AAPA to Develop Cognitive Assessment Toolkit for Alzheimer Disease

A cognitive assessment toolkit for early detection of Alzheimer disease that provides a standard protocol and training resources for primary care providers is being developed by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), Cleveland Clinic, and PA Foundation. The organizations received a grant from the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) to develop the toolkit.

The goal is to develop a pilot cognitive assessment toolkit to increase rates of cognitive screenings of older adults by equipping advanced practice providers (APPs) with the skills needed to perform and interpret the assessments. The toolkit will address:

• Cognitive screening tools and protocols,
• Information on administering screenings,
• Training and educational resources to interpret results and facilitate conversations with patients, and
• Practice-based provider and patient resources.

The pilot implementation is expected to launch at select Cleveland Clinic sites beginning in February 2023 and will be led by providers from Cleveland Clinic Community Care. Researchers will then review feedback and outcomes reporting before disseminating the toolkit to a broader audience of health systems.

“Providing a standardized approach to cognitive screenings for older adults is crucial,” said Nathan Hart, MS, MBA, PA-C, project lead and NP/PA director for Cleveland Clinic Community Care. “Equipping our nurse practitioners and PAs with the skills and resources needed to perform these assessments will allow us to increase early detection of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease.”

“Early detection is key to supporting the individuals and families who will face this devastating disease,” said AAPA CEO Lisa M. Gables, CPA. “As patient-centered, team-based health care professionals, PAs are committed to doing their part in the fight against Alzheimer’s. AAPA and the PA Foundation are honored to receive this grant from the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative and to be a part of this work that will have a global impact.”

Cleveland Clinic, AAPA, and PA Foundation will join a network of 12 grant projects all part of the DAC Healthcare System Preparedness project, which aim to advance how health care systems worldwide detect, diagnose, treat, and care for people with or at risk for Alzheimer disease.

The organizations will have an opportunity to extend the project’s impact by sharing best practices through DAC Learning Labs, communities of practice events, and other forums designed to share learning and successes with health care systems worldwide.

This article originally appeared on Clinical Advisor