Dr. rer. nat. Birgit Teichmann

TeichmannDr. Birgit Teichmann – Biologist (Diploma), Gerontologist M.Sc., Bioethicist M.A.
Network Aging Research, Heidelberg University

Bergheimer Straße 20
D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany

Phone: +49 (0)6221 54 8124
teichmann(at)nar.uni-heidelberg.de

 


Ιnformal Caregivers´ Attitude towards Dementia

Dementia is increasing rapidly worldwide due to demographic aging. The majority of those affected are cared for by family members. Their attitudes towards people with dementia have a direct impact on the quality of care and decisions such as nursing home admissions and medication. In psychology, the term attitude refers to the willingness of an individual, based on experience, to react in a certain way to a person, a situation, or an idea, which is reflected in the cognitive (assumptions and beliefs), affective (feelings and emotions) and behavioral (behaviors) area. There are very few studies that examine the characteristics of both the caregiver and the person with dementia concerning the caregivers´ attitude. Therefore, our research aims to investigate the influence of various parameters on attitudes towards people with dementia. Specifically, the influence of knowledge, caregiver burden, confidence, stress factors, positive aspects of caregiving, the severity of dementia, the functionality and behavior of the care recipient as well as demographic and health factors will be explored.

Bilingualism and Dementia
Recent research has shown that bilingual people have an advantage over monolingual, meaning that bilingualism weakens the age-related decline in cognitive processes. As the results appear to be contradictory, we would like to investigate the connection between bilingualism and cognition in several dissertation projects

i) Development of appropriate neuropsychological test methods for an intercultural assessment of Turkish immigrants (Simge Celik)
ii) Examining the Effect of Bilingualism on Executive Functions in Healthy Older Adults (Merve Degialenci)
iii) Examining the effects of language learning on cognition in healthy older adults (Judith Großmann)


Research Interests

  • Moral evaluation of genetic technologies: validation and translation of the “Genetic Technologies Questionnaire“ (German and Greek)
  • Ethical aspects of presymptomatic genetic testing for ApoE ε4
  • Raising awareness of dementia among deaf people
  • Sign language learning in older adults: improving cognition and social inclusion of people with hearing loss
  • Attitudes towards dementia (informal caregivers, hospital staff)
  • Dementia programs (international differences with a focus on Germany and Greece)
  • Bilingualism and dementia


Current Research Projects

  • TRIALOG Demenz - funding by the Manfred Lautenschläger-Stiftung, duration 2023-2027
    Subject: Psychological support for people with dementia and their family caregivers
  • DE-SIGN - funding by the EU-Programm Erasmus+, duration 2022-2025
    Subject: Raising Awareness for Dementia in Deaf Older Adults in Europe
  • GECONEU - funding by the EU-Programm Erasmus+, duration 2021-2024
    Subject: Genetic counseling in European universities The case of neurodegenerative diseases


Mitarbeitende

Postdoctoral Researcher

Doctoral Students

Research Assistant

  • Florian Melchior


Lehre im Studiengang "Gerontologie, Gesundheit und Care"

  • Psychiatry and gerontopsychiatry I (dementia) (WS)
  • Nutritional Science and Management (WS)
  • Anatomy/Physiology I (WS)
  • Anatomy/Physiology II (SS)


Scholarships

  • 2023 Prize for Outstanding Academic Performance/Best Performing Final-Year Student of 2022/2023 of All Faculties, Open University Cyprus
  • 2023 Award for Academic Excellence in Bioethics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Open University Cyprus
  • 2018 Hellenic Open University Scholarship for Excellent Students
  • 2018 Robert Bosch Foundation Scholarship, People with Dementia in Hospitals – International Study Trips Program, Netherlands
  • 2017 Robert Bosch Foundation Scholarship, People with Dementia in Hospitals – International Study Trips Program, Norway
  • 2016 Robert Bosch Foundation Scholarship, People with Dementia in Hospitals – International Study Trips Program, United Kingdom
  • 2013 Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Scholarship for the Summer Program of the School of Modern Greek Language
  • 2011 Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism Scholarship for the International Summer Program for Greek Language, History and Culture
  • 2003 Klaus Tschira Foundation Scholarship for the Advanced Training Program Bioinformatics
  • 10/1994-07/1996 Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes Scholarship


Selected Publications
 

2024

  • Lauenroth, A., Schulze, S., Teichmann, B., Laudner, K., Delank, K.-S., & Schwesig, R. (2025). Age Simulation Suits—The First Step in Creating Empathy und Understanding for the Elderly. In D. G. f. Internati (Ed.), Sustainable Aging (pp. 151–160). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-69139-7_10
  • Melchior, F., Beyreuther, K., & Teichmann, B. (2024). Translation, validation and comparison of genetic knowledge scales in Greek and German. Front. Genet., 15, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2024.1350308
  • Makri, M., Despoti, A., Teichmann, B., Gkioka, M., Moraitou, D., Fidani, L., et al. (2024). Attitudes of Family Members and Caregivers Regarding Alzheimer’s Disease Pre-Symptomatic Screening. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 8, 723–735. https://doi.10.3233/ADR-230145
  • Seltmann, H., & Teichmann, B. (2024). Dementia Knowledge, Attitude toward Dementia, and Confidence in Dementia Care: Impact of a Dementia Training on German Nursing Students. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 98(3), 1107–1119. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-231338
  • Angelidou, I. A., Stocker, H., Beyreuther, K., & Teichmann, B. (2024). Validation of the “Perceptions Regarding pRE-Symptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease Screening” (PRE-ADS) Questionnaire in the German Population: Attitudes, Motivations, and Barriers to Pre-Symptomatic Dementia Screening. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 97(1), 309–325. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-230961

2023

  • Tsatali, M., Angelidou, I. A., Tsolaki, M., & Teichmann, B. (2023). The Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale, the Knowledge in Dementia Scale, and the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2: Which Is the Best Tool to Measure Dementia Knowledge in Greece? Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, 7(1), 1377–1393. https://doi.org/10.3233/ADR-230161
  • Angelidou, I. A., Makri, M., Beyreuther, K., Boada Rovira, M., Despoti, A., Engelborghs, S., ...Teichmann, B. (2023). Attitudes toward pre-symptomatic screening for Alzheimer's Dementia in five European countries: a comparison of family members of people with Alzheimer's Dementia versus non-family members. Front. Genet. 14, 1305107. doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1305107
  • Tsolaki, M., Makri, M., Tsatali, M., & Teichmann, Β. (2023). European Projects for Patients with Dementia and Their Caregivers. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1425, 609–618. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_59
  • Teichmann, B. (2023). Προσυμπτωματικός Γενετικός Έλεγχος για τη Νόσο Alzheimer με Όψιμη Έναρξη: μια Ηθική Προσέγγιση. M.A. thesis. https://kypseli.ouc.ac.cy/bitstream/handle/11128/5707/BIH-2023-00009.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  • Melchior, F., & Teichmann, B. (2023). Measuring Dementia Knowledge in German: Validation and Comparison of the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale, the Knowledge in Dementia Scale, and the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 94(2), 669–684. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-230303.
  • Grossmann, J. A., Aschenbrenner, S., Teichmann, B.*, & Meyer, P*. (2023b). Foreign language learning can improve response inhibition in individuals with lower baseline cognition: Results from a randomized controlled superiority trial. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15, Article 1123185. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1123185. *shared last authorship

2022

  • Teichmann, B., Melchior, F., & Kruse, A. (2022). Validation of the Adapted German Versions of the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2, the Dementia Attitude Scale, and the Confidence in Dementia Scale for the General Population. Journal of Alzheimer‘s Disease, 90(1), 97–108. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-220678.
  • Teichmann, B., Gkioka, M., Kruse, A., & Tsolaki, M. (2022). Informal Caregivers’ Attitude toward Dementia: The Impact of Dementia Knowledge, Confidence in Dementia Care and the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of the Person with Dementia – a cross-sectional study. Journal of Alzheimer`s Disease, 88(3), 971–984.https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-215731.
  • Degirmenci, M. G., Grossmann, J. A., Meyer, P., & Teichmann, B. (2022). The role of bilingualism in executive functions in healthy older adults: A systematic review. International Journal of Bilingualism, 136700692110512. https://doi.org/10.1177./13670069211051291.

2021

  • Teichmann, B., Xiromerisiou, G., & Tsolaki, M. (2021). Informal Caregivers´Attitude towards Dementia – a review. PRIME, 14(1), 170–189. http://prime.uth.gr/papers/vol14_2021/Teichmann,%20Xiromerisiou%20&%20Tsolaki.pdf
  • Teichmann, B., Τσιρώνη, Μ., & Κώστα-Τσολάκη, Μ. (2021). COVID-19 και τρίτη ηλικία: οι πολιτικές και τα πρωτόκολλα που εφαρμόσθηκαν παγκοσμίως και οι συνέπειές τους για τους ηλικιωμένους - μια ανασκόπηση. Το ΑΠΘ Γράφει Ιστορία Στην Αντιμετώπιση Της Νόσου COVID-19, 292–325.  Minipfeil Rotzum Artikel
    https://www.rc.auth.gr/Documents/Uploaded/d1792cfe-60a3-4bdf-aeb9-d38c88c8e552.pdf.
  • Schneider, J., Miller, J., Teschauer, W., Kruse, A., & Teichmann, B. (2021). Evaluation and Effectiveness of a Two-Day Dementia Training Program for Hospital Staff Working in an Emergency Department. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-210505.
  • Celik, S., Onur, O., Yener, G., Kessler, J., Özbek, Y., Meyer, P., Frölich, L., & Teichmann, B. (2021). Cross-cultural comparison of MMSE and RUDAS in German and Turkish patients with Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychology, 10.1037/neu0000764. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000764.
  • Grossmann, J. A., Koelsch, V. M., Degirmenci, M. G., Aschenbrenner, S., Teichmann, B., & Meyer, P. (2021). Effects of foreign language learning on executive functions in healthy older adults: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 21(122), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02051-x.

2020

  • Teichmann, B. (2020). H στάση των περιθαλπόντων απέναντι στα άτομα με άνοια: Η επιρροή της γνώσης και της επιβάρυνσης του περιθάλποντα σε σχέση με τη λειτουργικότητα του ασθενή. MSc thesis. https://www.apothesis.eap.gr/archive/item/74675.
  • Γκιόκα, Μ., Teichmann, B., Μωραΐτου, Δέσποινα, Παπαγιαννόπουλος, Σ., & Τσολάκη, Μ. (2020). Ανάπτυξη, εφαρμογή και αξιολόγηση ενός προγράμματος εκπαίδευσης για την άνοια σε προσωπικό Νοσοκομείων – Η περίπτωση της Ελλάδας: Vol 13, Issue 1, 2020. PRIME, 13(1), 44–55. http://prime.uth.gr/papers/vol13_2020./Gkioka,%20Teichmann,%20Moraitou,%20Papagiannopoulos%20&%20Tsolaki.pdf.
  • Gkioka, M., Teichmann, B., Moraitou, D., Papagiannopoulos, S. & Tsolaki, M. (2020). Effects of a Person Centered Dementia Training Program in Greek Hospital Staff—Implementation and Evaluation. Brain Sci, 10(12), 976. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10120976.
  • Zygouris, S., Gkioka, M., Moraitou, D., Teichmann, B., Tsiatsos, T., Papagianopoulos, S., & Tsolaki, M. (2020). Assessing the Attitudes of Greek Nurses Toward Computerized Dementia Screening. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease: JAD, 78(4), 1575-1583. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200666.
  • Gkioka, M., Schneider, J., Kruse, A., Tsolaki, M., Moraitou, D., & Teichmann, B. (2020). Evaluation and effectiveness of dementia staff training programs in general hospital settings – A narrative synthesis with Holton’s three-level model applied. Journal of Alzheimer`s Disease: JAD, 78(3), 1089-1108. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200741.
  • Celik S., Kokje, E., Meyer, P., Lutz Frölich, Teichmann, B. (2020). Does Bilingualism Influence Neuropsychological Test Performance in Older Adults? A Systematic Review. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 1-19. DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2020.1788032, https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2020.1788032.
  • Schneider, J., Schönstein, A., Teschauer, W., Kruse, A. & Teichmann, B. (2020). Hospital staff’s attitudes toward and knowledge about dementia before and after a two-day dementia training program. Journal of Alzheimer´s Disease: JAD, 77(1), 355-365. DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2020.1788032, https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200268.
  • Gkioka, M., Tsolaki, M., Papagianopoulos, S., Teichmann, B., Moraitou, D. (2020). Psychometric Properties of Dementia Attitudes Scale, Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2 and Confidence in Dementia scale in a Greek sample. Nursing Open, 7(5), 1623-1633. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.546, https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.546.

2019

  • Teichmann, B. (2019): Menschen mit Demenz im Akutkrankenhaus. In: Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie 52 (Suppl 4), S. 207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-019-01653-w.
  • Teichmann, B., Bauer, J. M., Beyreuther, K., Kruse, A. (2019): Forschung zur Versorgung von Menschen mit Demenz im Akutkrankenhaus: Chancen, Herausforderungen und Grenzen. In: Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie 52 (Suppl 4), S. 208–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-019-01632-1.
  • Schneider, J., Gkioka, M., Papagiannopoulos, S., Moraitou, D., Metz, B., Tsolaki, M., Kruse, A., & Teichmann, B. (2019). Erwartungen von Pflegekräften und Ärzten an eine Demenzschulung: Eine deskriptive Studie in Krankenhäusern in Deutschland und Griechenland [Expectations of nursing personnel and physicians on dementia training: A descriptive survey in general hospitals in Germany and Greece]. Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie, 52(Suppl 4), 249–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-019-01625-0.
  • Zygouris, S., Gkioka, M., Moraitou, D., Teichmann, B., Tsiatsos, T., Papagianopoulos, S., & Tsolaki, M. (2019). Einstellungen des Pflegepersonals zum computergestützten Demenz-Screening: Eine Validierung und Pilotstudie in einem Allgemeinkrankenhaus [Views of nursing staff on computerized dementia screening: A validation and pilot study in a general hospital]. Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie, 52(Suppl 4), 258–263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-019-01633-0.


Membership

  • DGGG (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gerontologie und Geriatrie)
  • Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
  • German Academy of Ethics in Medicine e.V.
  • Bioethics Commission Alzheimer Hellas
  • Subworking Group “dementia friendly hospital” of the Alzheimer Society Baden-Württemberg

 


Vita

10/2023 - 03/2024   Ethics Consultant in Healthcare (AEM Certificate)
05/2023 - 09/2023   Genetic Counseling, Certificate from the Vocational Training and Lifelong Learning Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
01/2021 - 05/2023   Bioethics (M.A.), Open University Cyprus
10/2017 - 07/2020   Managing Aging and Chronic Diseases (M.Sc.), Hellenic Open University
2010   Baden-Württemberg Certificate for Teaching and Learning at University Level
02/2007 - present   Scientific Manager and Managing Director, Network Aging Research (NAR), Heidelberg University
09/2005 - 12/2006  
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University Hospital Heidelberg
09/2003 - 07/2004   Bioinformatics, Center for Professional Development, Heidelberg University
2002 - 2003   Postdoctoral Research Associate, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck
2001 - 2002   Postdoctoral Research Associate, A3D GmbH Heidelberg
10/1996 - 07/2000   PhD (Dr. rer. nat.), German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg University
10/1993 - 07/1996   Biology (Diploma), Heidelberg University
10/1991 - 07/1993   Biology (Intermediate Diploma), University of Bonn
10/1989 - 02/1992   Music (Orchestral Music, Viola), Cologne University of Music and Dance
     
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Latest Revision: 2024-11-29
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