Next Steps in Alzheimer Disease Research: Clive Ballard, MD

“I’m looking forward to how all of these emerging technologies [will] come together in a way that allows us to create merged pathways for community assessment and triage.”

In conversation with NeurologyLive, Clive Ballard, MD, pro-vice chancellor and executive dean for medicine, professor of age-related diseases, University of Exeter, discussed the next steps in research for Alzheimer disease (AD) and other forms of dementia. Ballard also commented on safety data from the HARMONY study (NCT03325556), which were presented at the 2021 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) and outlined the efficacy of pimavanserin (Nuplazid; Acadia) in treating dementia-related psychosis .^1,2 

Ballard spoke on upcoming areas of interest, especially the development of remote technologies to assess for risk factors in a more cost-effective manner. Identifying patients that would benefit from more detailed assessment would be an initial step, Ballard said, followed by employment of a digital approach to effectively reach a wider community. Blood-based biomarkers offer promise for cost-effective assessment, as opposed to lumbar punctures or positron emission tomography scans. 

For more coverage of AAIC 2021, click here.

REFERENCES

1. Demos G, Foff EP, McEvoy B, Skoog B. Pimavanserin and concomitant antidementia medication use in patients with neurodegenerative and/or neurovascular disorders: safety outcomes from pooled clinical data and the HARMONY study. Presented at: AAIC 2021; Denver, Colorado; July 26-30. Poster 57661. 
2. Tariot P, Cummings JL, Soto-Martin ME, et al. Trial of pimavanserin in dementia-related psychosis. N Engl J Med. 2021; 385:309-319. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2034634