Millions of Americans are living with dementia, and as investments in Alzheimer's disease research reach record levels, The University of Texas at Arlington is helping ensure those advancements translate into real-world support for families on the front lines.
UT Arlington social work professors Noelle Fields and Ling Xu have been awarded a five-year, $323,892 grant to support community engagement initiatives that educate people living with dementia and their care partners on best practices and new developments in care.
"Families caring for individuals living with dementia often navigate the disease alone, without enough education or support," Dr. Fields said. "Social work research really helps bridge the gap between research and real world practice. That's important, especially with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, where there is still a need for interventions that meet the unique needs of different communities. Solutions cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach."
Fields and Dr. Xu's research is part of the North Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, one of only 37 such centers nationwide. The center is led by UT Southwestern and funded by the National Institute on Aging.
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The program seeks to improve the understanding, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Currently, an estimated 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's. Without a cure or effective prevention, that number is projected to grow to 12.7 million by 2050. In Texas alone, nearly half a million people are affected, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, and Alzheimer's remains a leading cause of death among older adults.
These sobering figures underscore the importance of ensuring research reaches the communities it is intended to serve.
"What is the value of science if its findings never reach the people it is meant to help?" asked Tonya Hansel, UTA associate dean of research. "I am deeply grateful for the implementation science advanced by Drs. Fields and Xu—work that strengthens the mission of the School of Social Work by translating knowledge into real-world, actionable solutions as our aging population grows."
For Fields and Xu, this work has become a calling since both joined UTA in 2013. Together, they have published numerous articles and conducted several community-based projects focused on dementia care and caregiver support.
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Xu's research has long centered on the care of older adults, particularly within immigrant communities, where individuals may lack the family support systems they would have in their native countries.
For Fields, memory loss is something that she has seen first-hand affecting her own family.
"As a social worker, I saw the gaps—lack of education, lack of support," Fields said. "Family caregivers provide the vast majority of support to individuals living with dementia in the community, often without the resources that they need. That inspired me to pursue my Ph.D. and focus on aging and innovative interventions to support dementia care."
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
