AD/PD™ 2025
April 1-5, 2025 | Vienna, Austria
Finally, PET Tracers For α-Synuclein Yield Signal in Idiopathic Parkinson’s
“Several tracers detect the low level of α-synuclein aggregates present in sporadic disease. None are ready for clinical use. ”New Partnership Forms to Harness AI for Alzheimer’s Research
“Drawing in researchers in academia, pharma, and AI companies, a nascent consortium aims to speed up discoveries in complex diseases. Smaller AI projects report data at AD/PD.”Moving Target: New Biology Casts TREM2 as a Shifty Mark
“TREM2 on plaque-associated microglia becomes desensitized to agonist antibodies. The receptor may also calm hyperactive neurons.”TREM2: A Chill Pill for Neurons?
“In mouse models, the microglial receptor counteracts hyperexcitability. Both transmembrane and soluble TREM2 seem involved.”Trialists Grapple with How to Outsmart TREM2
“After one TREM2 agonist antibody nose-planted, a new batch of therapies appear safe so far in first-in-human data. The drugs exert different effects on the receptor and soluble TREM2.”Tau PET as Progression Marker: It’s the Spread, Not the Brightness
“The spatial extent of tau pathology better correlates with disease severity, and stages disease more accurately, than does tangle load.”Looking Good: Immunoassays for Blood Markers
“Fully automated test may be as accurate as mass spec, and more scalable.”Blood Tests: Not Just for the Impaired?
“Real-world data hints that plasma markers can pick up Alzheimer’s pathology before people have memory complaints.”Will We Soon Stage Alzheimer’s With Plasma Markers?
“Tau fragments, alone or with other proteins, help identify people with lots of tangles. This may help select people for trials or therapy.”Trontinemab Fuels Hope for Brain Shuttle Lift-Off
“The TfR-targeted, anti-Aβ antibody swiftly axed amyloid throughout the brain. It caused little ARIA, but lots of infusion reactions.”Leqembi in the Clinic: So Far, ARIA Echoes Trials
“At AD/PD, clinicians from the U.S. and Israel shared data from a few hundred patients, reporting ARIA rates equal to, or lower than, those in trials.” “Antigens from the brain can tickle T cells in cervical lymph nodes, instigating a cytotoxic invasion. With ApoE4, more T cells enter.”Therapies Aim to Tame T Cells in the Brain
“At AD/PD, a handful of early trials showcased approaches to counteract harmful cytotoxic T cell responses in AD and related diseases.”Breaking the Spell: Checkpoint Inhibitors Help Microglia Snap Out of It
Next Act for Amyloid Immunotherapy: Be Safer, Target Tau, Too
“Eisai tests concurrent Aβ and tau immunotherapy in sporadic AD. Under-the-skin ‘remy’ avoids donanemab’s immunogenicity.”AD/PD™ 2024
March 5-9, 2024 | Lisbon, Portugal
AD/PD 2024 Conference Highlights the Biological Era of Parkinson’s Disease
The AD/PD 2024 Conference highlighted significant advances in Parkinson’s research, emphasizing the shift into the “biological era” of the disease. The conference underscored the importance of biomarkers and imaging in developing therapies and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate progress in understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases.
BioWorld
Discover the latest breakthroughs in neurodegenerative disease research showcased at the AD/PD 2024 Conference. From innovative murine models to promising vaccines targeting α-synuclein for Parkinson’s and novel Alzheimer’s treatments, explore cutting-edge advancements in the field.
Fast Plaque Clearance with Little ARIA? So Teases Trontinemab at AD/PD 2024
“In a small dose-finding study, Roche’s new brain-shuttle-based anti-amyloid antibody mopped up nearly all plaques in three months, without triggering edema.”
TauRx Parses Subgroups to Make the Case for Methylene Blue Derivative, Again
“Based on exploratory endpoints and post hoc analyses, TauRx claims HMTM benefits a subgroup of participants with MCI. Trialists are unconvinced.”
At ADPD, Scientists Dissect the Ins and Outs of Tau Propagation
“New findings shed light on the intracellular processes that dictate tau seeding inside and between cells, and which forms are toxic to neurons.”
Could Sumoylation Take Down Tangles?
“The addition of SUMO2 to tau prevents its phosphorylation and aggregation, preserving synapses and memory in tauopathy mouse models.”
AD/PD™ 2023
March 28 – April 1, 2023 | Gothenburg, Sweden
Precision Medicine in Alzheimer’s Disease – The Time Is Now! Highlights from the AD/PD 2023 Conference
“The Genedata Profiler team attended the conference to understand the opportunities and hurdles in the field to best serve this fast-evolving therapeutic landscape.”
Tau Chimeras Do Make Fibrils—and a Chaperone Rips Them Apart
“For almost 10 years, scientists around the world have been using cell-based fluorescent sensors to study the protofibrils that spawn neurofibrillary tangles in tauopathies. Some have claimed the tau chimeras seeded in these cells cannot twist into the same type of fibrils found in the brain. Not so, said Sarah Shahmoradian, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases 2023, held March 28 to April 1 in Gothenburg.”
Cuban science present at the most important global event on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
“This event had more than 4,000 participants, from 62 countries, mostly from the United States and Europe. By representing Cuba in this important scenario of world leaders in neurodegenerative diseases, it recognizes the value of science made in the Caribbean nation.
Currently, and for the first time in the field of dementia in Cuba, it is developing a clinical trial with an advanced level of precision focused on Alzheimer’s disease.”
First Hit on Aggregated Tau: Antisense Oligonucleotide Lowers Tangles
“At the International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, held March 28 to April 1 in Gothenburg, Sweden, Biogen researchers debuted the first data showing clearance of tau tangles in the brains of people with AD.”
Pumping Up Progranulin: Scientists Show New Efforts to Get it Done
“In people with deleterious variants of the progranulin gene, the halving of its encoded protein that results from these mutations leads to frontotemporal dementia. This comparatively straightforward haploinsufficiency mechanism casts progranulin restoration as a leading therapeutic target, and a handful of progranulin-boosting therapies have already made their way into clinical trials. At AD/PD, scientists presented preclinical data on potential therapies coming down the pike.”
New Data Presented at AD/PD™ 2023 Show Biogen’s BIIB080 (MAPT ASO) Substantially Reduced Tau Protein Levels in Patients with Early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease
“Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) reported new promising Phase 1b clinical data showing that the investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy, BIIB080, reduced soluble tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a dose-dependent and sustained manner in patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD).”
Altoida Announces Upcoming Poster Presentations at AD/PD 2023
“Altoida, Inc., a precision neurology company pioneering non-invasive brain health measurement and neurological disease diagnostics with AI and augmented reality (AR), today announced two poster presentations at the upcoming AD/PD™ 2023 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders, on March 28–April 1, 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden.”
Eisai Presented New Analyses of Aria And QOL on Lecanemab In Clarity Ad At The AD/PD™ 2023 Annual Meeting
“Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) and Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB, Corporate headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, CEO: Christopher A. Viehbacher, “Biogen”) announced today that Eisai presented new analyses on amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) with the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications, isolated ARIA-H, and caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (QOL), from the results of Eisai’s Phase 3 Clarity AD study of lecanemab (generic name, U.S. brand name: LEQEMBI™), an anti-amyloid-β (Aβ) protofibril* antibody, at the 2023 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases annual meeting AD/PD™.”
BioArctic: New lecanemab-data presented at the AD/PD™ 2023 conference
“BioArctic AB (publ) (NASDAQ Stockholm: BIOA B) and its partner Eisai has presented new findings on lecanemab (generic name, U.S. brand name: LEQEMBI™), an anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), at the 2023 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders (AD/PD™).”
AC Immune at AD/PD™ 2023 to Present New Clinical and Preclinical Data from its Precision Medicine Pipeline
“The ten presentations during this AD/PDTM conference demonstrate AC Immune’s progress towards our over-arching goal, which is to shift the treatment paradigm towards Precision Medicine and disease prevention.”
AD/PD™ 2022
March 15-20, 2022 | Barcelona, Spain
ALZFORUM CONFERENCE COVERAGE SERIES
Gantenerumab Prevention Trial in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Begins
“Taking a stab at secondary prevention, the four-year Phase 3 trial will assess the antibody’s ability to slow slippage in 1,200 cognitively healthy, amyloid-positive people.”
TAPAS Anyone? PyroGlu-Aβ Vaccine Shrinks Plaques in Mice
“At the 16th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases held in Barcelona, Spain, and online, Thomas Bayer, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany, described how the new antibody TAP01 binds a β-hairpin structure in soluble pyroGlu-Aβ.”
In First for the Field, α-Synuclein PET. Only for Multiple System Atrophy
“A new tracer detects α-synuclein aggregates in people with multiple system atrophy. Binding is weak, and undetectable in people with other synucleinopathies.”
New Data from Biogen Supports Aduhelm’s Clinical Effectiveness
Biomarkers: a Beacon of Hope for the Future of Alzheimer’s
“AD/PD™ showcased the latest research from the brightest scientists on the subjects. There was a variety of research, but one theme stood out: the promising nature of using biomarkers to diagnose and create personalized treatment plans for Alzheimer’s patients.”
ProMIS Neurosciences Presents Preclinical Results of its Experimental Alzheimer’s Vaccine at the 2022 International AD/PDTM Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders
Diadem Presents Data at AD/PD™ 2022 International Conference Demonstrating Its New AlzoSure® Confirm Blood Test Has the Potential to Accurately Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease
Modern Age of Alzheimer’s Research on Display at 2022 International Conference
Cortexyme, SQZ, Others Present New Insights into Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Latest Findings On Lecanemab – Clinical Efficacy, Aria Rates, Biomarkers Relationship To Clinical Outcomes And Dosing Regimens – Presented At AD/PD™ 2022 Annual Meeting
Athira Pharma Presents Study Overview and Baseline Data from ACT-AD Phase 2 Trial of Fosgonimeton in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease at the 2022 AD/PD™ Congress
New Alzheimer’s Insights: Potential Role of Lithium, Correlation to Naps
AlzeCure Presents New Data at AD/PD Meeting on NeuroRestore’s Positive Effect on Mitochondrial Function
AD/PD™ 2021
March 9-14, 2021 | Virtual Conference
Donanemab Confirms: Clearing Plaques Slows Decline—By a Bit
“The Phase 2 trial provides the strongest evidence yet that removing most amyloid from the brain bolsters cognition, although the benefit is small.”
Astroglial Markers Poised for Stardom?
“A new PET tracer. Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein. Two new, promising surrogates for astrogliosis are filling in the Alzheimer’s biomarker toolbox. Both reflect Aβ amyloid better than they do tau tangles.”
Shuttle Unloads More Gantenerumab Into the Brain
“New data presented at the AD/PD conference offer the first evidence that a brain-shuttle strategy can work in people; the lecanemab and aducanumab antibody programs offer small updates.”
N-Terminal Tau Antibodies Fade, Mid-Domain Ones Push to the Fore
“The field is shifting from targeting tau’s tips to its mid-region, especially where tau binds microtubules. Several new candidates are in the clinic; whether the strategy will work remains to be seen.”
Where to Now, Phospho-Tau?
“Researchers envision p-tau-based blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease within a few years, but maybe not a stand-alone test.”
Clinicians from Developing Nations Discuss Dementia in Their Populations
“As life expectancy increases in countries such as Nigeria, Brazil, China, and others, so does the number of people with dementia. How to provide modern care for them?”
New Mouse Models Better Mimic Tauopathy, Alzheimer’s
“Two mouse models presented at AD/PD may hand scientists more translationally relevant tools to explore LOAD pathophysiology and treatment. The tricks: targeted replacement and knocking in multiple GWAS variants.”
For α-Synuclein Immunotherapy, Is Going Later the Key?
“In the negative Phase 2 trial of prasinezumab, populations with more rapid decline benefited; this informed the design of a new Phase 2b study.”
COVID-19 Worsens Neurological Problems, Delirium
“At AD/PD 2021, clinicians discussed neurological symptoms and brain tissue damage in older people who died from COVID-19.”
Clinical Trials in COVID Era: How To Keep Moving Forward
“By shifting to home nursing and telemedicine, clinical researchers kept inching ahead during lockdowns.”
Drop of Hope? No Cognitive Worsening on BACE Inhibitor
“Data from Phase 3 trials of elenbecestat show no harm to cognition, leaving open a chance that the drugs could be used safely in the future.”
“New research implicates IL-6 signaling and even Aβ42 itself as BACE targets, complicating efforts to resurrect BACE inhibitors at a low dose.”
Does Synchronizing Brain Waves Bring Harmony?
“Based on early stage trials, scientists at AD/PD said that light and sound can promote neuronal communication, calm immune cells, and slow brain atrophy. On cognitive outcomes, the jury is still out.”
At AD/PD: More Evidence on Herpes and Alzheimer’s Disease
“Data from France and Germany bolster the proposed link between herpes virus and Alzheimer’s. Infection upped risk in ApoE4 carriers, damaged brain tissue, and correlated with neurodegeneration markers in the CSF.”
In Pilot Study, Electric Therapy Improves Memory
“At AD/PD, researchers reported that low-intensity electric current sent through the brain at gamma frequency restored cholinergic transmission and boosted short-term memory.”
AD/PD™ 2019
March 26-31, 2019 | Lisbon, Portugal
Cure in Mind, Cure in Sight – Bridging Eye and Brain Research
ALZFORUM CONFERENCE COVERAGE SERIES
“Held in romantically beautiful Lisbon, this AD/PD was the biggest thus far, drawing 3,982 attendees from 73 countries”
At AD/PD Conference, New Alzheimer’s Genes Reinforce Known Pathways
“After years of grunt work on next-gen sequencing and expression analysis, geneticists are finally reaping results. The new genes underscore the role of known pathways and cell types in disease.”
Expression, Expression, Expression—Time to Get on Board with eQTLs
“A tool of modern genetics, expression studies link GWAS hits to specific cell types, providing clues to pathogenesis. Microglia come up again and again.”
APP Upp: Mutation Nixes Six Amino Acids from Aβ, Spurs Aggregation
“Presented at AD/PD, the discovery by scientists in Uppsala is the first APP deletion found to cause Alzheimer’s disease. The same group found the Swedish and Arctic APP mutations.”
Parsing How Alzheimer’s Genetic Risk Works Through Microglia
“Scientists at AD/PD 2019 see a Goldilocks of microglial activation: Both too little and too much is bad in an injured brain. How could a therapy make it just right?”
Could CD33 Be the Microglial Target for Stimulating Phagocytosis?
“Inhibiting the receptor activates microglia to mop up debris, making CD33 an attractive therapeutic target.”
Could Greasing the Wheels of Lipid Processing Treat Alzheimer’s?
“Speakers at AD/PD 2019 reported that AD risk factors mess up lipid metabolism in glial cells. In cellular models, speeding the clearance of fats lessened pathology.”
Chimeric Mice: Can They Model Human Microglial Responses?
“By slipping human microglia inside the mouse brain, researchers hope to better monitor their response to pathologies, such as Aβ.”
Spitting, Sniffing: Is This How We Will Dx Parkinson’s?
“Scientists are probing saliva and skin secretions for telltale signs of Parkinson’s disease. Their prize? A diagnostic test at the pre-motor stage.”
ARIAS: Zooming in On Eye-based Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s
“Scientists know that the retina changes in people with preclinical AD; alas, there is neither consensus nor convergence in the field of retinal imaging. An upcoming initiative aims to determine which measures are most robust.”
On The Docket at AD/PD: The Many Crimes of ApoE4
“Microglia cleanup, mitophagy, axonal plasticity, blood-brain barrier. A renewed focus on ApoE4 is revealing new ways in which this isoform renders the brain vulnerable to Alzheimer’s.”
Off-Balance Endocytosis Lays Groundwork for Disease
“By aging cultured neurons and manipulating them to stimulate endocytosis or interfere with vesicle release, researchers can bring about characteristics of Alzheimer’s—without adding APP or Aβ.”
Antibodies Against Microglial Receptors TREM2 and CD33 Head to Trials
“As data increasingly blame the microglia response as a driving force in Alzheimer’s disease, researchers are investigating whether tempering these cells will aid cognition.”
Do Immune Cells Promote the Spread of α-Synuclein Pathology?
“At AD/PD 2019, scientists implicated both peripheral and central innate immunity in promoting propagation.”
Forget Fibrils: Lewy Pathology Is More Lipid Than Protein
“An electron microscopy study reveals a jumbled mess of membrane chunks and malfunctioning organelles, bound together by phosphorylated or truncated α-synuclein.”
Keep Your Enthusiasm? Scientists Process Brutal Trial Data
“We are learning” was the tenor of debate about the latest round of setbacks for anti-amyloid trials in symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease at a recent conference in Lisbon.”
BACE Inhibitors: Postmortem on One, Live Updates on Two
“Lanabecestat, elenbecestat, and umibecestat all showed data at the AD/PD conference in Lisbon. Learn what definitely doesn’t work and what might yet.”
Human Microglia Make Themselves at Home in Mouse Brain
“Analysis of a chimeric mouse shows that the cells express the same genes they do in the human brain, survey their environment, and respond to injuries and amyloid.”