About Us

Overview

CITA is dedicated to transforming the landscape of care for individuals with AD/ADRD, and subsequently for other vulnerable older adults with disabilities such as Parkinson's disease and those recovering from stroke. To achieve this, we take a two-pronged approach that considers both patients and their caregivers. CITA aims to innovate and create technologies and solutions for extending safe stay at home and for receiving timely and high-quality care that is cost-effective and customized to meet the unique needs of ADRD individuals. In addition, we will design innovative technologies to enhance the capabilities of caregivers, significantly reducing their burden while supporting their wellbeing and work-life balance.

Looming demographic changes and the growing incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (AD/ADRD) present a formidable challenge to the U.S. and global healthcare systems. By 2030, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that 21% of the U.S. population will be over 65, outnumbering children for the first time in history. Further, according to the United Nations, by 2050, half of the world's population will reside in countries where 20% of the population is over 65. This demographic shift heralds a significant increase in the ADRD prevalence, with current figures at approximately 55 million people worldwide, expected to rise to 153 million by 2050. In the United States, over 6.2 million aged 65 and older are currently living with ADRD, a number projected to surge by 47% to 13.8 million by 2060.

CITA has a team of 35 affiliated professors from eight colleges across the three USF campuses: College of AI, cybersecurity and computing; College of Engineering; College of Behavioral and Community Sciences; College of Arts and Sciences; Morsani College of Medicine; College of Education; College of Nursing; College of Public Health. The Center is supported by a team of research coordinators and research assistants. We continue to look for more affiliated professors and collaborators.