Active Help, Immune Function and Health Outcomes in Alzheimer's Caregivers

本提案采用生态瞬时评估（EMA）方法， 如何提供积极的帮助，以个人与阿尔茨海默氏症和相关的 痴呆症（ADRD）影响ADRD照顾者的免疫系统和健康。 我们假设，那些在情感上与被照顾者亲近的照顾者， 显示免疫系统生物标志物的改善，自我报告的健康结果， 和健康相关的生活质量，因为他们的积极帮助增加。二百 将从老年痴呆症卓越中心招募50名护理人员， 长岛疾病参与三波纵向研究，我们 将在基线、6个月和12个月时收集数据。我们将使用EMA方法来 在基线和6个月时收集关于主动帮助和康复背景的数据，以及 我们将评估免疫系统活动和自我报告的健康结果， 基线、6个月和12个月。我们的分析将测试主动帮助是否 有益地与炎症标志物相关（例如，IL-6/TnF α受体） 并且修复（例如，SOD，孕酮）在情感上亲近的照顾者中 接受者

This proposal uses ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to examine how the provision of active help to individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) influences the immune system and health of ADRD caregivers. We hypothesize that caregivers who feel emotionally close to the care recipient will show improvements in immune system biomarkers, self-reported health outcomes, and health-related quality of life as their active help increases. Two hundred and fifty caregivers will be recruited from the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease of Long Island to participate in a three-wave longitudinal study in which we will collect data at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. We will use EMA methods to collect data on active help and the caregiving context at baseline and 6 months, and and we will assess immune system activity and self-reported health outcomes at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Our analyses will test whether active help is beneficially associated with makers of inflammation (e.g., Il-6/TnF alpha-receptor) and repair (e.g., SOD, progesterone) among caregivers who feel emotionally close to the recipient.