Dementia and Alzheimer Disease

Maria Carrillo, PhD, chief science officer for the Alzheimer's Association, talked about the release of the updated diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer disease, which incorporate plasma-based biomarkers.

Results suggest that the high burden of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related lesions most likely underlies the 30%-60% incidence of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in APOE e4/4 carriers treated with approved amyloid therapies.

Based on a collection of data from clinical trials in Alzheimer disease, the best way to represent and translate the findings to meaningful benefits is through the use of multiple frameworks.

The chief medical officer at Athira Pharma talked about an exploratory phase 2 trial that showcased the correlation between biomarkers for Alzheimer disease hallmarks and neuroinflammation. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

The director at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health provided perspective on the effective ways to utilize currently available biomarkers for Alzheimer disease research.

A slowing of disease progression by 30% would result in clearly meaningful differences in patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

The postdoctoral researcher at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio talked the gut microbiome and neurological disorders, focusing on the potential role of gut microbiota imbalance in the pathogenesis of conditions like Alzheimer disease. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

At 19 weeks, eplontersen-treated patients showed substantial and sustained reductions in serum TTR concentration compared with baseline.

The clinical research associate at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio discussed a study that explores the relationship between cognitive function and gut microbiome structure in middle-aged adults from the Framingham Heart Study cohort. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

The researcher in the department of neurochemistry at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden discussed bloodspot cards as a promising method for collecting blood samples in Alzheimer disease research. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Here's some of what is coming soon to NeurologyLive® this week.

The genetic epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania talked about a collaboration of sites and analysis groups across the US to create a vast collection of genetic data on patients living with Alzheimer disease. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Test your neurology knowledge with NeurologyLive®'s weekly quiz series, featuring questions on a variety of clinical and historical neurology topics. This week's topic is ataxia.

Li-San Wang, PhD, the Peter C. Nowell, MD, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, discussed a study that aims to address the underrepresentation of Asian populations in Alzheimer disease research.

Neurology News Network for the week ending July 22, 2023. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Take 5 minutes to catch up on NeurologyLive®'s highlights from the week ending July 21, 2023.

The associate professor of neuroscience at Lund University in Sweden discussed findings from a study of a new blood test examining biomarkers which demonstrated a high accuracy in identifying Alzheimer disease pathology. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Based on the positive findings, the company intends to submit a new drug application to the FDA before the end of 2023, with regulatory filings in additional markets to follow in 2024.

The research assistant professor, pathology and laboratory medicine, University of Pennsylvania, talked about the ongoing research in her lab on understanding the mechanisms and consequences of TDP-43 aggregation in Alzheimer Disease. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Several patients have completed the 18-month trial and have moved on to the open-label extension, where they will be followed for an additional 12 months.

The associate professor of neurochemistry at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden talked about a pilot study that explored the potential of finger prick tests to remotely collect blood and provide reliable biomarker results for Alzheimer disease diagnosis. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

In this episode of MEDcast, expert geriatric psychiatrists explore the urgent need for effective diagnostic methods that can detect Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage. We will discuss blood-based biomarkers and other advancements that can help screen Alzheimer’s disease non-invasively and early in the disease course.

With other potential antiamyloid therapies on the way, the proposal would allow for additional coverage of PET scans to check for amyloid-ß, potentially reducing provider and patient burden.

The director of research for internal medicine and geriatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine provided perspective on ways to effectively streamline cognitive screening in timely and accurate manor. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

In total, 33% of the study participants died within 180 days after initiating their first opioid prescription, compared with 6.4% of those unexposed.

In an analysis of more than 2700 patients aged 55 years or older on semaglutide, the therapy demonstrated a safety profile that was similar to that observed in the overall population.

Chaoran Ma, MD, PhD, assistant professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst, talked about the association between bowel movement frequency, the gut microbiome, and cognitive function in patients living with dementia.

The neurologist in the Danish Dementia Research Center at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark, discussed a cohort study that examined the association between opioid use and the risk of mortality in an older patient population living with dementia. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Change in phosphorylated tau231, the primary outcome, favored nicotinamide despite not reaching statistical significance.

With the recent approval of lecanemab (Leqembi; Eisai), NeurologyLive took a closer look at the Alzheimer pipeline, and the potential agents clinicians should keep an eye on in the coming years.