The Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Research Center at USU

03/31/2026

How do we protect our professional care workforce from burnout? 🫂

Paid caregivers, social workers, and healthcare professionals give so much to our communities, but managing the emotional realities of dementia care can take a heavy toll.

Join us next Wednesday, April 8th, as Dr. Ty Aller from the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) leads a vital training on navigating professional stress. Drawing on principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dr. Aller will share actionable strategies to help paid professionals stay resilient and engaged in their vital work.

Webinar Details: 🗓️ Date: April 8, 2026 🕐 Time: 1:00 PM 💻 Format: Virtual (Zoom) & Free to attend Register Here: https://usu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fObj31cYQpWbLlUHlAhQMQ #/registration

This session is part of our ongoing Dementia Resource Ambassador series, in partnership with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and the Alzheimer's Association Utah Chapter.

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Burnout Among Professional Caregivers: ACT-Based Skills. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

02/25/2026

Early detection is everything when it comes to dementia. What if we could spot the signs without an invasive brain scan? Swipe to see how an ADRC-funded pilot grant is exploring the eye-brain connection ➡️👀🧠🔬

02/19/2026

When was the last time your doctor checked your brain health? 🧠🩺

If you're like most people, the answer is probably never.

A new guide from our Director, Dr. Beth Fauth, and PhD student, Josey Batura, sheds light on a surprising fact: Doctors do not routinely test for memory problems during annual checkups unless you specifically ask for it.

Why does this matter?

1. You could miss out on treatment: New medications for Alzheimer's require early detection to work.

2. It might not be dementia: Sometimes, brain fog or memory deficits are caused by stress or other treatable conditions—but you won't know unless you test!

3. It’s covered: If you have Medicare Part B, this testing is often free.

Be your own brain advocate: Next time you see your primary care doctor, ask for a cognitive screening. It only takes a few minutes and gives you a baseline for your future health.

🔗 Read our full guide on how to ask for these tests: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3564&context=extension_curall

02/19/2026

Did you miss our webinar yesterday? Here are the top 3 legal questions that were asked. ⚖️🧠

We wrapped up an incredible session on Decision Making and Capacity in Dementia with St. George-based attorney Kristin K. Woods. The Q&A portion was packed with practical advice for families navigating legal hurdles.

Swipe through to learn:
👉 The crucial difference between a Power of Attorney and Guardianship.
👉 The #1 legal document you should have (even if you’re on a budget).
👉 When and how to file for emergency guardianship.

Thank you to Kristin for breaking down these complex topics!

02/10/2026

Navigating Legal & Ethical Challenges in Dementia Care ⚖️🧠

Determining capacity and navigating decision-making after a dementia diagnosis is one of the most complex challenges professionals face.

Join us for the latest installment of our Dementia Resource Ambassadors webinar series. We are honored to host Kristin K. Woods, PLLC (Esq., N.C.G.) for a deep dive into decision-making frameworks and capacity standards.
Webinar Details: 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026 🕐 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MST 💻 Format: Virtual (Zoom) & Free to attend

This session is part of our ongoing partnership with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and Human Services and the Alzheimer's Association: Utah Chapter to equip Utah’s workforce with high-quality dementia training.

Register here:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Decision Making and Capacity in Dementia . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

11/16/2025

Representing USU at GSA this weekend! Our ADRC Director, Dr. Elizabeth Fauth (HDFS Professor), recently traveled to the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Conference with her talented HDFS students to present their critical findings.

We are incredibly proud to support the next generation of dementia researchers and see our funding directly lead to such important work being shared on the national stage. Congratulations to the whole team!

10/30/2025

10/23/2025

The next webinar in our Dementia Resource Ambassador Webinar Series is coming up!! October 29th at 1PM: hear from experienced professional Kate Nederostek on why getting a dementia diagnosis early is so important. Professionals, caregivers, community members, come and learn with us! This webinar series is free and open to the public.

This presentation is geared toward service providers and professionals who work with older adults. It will address common myths and misperceptions related to early diagnosis in dementia care.

10/16/2025

Introducing our Dementia Resource Ambassador webinar series 🧠👩🏻‍💻🖥️🤝

This series educates Utahns and informs participants of our forthcoming Dementia Resource Ambassador program, where people all over the state become points of contact for Utah’s network of dementia-related resources. These webinars are open to the public, and we invite caregivers, professionals, and anyone who is looking to learn more about dementia to attend.

Tap the link in our bio to sign up!📱

10/15/2025

Dementia research here in Utah is happening across all different academic disciplines - because we value team effort and an interdisciplinary approach! 🤝 Swipe to see the exciting research being funded right here in our State! 🔬🧬🧠💡

This groundbreaking work is made possible by dedicated investment in Utah’s scientific community.
Stay tuned for Part 2!

10/07/2025

Did you know? There’s a critical need for experts to help people with Alzheimer’s and dementia manage day-to-day challenges!

USU doctoral student and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Andrea Hoang, (sporting a cute baby bump) presented on a vital project at the Utah ABA Conference: developing clear standards for professionals who use behavioral science to help those with dementia.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can be very effective in managing complex behaviors like agitation or aggression and supporting daily skills like self-feeding and showering. However, not enough professionals are trained in this area.

This project, led by Dr. Audrey Hoffmann and funded by our center, will create new competencies by working with dementia experts, clinicians, and caregivers. This work will help build a skilled, “dementia-competent” workforce right here in Utah and beyond.

Goal: Better care and better outcomes for individuals with dementia.