Lauren B Gerlach, DO, MS
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Medical School
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Lauren B Gerlach, DO, MS
Associate 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 Minding Memory, a podcast exploring the science, stories, and data shaping the future of Alzheimer's and dementia care.
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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Jan A, Turnwald M, Maixner S, O’Neil T, Gerlach L. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2026 Apr 1; 71 (4): 567 - 573.e1.Journal ArticleHospice Clinicians’ Approaches to Terminal Restlessness: A Qualitative Analysis
DOI:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.12.028 PMID: 41500370 -
Shireman TI, Roma C, Zullo AR, Coe AB, Daiello LA, Liu CJ, Lo D, Bynum JPW, Gerlach LB. Journals of Gerontology Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2026 Apr 1; 81 (4):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 -
Gerlach LB, Zhang L, Strominger J, Shireman T, Bynum JPW. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026 May 13; 41 (5): 1441 - 1444.Journal ArticleUnintended Consequences of Federal Initiatives on Antipsychotic Prescribing in Hospice
DOI:10.1007/s11606-025-09929-1 -
Gerlach LB, Zhang L, Montoya A, Krein SL, Zullo AR, Bynum JPW, Maust D. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026 Jan 1;Journal ArticleOff-Label Initiation of Gabapentin and Valproic Acid Among Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents With and Without Dementia
DOI:10.1111/jgs.70574 -
Spetz J, Wagner LM, White EM, Chapman SA, Chiong W, Friedman EM, Gerlach LB, Harrison KL, Hunt LJ, Lee SJ, Muench U, Possin K, Sideman A, Hickey JVTS, Putthinun P, Yeh J, Sandoval S, Rose A, Rothstein J, Pettit AR, Maust DT, Zimmerman S. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2025 Nov 1; 73 (11): 3344 - 3353.Journal ArticleThe National Dementia Workforce Study: Development of Questionnaires for Home Care, Assisted Living, and Nursing Home Settings
DOI:10.1111/jgs.70048 PMID: 40891824 -
Gerlach LB, Zhang L, Kim HM, Teno J, Maust DT. JAMA Network Open, 2025 Sep 18;Journal ArticleBenzodiazepine and antipsychotic use and mortality risk among patients with dementia receiving hospice care
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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 -
Hunt LJ, Gan S, Boscardin WJ, Harrison KL, Growdon ME, Muench UU, Gerlach LB, Smith AK, Steinman MA. JAMA Internal Medicine, 2025 May 5; 185 (5): 595 - 597.Journal ArticleContinued Use of Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine in Hospice
DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.8579 PMID: 40126467
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.
