2 days ago
Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease in which subtle symptoms of dementia gradually worsen over time. Clinicians are now encouraged to diagnose AD in early stages; not only can early treatment slow disease progression, but nearly 80% of Americans want to know whether they have AD before symptoms interfere with daily activities.
In this panel ReCAP, Dr Michael Rafii, of University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Dr Salvatore Napoli, of Neurology Center of New England, Foxborough, Massachusetts, discuss how early diagnosis of AD is essential because new disease-modifying therapies are most effective in early-stage AD.
They explain that effective assessment begins with a structured clinical interview and neurologic exam, followed by a brief cognitive screening. If these results suggest mild cognitive impairment, further steps include a baseline brain MRI to rule out other causes.
The experts discuss how advancements in Alzheimer's disease treatment have highlighted the importance of confirming amyloid buildup as a prerequisite for initiating certain therapies. Specifically, antiamyloid monoclonal antibody infusions, such as bimonthly lecanemab and monthly donanemab, require biomarker evidence of amyloid pathology in patients with early AD.
Finally, the panelists emphasize the importance of real-world data collection, highlighted by ALZ-NET, a national registry designed to gather clinical, imaging, and safety data from patients with memory concerns or those receiving new AD therapies.
