Lauren B Gerlach, DO, MS
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Medical School
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Lauren B Gerlach, DO, MS
Assistant Professor
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About
Dr. Gerlach is a Geriatric Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Her research is focused on understanding trends and appropriate use of psychotropic medications among older adults including evaluating how psychotropic medications are utilized in end-of-life care. She has used national survey and administrative claims data to evaluate the growth of central nervous system (CNS) medication polypharmacy use among older adults and to understand how health systems respond to warnings (e.g., from the U.S. FDA) for psychotropic medications. Her work aims to inform safe and rationale psychotropic medication prescribing among older adults with mental health and cognitive disorders--including understanding how to best target appropriate treatment to patients that would benefit from treatment the most.
Dr. Gerlach is the co-host of the "Minding Memory" podcast.
Qualifications
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Clinical and Research FellowshipUniversity of Michigan Medical School, Geriatric Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, United States
2015 - 2017
Postdoctoral Fellowship
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ResidentUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, United States
2011 - 2015
Residency
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Clinical and Research FellowshipMichigan Psychoanalytic Institute, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Ann Arbor, United States
2013 - 2014
Clinical Fellowship
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MScUniversity of Michigan, Health and Healthcare Research, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
2017 - 2018
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Post-BaccalaureateUniversity of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
2004 - 2006
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BSDenison University, Granville, Ohio, United States
2000 - 2004
Center Memberships
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Center MemberCenter for History, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Ethics in Medicine
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Center MemberEisenberg Family Depression Center
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Center MemberInstitute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
Recent Publications
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Shireman TI, Roma C, Zullo AR, Coe AB, Daiello LA, Liu CJ, Lo D, Bynum JPW, Gerlach LB. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2026 Feb 27;Journal ArticleImpact of National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care on Antipsychotic Use Duration for Dementia Residents in Nursing Homes.
DOI:10.1093/gerona/glag060 PMID: 41761575 -
Jan A, Turnwald M, Maixner S, O'Neil T, Gerlach L. J Pain Symptom Manage, 2026 Jan 5;Journal ArticleHospice Clinicians' Approaches to Terminal Restlessness: A Qualitative Analysis.
DOI:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.12.028 PMID: 41500370 -
White EM, Wagner J, Stewart K, Guyer H, Nelson S, Chiong W, Muench U, Sideman A, Gerlach LB, Possin K, Pettit AR, Rothstein J, Marcus SC, Spetz J, Maust DT. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2025 Sep 18;Journal ArticleThe National Dementia Workforce Study: Methods for Surveying Community Clinicians Who Provide Care to People With Dementia
DOI:10.1111/jgs.70037 -
Sadowska K, Turnwald M, O'Neil T, Maust DT, Gerlach LB. J Am Geriatr Soc, 2025 Apr; 73 (4): 1094 - 1104.Journal ArticleBehavioral symptoms and treatment challenges for patients living with dementia: Hospice clinician and caregiver perspectives.
DOI:10.1111/jgs.19320 PMID: PMC11970226 -
Zhang T, Santostefano CM, Harris D, Coe AB, Zullo AR, Gerlach LB, Joshi R, Bynum JPW, Shireman TI. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2025 Apr; 26 (4): 105480Journal ArticleEffects of Visitation Restriction on Antipsychotic Drug Use among Nursing Home Residents with ADRD during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
DOI:10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105480 PMID: PMC11972897 -
Zullo AR, Riester MR, Varma H, Daiello LA, Gerlach LB, Coe AB, Thomas KS, Joshi R, Zhang T, Shireman TI, Bynum JPW. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2025 Mar; 26 (3): 105439Journal ArticleEffects of Nursing Home Changes in Antipsychotic Use on Outcomes among Residents with Dementia.
DOI:10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105439 PMID: PMC11890954 -
Gerlach LB. 2025 Sep 25;Additional ScholarshipAnxiety Disorders. In: Brown MM, Duggan M, Goroncy A, eds. GRS12 Teaching Slides. American Geriatrics Society
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Coe AB, Zhang T, Zullo AR, Gerlach LB, Daiello LA, Varma H, Lo D, Joshi R, Bynum JPW, Shireman TI. J Am Geriatr Soc, 2025 Jan; 73 (1): 214 - 222.Journal ArticleAssociation of nursing home antipsychotic reduction policies with antipsychotic use in community dwellers with dementia.
DOI:10.1111/jgs.19184 PMID: PMC11734101
Featured News & Stories
Health Lab
Common hospice drugs linked to higher death risk in people with dementia
A study of hospice patients with dementia in nursing homes shows a higher risk of death in 6 months among those prescribed benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.
Health Lab
Dementia becomes an emergency 1.4 million times a year
People with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia account for a large percentage of emergency visits by older adults, but some of those crises could be prevented.
