Jeffrey L. Cummings, MD, ScD: Addressing Agitation, Psychosis in Alzheimer Disease

"Treatment of agitation is one of the very active areas in Alzheimer disease research now; this is an urgent unmet need that affects the quality of life of patients and the quality of life of caregivers."

At the 2019 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jeffrey Cummings, MD, ScD, director emeritus of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and vice chair for the department of brain health at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, spoke with NeurologyLive in an interview to discuss several hot topics in Alzheimer disease.

One specific topic discussed was the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer disease, which are now recognized as hallmarks of dementia and are important targets for the development of effective treatments.

Cummings explained that this field has really opened up in terms of looking at new mechanisms and new ways of treating these symptoms. Physicians are looking for more patient-centric drug development mechanisms to ensure that patient interests are being put first.

*Editor's Note: AVP-786 is a unique molecule that combines deudextromethorphan hydrobromide (d6-DM) and quinidine sulfate (Q), a CYP2D6 inhibitor. AVP-786 is currently the focus of a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, 12-week study, with patients randomized to receive either placebo twice daily, dose 1 of AVP-786 twice daily, or dose 2 of AVP-786 twice daily.