Part 1: Suspicion, Identification, and Evaluation of Patients Who May Have Early Alzheimer’s Disease Neurobiology

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex condition to diagnose and treat due to its significant overlap in symptoms and even pathological elements with other conditions. Notably, only half of AD cases are diagnosed and, when they are, diagnosis typically occurs several years following symptom onset. These issues only worsen for patients evaluated during earlier stages of AD. Now that disease-modifying therapies (DMT) specifically targeting early AD pathology are beginning to enter the therapeutic armamentarium, early diagnosis is becoming more critical than ever. To encourage earlier and more successful identification of these patients, this activity will highlight key clues to the presence of early cognitive impairment due to AD and best practices for its evaluation in the primary care setting such that patients can be promptly started on appropriate care paths.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for general practice and internal medicine physicians, geriatricians, advanced practice professionals, pharmacists, and other clinicians involved in the recognition and evaluation of cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize subtle clinical indicators of early cognitive impairment and their distinction from age-related cognitive decline to more effectively identify appropriate candidates for formal cognitive testing
  • Appraise the utility of available clinical assessment scales in evaluating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the implications of their results to ensure patients are optimally evaluated and started on the best care path

   James E. Galvin, MD, MPH (Moderator & Chair)
   Professor of Neurology
   Director, Comprehensive Program for Brain Health
   University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
   Miami, FL

 

 

    Charles P. Vega, MD
    Clinical Professor, Family Medicine
    Associate Dean, School of Medicine
    University of California, Irvine
    Orange, CA

 

 

    Malaz A. Boustani, MD, MPH
    Director, Senior Care Innovation Eskenazi Health
    Richard M. Fairbanks Professor of Aging Research
    Indiana University School of Medicine
    Indianapolis, IN

Credit for this program has expired. The accreditation information below is based on the activity release date.

This activity is jointly provided by Purdue University College of Pharmacy Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (Purdue) and Efficient LLC.

 

Designation Statement

Physicians

This enduring activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Purdue University College of Pharmacy and Efficient, LLC. Purdue University is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
 
Purdue University College of Pharmacy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of .5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
 

Nurses

Purdue University Continuing Nursing Education is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This activity is approved for .5 contact hours.

Physician Assistants

This activity has been reviewed by the AAPA Review Panel and is compliant with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 0.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. Approval is valid from 2/28/2023 to 2/27/2024. AAPA reference number: CME-208983.
 

Pharmacists

Purdue University College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This is a knowledge based, continuing education activity of Purdue University, an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

Universal Activity Number (UAN): 0018-9999-23-011-H01-P, .5 contact hours (.05 CEU). Release Date: 02/28/2023  Expiration Date: 02/28/2024

Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Policy:

To ensure compliance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, Purdue University requires that all individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflicts of interest identified are thoroughly assessed by Purdue University to ensure fair balance, scientific rigor, and accepted patient care recommendations of the educational activity.

All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the start of the activity.

None of the planners, reviewers, Efficient, LLC staff, and Purdue University College of Pharmacy staff have relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose unless listed below.

Accredited Provider Disclosures

Faculty Disclosures

Dr. Galvin:
Speakers’ Bureau: Alpha Cognition, Biogen, Cognivue, Eisai, Genentech, Roche
 
Dr. Vega:
Consulting Fees: GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson and Johnson
 
Dr. Boustani:
Ownership Interest/Shareholder: Blue Agilis, Inc, DigiCare Realized, PPHM, LLC, RestUP, LLC
Speakers’ Bureau: Acadia, Biogen, Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, Merck
Grants/Research Support: Merck
Consulting Fees: Eisai, Genentech
 

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do 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 the planners. 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 or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Commercial Supporter

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche group.

Available Credit

0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
0.50 AAPA Category 1 CME Credits
0.50 CNE Contact Hours
0.50 CE for Pharmacists

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

To access the remainder of the series, click here: https://activities.efficientcme.com/content/AD-Neurobiology