image: Mary S. Mittelman, D.P.H. won the first global award for Alzheimer's psychosocial research. view more
Credit: NYU Langone Medical Center
New York, March 27, 2009 – Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) and the Fondation Mederic Alzheimer today presented the first global award for psychosocial research in Alzheimer's and dementia to Mary Mittelman, D.P.H. of NYU Langone Medical Center. The award is in recognition of the best evidence-based intervention for patients with dementia and their caregivers through the NYU Caregiver Intervention program.
Dr. Mittelman's research focuses on the importance of psychosocial and social intervention, which includes improving dementia caregiving skills, mobilizing the support of family networks, and caregiver counseling, as part of a comprehensive medical care approach. A unique facet of the NYU program is individualized counseling for caregivers and their family members, taking into account that each patient and caregiver has differing needs. Dr. Mittelman's multi-component intervention extended the patient's stay at home 18 months longer than those receiving usual care in the control group.
Dr. Mittelman has been evaluating psychosocial interventions for family members of patients with Alzheimer's for more than two decades. She is Director of the Psychosocial Research and Support Program at the Center of Excellence for Brain Aging and Dementia at NYU Langone and is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychiatry there. She also leads the Education and Psychosocial Cores of the NYU Langone Alzheimer's Disease Center. She received her D.P.H. in psychiatric epidemiology and an M.S. in biostatistics from the Columbia University School of Public Health. In conjunction with her colleagues, Dr. Mittelman has authored several books for caregivers and professionals, including "Counseling the Alzheimer's Caregiver, A resource for Healthcare Professionals" which details the NYU Caregiver Intervention program. She is a resident of Manhattan.
For a press release on the Alzheimer's Disease International award, please visit: http://www.adi2009.org/00015press.htm
About NYU Langone Medical Center
Located in the heart of New York City, NYU Langone Medical Center is one of the nation's premier centers of excellence in health care, biomedical research, and medical education. For over 167 years, NYU physicians and researchers have made countless contributions to the practice and science of health care. Today the Medical Center consists of NYU School of Medicine, including the Smilow Research Center, the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, and the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences; the three hospitals of NYU Hospitals Center, Tisch Hospital, a 726-bed acute-care general hospital, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the first and largest facility of its kind, and NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, a leader in musculoskeletal care; and such major programs as the NYU Cancer Institute, the NYU Child Study Center, and the Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.