Dementia and Alzheimer Disease

In this episode of MEDcast, expert geriatric psychiatrist and neurologist delve into the recent advances in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. We will discuss treatments that are on the cusp of FDA approval and others that are coming down the pipeline.

In this episode of MEDcast, expert geriatric psychiatrist and neurologist delve into the recent advances in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. We will discuss treatments that are on the cusp of FDA approval and others that are coming down the pipeline.

Expert geriatric psychiatrists explore a frequently encountered symptom in Alzheimer’s disease, agitation. We will discuss its impact on patient’s and care giver’s quality of life, the current standard of care and the first FDA approved agent for treatment of agitation symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.

New research was found on alcohol consumption as a modifiable risk factor in dementia, in a study out of South Korea.

In a population-based cohort study in China, researchers found that a healthy lifestyle contributed to slower declines in memory for older adults.

Research suggests disparities between racial and ethnic groups exist among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Research has highlighted new information for the identification of risk factors for dementia.

The Lumipulse G β-Amyloid Ratio is the first in vitro diagnostic test for early detection of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimers disease.

The investigators generated a list of 250 genes that are known to regulate individual reactions within the component pathways of the Alzheimer Disease Aberrant Metabolism (ADAM) network.

Researchers examine how biomarkers are differentially mapped to MRI measures of cortical thickness.

At the 76-week mark, reductions in the amyloid plaque level were 85.06 centiloids with donanemab than with placebo.

Alector’s announcement about the INVOKE-2 study follows a similar update regarding its INFRONT-3 study for frontotemporal dementia.

The Cassava Sciences agent showed 6-month improvements in both ADAS-Cog and NPI scores, and a phase 3 trial is expected to begin in late 2021.

Fewer patients who received masitinib 4.5 mg/kg/day reached severe dementia stage.

Researchers from USC propose a direct neurotoxic effect of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm.

After a sudden reversal and complex analyses, aducanumab’s future rests in the hands of the FDA while the community stands split on if the available data are enough to justify an approval.

AXS-05 significantly relieved agitation, demonstrating a change from baseline in the CMAI total score of 15.4 compared to 11.5 for the placebo.

The findings of this multicenter cohort may have implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and disease monitoring, as well as for clinical trials targeting disease-specific proteins in DLB.

The treatment could also be used for Alzheimer disease and mid-stage Huntington disease for patients who suffer from greater cognitive deficits.

Sumifilam could be the first Alzheimer treatment to improve several biomarkers.

Investigators found a 22% reduction in clinical decline at the 78-week cutoff in the intent to treat population in EMERGE who received high-dose aducanumab, with a similar reduction seen in the opportunity to complete population.

Three studies presented during the AAIC 2020 annual meeting show how frequent influenza vaccination help promote a gene-dependent reduction of Alzheimer disease by up to 40%.

As of February, 121 unique therapies are involved in clinical trials for Alzheimer disease, with putative disease-modifying agents targeting disease onset or progression accounting for the largest number.

Those who received the agent in EMERGE reported a significant slowing of decline on measures of cognition and function such as memory, orientation, and language, as well as for activities of daily living.

Those with ≥150 min per week in moderated or vigorous activities were low risk while those with less than 150 or sedentary activity were higher risk.