Alzheimers.gov

Key Challenge

Critical information was scattered across various government sites, creating a confusing, fragmented experience for users navigating Alzheimer's and related dementias.

My Role

As UX Lead, I conducted comprehensive user research and usability testing with 18 participants to create an accessible, empathetic platform for those affected by Alzheimer's.

The Power of Empathetic Research

This was one of the most emotional projects I've ever worked on. Our research wasn't just about data; it was about connecting with people facing this disease head-on. Many participants shared how they were given a diagnosis, a prescription, and then sent home with little to no information. They were scared, uncertain, and desperately needed a resource like the one we were building.

These stories pushed me to design with an even greater focus on accessibility and clarity for people with cognitive decline, as well as visual and motor issues.

Key Challenge

Usability Study Findings Revealed Critical Challenges

Misunderstood Terminology

We discovered that doctors most often diagnosed people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a term absent from our initial content. Users were also confused by the interchangeable use of "Alzheimer's" and "Dementia".

Unclear Navigation

Key task success rates were below our 80% threshold. For example, 85% of participants were unsure of what content they would find under the navigation label "Taking Action."

Distrust of Clinical Trials

Users expressed general distrust of clinical trials, often associating them with placebos or drugs, a significant barrier to participation.

From Insight to Actionable Design

Our end-to-end design process began with extensive user research validated through a comprehensive usability study. We tested an interactive prototype with 18 participants, including both English and Spanish speaking individuals. These remote sessions provided a rich qualitative and quantitative data set that directly informed our final design recommendations.

Design Solution

The Study Gave Us Profound Insights That Guided Our Approach

Adjusting Terminology

We quickly adapted our content strategy to define key terms, explicitly clarifying the distinctions and connections among Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia to eliminate confusion.

Building Trust

We simplified complex scientific jargon and distilled the clinical trial enrollment process into an easy-to-follow, logical progression.

Refining Navigation

Our insights led to specific improvements, including a streamlined navigation and the removal of confusing elements, such as an "all resources" list.

A Platform Built on Trust and Results

The launch of Alzheimers.gov successfully addressed the core challenges of the project and was met with powerful feedback. Our key performance indicators were a testament to the effectiveness of our user-centric approach.

Key Quantitative Results

High Success Rate

The site achieved a perfect success rate for two critical tasks: finding key information on Alzheimer's disease and finding a clinical trial.

High User Satisfaction

The site scored a remarkable 4.4 out of 5 in "likely to share", indicating high user satisfaction and trust.

Unmet Need

The profound finding that many participants had been left with little information from their doctors confirmed the importance of a resource like this.

The Power of Empathetic Design

Ultimately, this project demonstrated the power of empathetic research. By listening to the real-world stories and difficulties of our users, we created a digital platform that not only delivered on its technical and design goals but also served as a trusted resource, providing clarity and comfort during a difficult time. The high ratings and high task completion rates are a direct reflection of a design process rooted in compassion and a genuine desire to help.

Accessibility-First Design Principles

Every design decision was made with accessibility in mind, ensuring the platform served users with cognitive decline, visual impairments, and motor control challenges.