Improving Alzheimer’s Disease Management

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

The face of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis and management is rapidly changing. A growing understanding of AD pathophysiology has shaped research of targeted therapies and helped clinicians better understand the causes of the disease and the utility of biomarkers. Though cognitive testing is still a critical component of diagnosis, it no longer stands alone. Biomarkers are increasingly incorporated into practice to aid in diagnosis of MCI and AD and to determine patient eligibility for recently approved targeted antiamyloid therapies. These therapies require novel clinical approaches and changes to clinic infrastructure, which can be challenging to implement. Drs Douglas Galasko and Marwan Sabbagh review recent pathophysiologic outlooks in AD, utility of biomarkers, use of antiamyloid therapies, and real-world challenges and successes in clinic infrastructure changes made to facilitate administration of novel therapies.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is designed to educate a primary audience of neurology clinicians, as well as primary care and geriatricians involved in the management of patients with MCI or early-stage AD.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better prepared to:

• Describe clinically relevant aspects of AD pathophysiology, including amyloid β and tau
• Evaluate patients with mild cognitive impairment or AD using cognitive scales, biomarker imaging, clinical examination, and patient/caregiver interviews
• Review clinical trial data, challenges, and future directions of targeted therapies for early AD
• Initiate targeted therapy in eligible patients with early-stage AD

PHYSICIAN ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

Integritas Communications is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

PHYSICIAN CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

Integritas designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ANCC CREDIT

The ANCC’s Commission on Accreditation recognizes educational activities that are approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ by providers who are accredited by the ACCME to award credit to learners. This reciprocity agreement allows nurses and nurse practitioners to use AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ as approved ANCC contact hours for license renewal.

INSTRUCTIONS TO RECEIVE CREDIT

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must:

1. Read the educational objectives, accreditation information, and faculty disclosures at the beginning of this activity.
2. Complete the Preactivity Questions.
3. Review the activity content.
4. Achieve a grade of at least 70% on the Postactivity Test Questions and complete the Evaluation.

INTEGRITAS CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information about the approval of this program, please contact Integritas at info@exchangecme.com.

DISCLOSURES OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Integritas adheres to the policies and guidelines, including the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE, set forth to providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and all other professional organizations, as applicable, stating those activities where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous. All persons in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education program provided by Integritas are required to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible company within the past 24 months to Integritas.  All financial relationships reported are identified as relevant and mitigated by Integritas in accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE in advance of delivery of the activity to learners. The content of this activity was vetted by Integritas to assure objectivity and that the activity is free of commercial bias.  

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated. 

The faculty have the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies:

Douglas Galasko, MD -  Consulting Fees: Artery Therapeutics, Eisai, GE Healthcare

Marwan N. Sabbagh, MD, FAAN, FANA - Consulting Fees: Anavex, Cognito Therapeutics, Corium, Eisai, Lilly, NeuroTherapia, KeiferRx, Novo Nordisk, Prothena, Roche-Genentech, Signant Health, Synaptogenix, T3D; Ownership Interest (stock options): Alzheon, Athira, Lighthouse Pharmaceuticals, NeuroReserve, NeuroTau, Optimal Cognitive Health Company, Reservoir Neuroscience, Seq BioMarque, TransDermix, uMethod Health, Versanum; Royalties: Humanix; Board of Director: EIP Pharma

The Integritas Communications planners and managers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 

DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED USE

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Integritas does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.  

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

DISCLAIMER

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.