ENHANCING BRAIN HEALTH PROMOTION AND DEMENTIA DETECTION IN PRIMARY CARE - Vol. 9 - Late Breaking Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias III

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

The GSA KAER Toolkit for Brain Health supports primary care teams in conducting conversations about brain health, detecting and diagnosing dementia, and connecting individuals to community-based supports. Using the four-step KAER framework—Kickstart, Assess, Evaluate, and Refer—the toolkit combines practical approaches, educational resources, and validated clinical tools that teams can integrate directly into workflow. The third publicly available version has been updated through expert review and current evidence, enabling frequent online updates aligned with advances in risk reduction, biomarkers, and screening and diagnostic guidelines. The session will demonstrate how to apply the framework across the diagnostic process, highlight newly added resources, and share practice pearls.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Session Overview

KAER Toolkit Goals and Framework

Third Version Updates and Evidence Base

Diagnostic Workflow Integration (K to A to E to R)

Newly Added Resources and Practice Pearls

1272 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 SESSION 9010 (PAPER) LATE BREAKING: ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, INCLUDING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE—RELATED DEMENTIAS III Abstract citation ID: igaf122.4247 ENHANCING BRAIN HEALTH PROMOTION AND DEMENTIA DETECTION IN PRIMARY CARE WITH THE KAER FRAMEWORK Lisa McGuire1, and Jennifer Pettis2, 1. Gerontological Society of America, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 2. Gerontological Society of America, Washington, District of Columbia, United States The Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) KAER Toolkit for Brain Health is intended to support primary care teams in implementing a comprehensive approach to initiating conversations about brain health, detecting and diagnosing dementia, and providing individuals with community-based supports. Based on the four steps of the KAER framework—Kickstart, Assess, Evaluate, and Refer (KAER)— the Toolkit includes practical approaches, educational resources, and validated clinical tools that teams can immediately integrate into their workflow. Recently, GSA launched the third version of the publicly available GSA KAER Toolkit that was revised based on expert review and evaluation of the latest scientific evidence for its clinical applicability. This online version allows for frequent updates aligning with the ever-evolving brain health scientific-landscape, including significant advances in brain health promotion, dementia risk reduction, advances in biomarkers, and recent guideline updateson use of screening and detection tools. Attendees at this session will learn about the flexible KAER framework and how it can be integrated into existing workflows within their practice setting through the entire diagnostic process of K to A to E and to R improve care and outcomes of older adults living with dementia and their caregivers. This session will highlight newly added resources to the KAER Toolkit including brain health promotion, dementia risk reduction, common behavioral and psychological symptoms association with dementia, and updated screening and diagnostic tools. Additionally, practice pearls about how aspects of the KAER toolkit have been integrated into various clinical practices will be discussed.

FAQs

What is the KAER toolkit designed to help primary care teams do?

It supports primary care teams in initiating conversations about brain health, detecting and diagnosing dementia, and linking individuals to community-based supports.

How do the four KAER steps structure dementia care in primary settings?

The toolkit organizes care into Kickstart, Assess, Evaluate, and Refer steps, guiding teams through the diagnostic process from K to A to E to R.

What changed in the third version of the publicly available KAER toolkit?

The third version was revised based on expert review and evaluation of the latest scientific evidence, and it is provided as an online tool to allow frequent updates aligned with new advances and guidelines.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Aria