Over 8,500 people attended AAIC in Philadelphia last week. What was on everyone’s minds leaving AAIC 2024? Being Patient’s Lauren Fetten asked experts, researchers, and students on the ground for their biggest takeaways.
In Philadelphia last week, researchers from leading universities, working professionals at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, Alzheimer’s advocates, and medical professionals gathered at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. The event brought together over 8,500 individuals under a common goal to elevate the world’s understanding of Alzheimer’s and learn how to better support those living with the disease. Research presented ranged from new biomarker blood tests to applications for VR technology.
At the Pennsylvania Convention Center, attendees looked for any vacant space to connect with others about what they had worked on the past year and what their goals for the upcoming year are. The Pennsylvania Convention Center takes up multiple city blocks in Philadelphia’s Center City area and at any given hour last week one could see attendees hustling through its many entrances.
There was no shortage of events and possible learning opportunities as conference attendees fluttered from panels with leading medical professionals, poster presentations, cocktail receptions, and events hosted by the pharmaceutical industry’s leading companies, many of which are developing breakthrough therapeutics to treat Alzheimer’s.
While individuals left with varying key takeaways from AAIC, discussion surrounding blood testing as a diagnostic tool for Alzheimer’s was always within earshot at every corner you turned.
The CEOi (Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease) hosted a panel on Wednesday entitled “Pathways to Adoption: Translating Insights into Action for Diagnostic Innovations” and featured panelists including Dr. Suzanne Schindler, PhD, a clinical neurologist at Washington University in St. Louis.
“I think one of the biggest stories was that a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease was shown to significantly improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, not just in specialty care settings but also in primary care settings. The results were simultaneously published in JAMA,” said Schindler.
George Vradenburg, co-founder of nonprofit organization UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, noted that discussion around blood biomarkers was a source of excitement for him, as well.
“I think the biggest news to come out of AAIC is this continued evolution of blood biomarkers and digital cognitive assessments, the ability to detect, diagnose and treat people earlier in the course of disease at scale through our existing health systems,” said Vradenburg,
Throughout the conference hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students presented their research in the echoing main hall of the Convention Center.
Marianne Elegores, a poster presenter and undergraduate student at Ontario Tech University in Canada, noted that some of the new technologies at AAIC were directly connected to research she presented at the conference.
“As an undergrad [student], one of the biggest takeaways coming to AAIC is seeing all the new technologies relevant to my project,” said Elegores. “Right now I am studying clinical manifestations and biomarkers, so getting to see all of the new headsets, MRI scans, and virtual realities was pretty amazing to see.”
Beyond the ever present topic of the evolution of blood biomarkers, Morgan Hughes, a researcher at Mayo Clinic and poster presenter, noted she was struck by stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s dissipating in diverse communities.
“I think my biggest takeaway here at AAIC is that we are now starting to really break down that stigma of Alzheimer’s disease within the Black and African descent communities around the world and in America which I think is very impactful and very wonderful,” said Hughes.
The event, which serves as a forum to advance dementia science, is hosted within the United States or in a foreign country on alternating years. Next year, AAIC will take place in Toronto, Canada and prior to this year AAIC 2023 was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Our round-up of answers to the question, “What was biggest piece of news to come out of AAIC this week?”
Dr. Suzanne Schindler, an associate professor at the University of Washington in Saint Louis, is a clinical neurologist and neuroscientist who is focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. She also leads the Fluid Biomarker Core for the Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “I think one of the biggest stories was [that] a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease was shown to significantly improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, not just in specialty care settings, but also in primary care settings, and the results were simultaneously published in JAMA.” –Dr. Suzanne Schindler
George Vradenburg is the co-founder and chair of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and the organization’s sister organization, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. He has testified before Congress about the global Alzheimer’s pandemic, and he is also a founding member of the World Dementia Council. “The news that came out of AAIC this week is the continued evolution of blood biomarkers and digital cognitive assessments, the ability to detect, diagnose, and treat people earlier in the course of the disease at scale through our existing health systems.” –George Vradenburg
Dr. Allyson Rosen, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, is a neuropsychologist and the director of dementia education at the Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the Palo Alto VAMC. “I don’t know that I can say what the biggest news is, but it’s just so exciting to see how our field is going to be transformed. [That there are] blood tests that pick up the pathology in the brain and that we can do something about it. It’s so exciting to be able to connect with everyone [and talk] about building a new world for people living with dementia. It’s really wonderful.” –Dr. Allyson Rosen
Dr. Nirinjini Naidoo is a research associate professor in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on age-related changes in sleep and wake regulation. “One of the things we’re interested in is how sleep affects memory, especially in people with neurodegeneration and with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s well known that sleep loss and sleep disruption contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the things we are looking at is how one mitigates the effects of sleep disruption. In our study, we are basically looking at how chaperones, if administered to people or animals that are sleep-deprived, actually help improve memory loss. We hope this will be something that could be adapted for human use.” –Dr. Nirinjini Naidoo
Morgan Hughes is a Mayo Clinic student who presented her research at AAIC. “My biggest takeaway here at AAIC is that we are now starting to really break down that stigma of Alzheimer’s disease within the Black and African descent communities around the world and in America, which I think is very impactful and very wonderful.” –Morgan Hughes
Marianne Elegores is a Ontario Tech University student who presented her research at AAIC. “As an undergrad, one of [my] biggest takeaways coming to AAIC is seeing all the new technologies relevant to my project. Right now, I am studying clinical manifestations and biomarkers, so getting to see all of the new headsets, MRI scans, and virtual realities was pretty amazing.” -Marianne Elegores
Karen K. Tracy is the vice president of strategic alliances and integrated communications for The Gerontological Society of America. She oversees various programs such as the National Adult Vaccination Program, the Brain Health, Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia Initiative, and the Oral Health as an Essential Element of Health Aging Initiative. “I’m thrilled to hear some of the research on how great the blood-based biomarkers are [and] the opportunities for care pathways. The idea that care providers can get additional training is really exciting because, in this field, the carers are the ones that are carrying the biggest burden. If they can be better educated, better trained, and more integrated in overall care, it’s an exciting future.” –Karen K. Tracy
Katy Koop is a writer and theater artist based in Raleigh, NC.
