Latest Conference Coverage

Blood-Based Biomarkers for Alzheimer Disease: Eric Reiman, MD

The executive director of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute discussed the future of blood tests as a biomarker that may help in addressing current challenges, including drug development.

The State of the Alzheimer Disease Pipeline: Eric Reiman, MD

The executive director of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute commented on ongoing research into amyloid plaque-reducing antibody therapies, the approval of aducanumab, and other initiatives with the ability to impact the treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Greatest Challenges in Repurposing Alzheimer Drugs: Feixiong Cheng, PhD

The State of Alzheimer Disease Clinical Trials and Prevention Efforts: Eric Reiman, MD

The executive director of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute discussed the current state of AD trials, as well as his perspective on ongoing efforts to establish prevention therapies.

Identifying Impactful Biomarkers of Alzheimer Disease: Sudhir Sivakumaran, PhD; Klaus Romero, MD, MS, FCP

NeuroVoices: Mike Detke, MD, PhD, on Atuzaginstat’s Potential in Alzheimer Disease, Periodontal Disease

The chief medical officer of Cortexyme discussed the company’s investigational agent atuzaginstat, its mechanism of action, and the findings of the phase 2/3 GAIN trial.

Jeffrey Cummings, MD, ScD, on Appropriate Use Criteria for Aducanumab

Cummings and colleagues presented appropriate use criteria for the newly approved Biogen/Eisai agent at the 2021 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Novel PET Imaging Tracer Shows Promise for Parkinson Disease Diagnosis

AC Immune, the company presenting the data at the 2021 AAIC meeting, also recently acquired an a-syn vaccine, Affiris PD01.

Gemfibrozil Impacts Metabolic and CVD End Points, Sildenafil Shows Promise in AD, Sensory Stimulation Shows Safety

Anti-Amyloid Beta Vaccine Safe and Well-Tolerated in Adults With Down Syndrome

Phase 1b study results were presented at AAIC 2021, supporting the need for accelerated clinical development of ACI-24 in Alzheimer disease related to DS.

Pimavanserin Safety Data and Future Research: Clive Ballard, MD

Identifying High-Potential Drugs to Repurpose for Alzheimer Disease: Feixiong Cheng, PhD

The assistant professor at Cleveland Clinic discussed key factors to consider when choosing repurposed drugs that could show max potential in treating Alzheimer disease.

Aducanumab Phase 4 Real-World Observational Study Announced

The ICARE AD-US trial is expected to enroll 6000 participants, with at least 16% of the population aimed at including those from underrepresented communities. The unrelated confirmatory phase 4 trial is still in the process of being designed.

Positive Effects of Pimavanserin for Patients With AD: Clive Ballard, MD

Clive Ballard, MD, professor of age related diseases at University of Exeter, commented on the potential impact that the approval of pimavanserin would have for patients if approved for dementia-related psychosis.

Methylphenidate Shows Small to Medium Benefit in Treating Alzheimer Apathy

The effect of methylphenidate on Alzheimer disease apathy was observed at 2 months and was sustained throughout the 6 months of the study.

Baseline Characteristics Announced for Lecanemab Phase 3 Study

Participants will be enrolled for 18 months, with baseline data provided and compared to the lecanemab phase 2 study cohort.

Advantages of CPAD Consortium: Sudhir Sivakumaran, PhD; Klaus Romero, MD, MS, FCP

The duo from the Critical Path Institute discussed how CPAD is revolutionizing data collection within the Alzheimer disease community and the advantages it brings to clinicians.

Cutting Edge Care in Multiple Sclerosis: Advances in S1P Therapy

Jessica L. Stulc, MD, MPH, offered an in-depth review of the latest approved therapies in the sphingosine phosphate 1 targeting class of oral medications for MS including ozanimod (Zeposia; BMS) and ponesimod (Ponvory; Janssen).

Relapse Rates and Effects of Dementia-Related Psychosis: Clive Ballard, MD

Clive Ballard, MD, spoke on safety data presented at this year’s AAIC meeting, as well as the impact of symptoms associated with DRP, which can be distressing for individuals and their families.

Sildenafil Shows Potential as Alzheimer Disease Preventive Therapy

The therapy, already FDA-approved for individuals with pulmonary artery disease, was significantly associated with reduced likelihood of Alzheimer disease in both the 65-74 year range and those older than 75 years.

Pimavanserin in Dementia-Related Psychosis: Clive Ballard, MD

Ballard, a professor of age related diseases at University of Exeter, discussed the results from a recent trial of pimavanserin in dementia-related psychosis, and data presented at this year’s AAIC meeting.

Gamma Sensory Stimulation Safe for Mild-to-Moderate AD

Findings presented at AAIC 2021 found that long-term, daily treatment with non-invasive stimulation was both safe and well-tolerated in patients with Alzheimer disease.

ARIA Events Most Often Asymptomatic in Aducanumab Treatment

Pooled data from the phase 3 clinical development of aducanumab (Aduhelm; Biogen) suggest that ARIA remains a mostly asymptomatic problem, with MRI providing an effective way to monitor events.

Gemfibrozil Shows Promise in Predementia Alzheimer Disease Metabolic and CVD Outcomes

The agent, which is FDA-approved for hyperlipidemia, showed significant improvements in plasma glucose, lipid levels, and trends in cardiovascular imaging biomarkers.

Ongoing Research in MS Differentiation: Oliver Tobin, MBBCh, BAO, PhD

The associate professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic Rochester discusses technological advancements and research efforts in relation to differential multiple sclerosis.

Biomarkers and MRI Use in Patients With MS: Oliver Tobin, MBBCh, BAO, PhD

The associate professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic Rochester, commented on biomarkers for identifying MS in patients, as well as the significance of new MS consensus guidelines.

Identifying Atypical Forms, Presentations of Demyelinating Disease: Oliver Tobin, MBBCh, BAO, PhD

The associate professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic Rochester discusses the importance of alternative diagnoses and rarer presentations of MS, in order to avoid misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatment for patients.

Mayo Clinic: Institutional Perspectives in Neurology, Chaired by Brian G. Weinshenker, MD

Chaired by Brian G. Weinshenker, MD, the presentations also feature Mayo Clinic experts W. Oliver Tobin, MBBCh, BAO, PhD; Jessica Stulc, MD, MPH; and Orhun H. Kantarci, MD. [WATCH TIME: 1 hour, 30 minutes]

Nerve Blocks for the Treatment of COVID-19 Headache: Aarushi Suneja, MD

The headache fellow at Cleveland Clinic outlined the design and reasoning for a new study assessing nerve blocks to treat COVID-19 headache.

Improving Use of Telemedicine in Minority Communities: Aarushi Suneja, MD; Zubair Ahmed, MD

The duo from Cleveland Clinic discussed their presentation from AHS 2021 regarding the effects of COVID-19 on access to telemedicine visits among minorities.