Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) is pleased to announce that Drew Pickett, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health & Wellness Design (HWD), was awarded a grant of $657,455 from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) for the project “Development of a Physical Activity Intervention to Meet the Unique Needs of Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Caregivers.”
This grant will help Dr. Pickett create, alongside current sexual and gender minority (SGM) caregivers, a behavioral intervention to support caregivers who identify as LGBTQ+. The first step will be conducting the research to identify what physical activities work for this population and build upon that.
Dr. Pickett shares that providing care for a loved one with AD/ADRD disease can be very challenging. As such, caring for someone with AD/ADRD is often associated with a broad set of negative health outcomes for the caregiver, including high levels of stress and depression.
"Sexual and gender minority populations continue to face stigmatization and discrimination, particularly in physical activity settings, which are also associated with poor health outcomes," he says. “In this project, we are looking to create support structures to promote the health of folks facing these dual stressors: both from their caregiving role and from living with minoritized identities."
According to Dr. Pickett, one of the unique challenges queer caregivers face is that healthcare, legal, financial, and other professionals might not recognize certain LGBTQ+ relationships (e.g., marriages) or respect/acknowledge LGBTQ+ identities. As such, it may be more difficult for people in this population to access support systems that are necessary to assist them in their caregiver journey—while also striving to maintain their own mental and physical well-being.
"This funding will give us a strong foundation to continue to build on in future research and community outreach work," says Dr. Pickett.
This is the second funding award Dr. Pickett has successfully spearheaded this academic year. Last September, alongside his department mentor Nicole Werner, Ph.D., he secured an administrative supplement of $99,876 from the NIA to support the existing study “Design, Development, and Validation of an AI-Enabled Legal Planning and Financial Management Training Solution for AD/ADRD Caregivers.” This supplement grant, received in collaboration with small business partner Whiplash Technology, Inc, covers one year of project funding to investigate feasibility and acceptability among LGBTQ+ AD/ADRD caregivers of an AI-enabled legal and financial planning tool.
Dr. Pickett credits Dr. Werner and co-mentor Richard Holden, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Health & Wellness Design, for assisting him in creating a successful funding proposal. He also acknowledges his mentorship team, including SPH-B Executive Associate Dean NiCole Keith, Ph.D., IU Associate Vice President and Vice Provost for Research Brea Perry, Ph.D., Jason Flatt, Ph.D. in the Department of Public Health at University of Nevada- Las Vegas, and Matthew Smith, Ph.D. at Texas A&M School of Public Health who "provided expertise and guidance throughout the funding process."
"It has been rewarding as a mentor to see the hard work and passion Drew put into this proposal and then see that come to fruition now with the award,” says Dr. Werner. “I’m thrilled for Drew and for the opportunity to support his ascending research career—and even more thrilled that his work will undoubtedly have a great impact on improving health for SGM caregivers of people living with dementia."
For more stories about SPH-B students and faculty making a big difference both locally and worldwide, visit go.iu.edu/48bx.