifices that go hand-in-hand. It is known that care partners are at an increased risk of morbidity, mortality, and dementia, but more research to develop proven interventions for care partners is still needed^2-6. This is at the heart of our mission at the Virginia Alzheimer's Disease Center - to serve the diverse population of Virginians who are affected by dementia and their care partners.

We are currently enrolling care partners in our research registry. Contact us here to learn more! 

Basic Information about Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Text References 

1. Association, As. "2019 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures". Alzheimers Dement. 2019;15(3):321-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.01.010.

2. Haaksma, ML, Rizzuto, D, Leoutsakos, J-MS, Marengoni, A, Tan, ECK, Olde Rikkert, MGM, Fratiglioni, L, Melis, RJF, Calderón-Larrañaga, A. "Predicting Cognitive and Functional Trajectories in People With Late-Onset Dementia: 2 Population-Based Studies". J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.03.025.

3. Lovell, B, Wetherell, MA. "The cost of caregiving: endocrine and immune implications in elderly and non elderly caregivers". Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011;35(6):1342-52. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.02.007.

4. Pinquart, M, Sörensen, S. "Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis". Psychol Aging. 2003;18(2):250-67. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250.

5. Vitaliano, PP, Zhang, J, Scanlan, JM. "Is caregiving hazardous to one's physical health? A metaanalysis". Psychol Bull. 2003;129(6):946-72. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.946.

6. von Känel, R, Dimsdale, JE, Mills, PJ, Ancoli-Israel, S, Patterson, TL, Mausbach, BT, Grant, I. "Effect of Alzheimer caregiving stress and age on frailty markers interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and D-dimer". J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006;61(9):963-9. doi: 10.1093/gerona/61.9.963.