Management of Disease Modifying Interventions in Alzheimer's
This workshop is organized by Dr. Pedro Rosa-Neto, MD, PhD, from The Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, and The Neuro. The event will focus on discussing the indications, prescription, and management of adverse events associated with anti-amyloid therapy using monoclonal antibodies.
The workshop will provide valuable insights into the latest treatment strategies and guidelines, aiming to equip healthcare researchers and professionals with the necessary tools to manage and prescribe anti-amyloid therapies effectively. Additionally, it will help enhance the knowledge and skills required to handle adverse effects associated with these treatments.
For virtual attendance, click here
Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine
Talk: Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Symptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease
Abstract: The early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with cognitive impairment is more important than ever now that disease-modifying treatments are becoming available. This lecture will describe how to diagnose early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease by integrating clinical information with biomarker tests. The advantages and disadvantages of amyloid PET, CSF biomarkers, and new blood biomarkers will be reviewed with a focus on clinical blood biomarker tests. Further, the identification, treatment, and monitoring of appropriate patients for anti-amyloid treatments will be discussed. Real-world data and experience with biomarker testing and anti-amyloid treatments from the Washington University Memory Diagnostic Center will be detailed.
Bio: Dr. Schindler is a clinical neurologist and dementia specialist. Dr. Schindler is also trained as a neuroscientist and her overall research goal is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer disease and related disorders. Dr. Schindler's recent research has been on developing and testing fluid (blood and CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer disease and is currently working towards predicting if and when cognitively normal individuals will develop symptoms of Alzheimer disease dementia based on a single blood or CSF sample and individual characteristics.
Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Talk: Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA)
Abstract: Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) are imaging changes associated with beta-amyloid plaque-lowering monoclonal antibodies for treatment of early clinical stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that can be observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ARIA-E refers to vasogenic edema in the brain parenchyma and/or leptomeningeal/subpial sulcal effusion; ARIA-H refers to hemosiderin deposits including cerebral microhemorrhage and localized superficial siderosis. ARIA can result in symptomatic adverse events and poor outcomes if not detected, monitored and managed through timely, coordinated and appropriate practices. A spectrum of radiographic and clinical presentations of ARIA have been observed and with the emerging availability of lecanemab and donanemab there is an important need for ARIA awareness, coordination and proficiency among a diversity of clinicians and practice settings. This presentation will discuss current understanding and learnings about the nature and factors associated with ARIA; the varied radiographic and clinical presentations of ARIA; and detection, monitoring and management strategies for that can increase knowledge and proficiency for clinicians and researchers to care for persons treated with AD amyloid plaque-lowering monoclonal antibodies.
Bio: Dr. Atri is an internationally renowned cognitive neurologist, neuroscientist, clinical researcher and educator in the fields of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Related Dementias (ADRD). Dr. Atri is Chief Medical Officer of Banner Research (Banner Alzheimer’s Institutes, Phoenix and Tucson) and Director of the Banner Sun Health Research Institute (Sun City), AZ. He serves as Associate Director of the NIA/NIH-funded Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (AZ-ADRC), Leader of the AZ-ADRC Clinical Core, and Co-Leader of the Biomarker Core; and on the part-time faculty at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA. He specializes in diagnostics, experimental therapeutics and care of individuals with cognitive disorders and dementia, particularly individuals with early-stage impairments and early-onset AD/ADRD. Dr. Atri holds advanced degrees from the University of CA, Los Angeles (UCLA Ph.D. Biomathematics), University of CA, San Francisco (UCSF M.D.) and Harvard Medical School (M.M.Sc.). He completed internship (medicine)/residency(neurology) at the Harvard Massachusetts General (MGH)-Brigham programs; post-graduate training and clinical/research fellowships at MGH/HMS (Cognitive Neurology & Dementias), Boston University (Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Experimental Therapeutics); and served on the faculty of MGH for 15 years. His research and education focus on early detection, risk reduction, experimental therapeutics, global impact and best care practices in AD/ADRD. Dr. Atri is a widely published and grant-funded researcher and clinician-educator who serves in a leadership capacity on several global AD/ADRD experimental therapeutics and biomarker programs, clinical trials consortia, and ADRD-related workgroups, including as co-chair of the U.S. Alzheimer’s Association national clinical practice guidelines workgroup on the evaluation of suspected cognitive impairment and AD/ADRD, and as chair of the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) Medical Scientific Advisory Panel.
Serge Gauthier, MD
McGill Dementia Education Program, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University
Talk: Canada’s Preparedness for the Use of Biomarkers and Disease-Modifying Drugs
Bio: Dr. Serge Gauthier is Academic Co-Lead of the Dementia Education Program and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery and Department of Psychiatry at McGill University. He is a clinical neurologist specializing in the development of new tools for diagnosis and treatments for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. He completed his medical studies at the Université de Montréal, his neurology training at McGill University, and a research Fellowship at Prof. Theodore L. Sourkes laboratory, Allen Memorial Institute, Montreal. Dr. Gauthier was a clinical investigator and staff neurologist at the Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute (The Neuro) from 1976-1986. He was the Director of the McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging (MCSA) from 1986 to 1997, and Director of the Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Research Unit of the MCSA until 2021. He was also a Senior Scientist of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Development (CIHR-RxD) from 1997 to 2007.
Programme
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
1:00 |
Welcome & Opening Remarks Pedro Rosa-Neto, MD, PhD, The Douglas Research Centre, McGill University |
Moderator: Serge Gauthier, MD, McGill Dementia Education Program, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University | |
1:15 |
Killam Seminar courtesy of The Killam Trusts Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Symptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD, Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis |
2:15 | Refreshment Pause |
2:45 |
Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA) Alireza Atri, MD, PhD, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Harvard Medical School |
3:45 |
Canada’s Preparedness for the Use of Biomarkers and Disease-Modifying Drugs Serge Gauthier, MD, McGill Dementia Education Program, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University |
4:05 | Panel Q&A |
4:35 |
Closing Remarks Pedro Rosa-Neto, MD, PhD, The Douglas Research Centre, McGill University |
4:45 | Cocktail & Networking |
Sponsors
Organizing Committee
Pedro Rosa-Neto
Director, Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Douglas Research Centre
Debbie Rashcovsky
Neuro Events Team Lead