Healthy Aging Brain Center

In 2008, the research lab and the clinic became one entity as older adults with cognitive disorders and their caregivers began receiving care in the new Healthy Aging Brain Center at the IU Center for Senior Health at Wishard Health Services.

The center currently bases its services on a care model that IU-CAR and colleagues developed and extensively tested over the past 7 years. The center puts cutting edge research into the hands of patients, caregivers and primary care physicians. Dr. Malaz Boustani, pictured front right, is the Research Director of the Healthy Aging Brain Center.

In 2007, Dr. Steve Counsell and center colleagues published Geriatric Care Management for Low-Income Seniors: A Randomized Controlled Trial in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The research is the largest randomized clinical trial of a health system and home-based geriatrics care concept designed to improve health care for community-dwelling low-income older adults.

In 2006, Dr. Chris Callahan and center colleagues published Effectiveness of Collaborative Care for Older Adults with Alzheimer Disease in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The trial resulted in significant improvement in the quality of care and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia among primary care patients and their caregivers.

In 2002, site principal investigators from 8 health care organizations, including Dr. Chris Callahan, published Collaborative Care Management of Late-Life Depression in the Primary Care Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The IMPACT model, a collaborative, stepped care management intervention for late life depression was shown to be feasible and significantly more effective than usual care in a wide range of primary care practices.