Drug Development.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) trials report a high screening failure rate (potentially eligible trial candidates who do not meet inclusion/exclusion criteria during screening) due to multiple factors including stringent eligibility criteria. Here, we report the main reasons for screening failure in the 12-week screening phase of the ongoing evoke (NCT04777396) and evoke+ (NCT04777409) trials of semaglutide in early AD.

Method: Key inclusion criteria were age 55-85 years; mild cognitive impairment due to AD (Clinical Dementia Rating [CDR] global score of 0.

Drug Development.

Background: Differences in patient characteristics across geographical regions may result in heterogeneity in clinical trial populations. evoke (NCT04777396) and evoke+ (NCT04777409) are two phase 3, multinational, randomised trials investigating semaglutide versus placebo in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) (early AD). We present baseline characteristics across the geographical regions in evoke/evoke+.

Drug Development.

Background: Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived brain organoids patterned towards the cerebral cortex are valuable models of interactions occurring in vivo in cortical tissue. We and others have used these cortical organoids to model dominantly inherited FTD-tau. While these studies have provided essential insights, cortical organoid models have yet to reach their full potential.

Drug Development.

Background: Recent growth in the functionality and use of technology has prompted an increased interest in the potential for remote or decentralised clinical trials in dementia. There are many potential benefits associated with decentralised medication trials, but the field is currently lacking specific recommendations for their delivery in the dementia field.

Method: A modified Delphi method engaged a panel with substantial expertise in dementia trial design and delivery and backgrounds that included neurology, psychiatry, pharmacology and psychology, to develop recommendations for the conduct of decentralised medication trials in dementia prevention.

Drug Development.

Background: evoke and evoke+ are phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trials currently investigating the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide as disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in persons with early Alzheimer's disease (AD). How the evoke and evoke+ trial populations compare with other phase 3 programs for DMTs in early AD has not been described.

Method: We compare the inclusion/exclusion criteria and baseline characteristics of the evoke/evoke+ trial populations with those of Clarity AD (lecanemab) and TRAILBLAZER-ALZ-2 (donanemab): two recent phase 3 trials assessing anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies in persons with early AD.

Drug Development.

Background: Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) has been identified as the major genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our lab has demonstrated that chronic administration of Aβ12-28P, a synthetic peptide that blocks apoE4/Aβ binding, in middle-aged transgenic AD mice significantly ameliorates pathology progression, resulting in reduced Aβ plaques deposition and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) along with improved memory and cognition. However, whether blocking apoE4/Aβ interaction by Aβ12-28P also has an ameliorating effect on the neuronal and cognitive function of old AD mice where Aβ pathology has been extensively developed remains unknown.

Drug Development.

Background: In AD trials, the treatment effect is typically evaluated by estimating the absolute difference in change from baseline to the end-of-study visit (e.g., 18 months) between treatment arms using the MMRM model.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Over 15 million informal caregivers provide assistance to persons living with dementia. Despite increasing emergency department (ED) use within the population, little is known regarding the support required of older adults seeking acute care with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Our objectives were to quantify the daily care hours that informal caregivers provide to older ED patients with diagnosed dementia, undiagnosed cognitive impairment, and intact cognition.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Black, Latinx, and Asian community elders remain underrepresented in dementia research. This study explored whether a video created to promote diversity in research by featuring underrepresented ADRC participants would change attitudes about research generally (e.g.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: In the United States, approximately 2 million caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia (ADRD) are Latin American. As many of these caregivers are family or friends, most are not equipped with the tools necessary to address common behaviors associated with ADRD. Music-based interventions are an effective and accessible tool to assist caregivers in addressing these persistent behaviors.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment in which oxygen-enriched air (up to 100%) is administered to patients in a chamber at a pressure above one atmosphere absolute and is approved for the treatment of T2D ischemic wounds. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a risk factor for dementia. Ischemia due to vascular pathology is hypothesized to be an underlying mechanism for this association.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Elder abuse (EA) is a major public health problem and older people living with dementia (PLWD) are not likely to self-report EA. As a result, identification of EA remains low, and providers often miss the opportunity to identify EA during Emergency Department (ED) visits. We present a pilot study on adapting an evidence-informed intervention to motivate PLWD to self-report abuse despite existing cognitive challenges.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Studies show that tube feeding does not improve clinical outcomes, and professional guidelines recommend against its use for individuals with advanced dementia. Yet, our preliminary work demonstrates a preference for tube feeding among Chinese-American dementia caregivers. We propose linguistic and cultural adaptation of "Making Choices: Feeding Options for Patients with Dementia (MCFODA) to create the Chinese version of this efficacious decision aid intervention.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur frequently in persons with Alzheimer's disease (PAD). They cause suffering, institutionalization, carepartner distress, depression, burden, and decreased PAD-carepartner quality of life. Brexpiprazole approval advanced the AD treatment armamentarium.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Black Americans (BAs), Hispanics/Latinos (H/Ls), and Africans (As) face a disproportionate burden of aging and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD), coupled with underrepresentation in research. Further, researchers also report a lack of compliance on sensitive social determinants of health data for AD/ADRD research. For instance, the PRAPARE tool reports a low completion rate in community and clinical settings.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: African Americans (AA) are underrepresented in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain donation research, making up approximately 2% of brain donations to the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC). Focus groups were conducted to obtain qualitative information to expand upon survey data that was collected previously to gain additional insights into the attitudes of Black∖AA individuals toward brain donation and perceptions of medical research.

Method: A brain donation focus group facilitator guide was created based upon earlier survey findings.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Video interfacing is increasingly being used in research and health care. The 'VCog' Study seeks to determine whether remote research cognitive assessments are reliable and valid by directly comparing results from in-person administration of a standardized cognitive battery to the same battery administered remotely by video. The study also assesses technology use and comfort amongst participants of varying levels of cognitive impairment.

Dementia Care Practice.

Background: Cognitive impairment is frequently undetected or undiagnosed in the early stages. To increase the rates of detecting cognitive impairment, the Early Detection program of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative System Preparedness (DAC-SP) implemented digital cognitive assessments (DCA) in primary care and other non-specialty settings.

Methods: The DAC-SP Early Detection program was initiated in 2021 in seven healthcare systems across six countries.

Dementia Care Practice.

Background: Early symptoms of cognitive impairment are frequently undetected. The Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative System Preparedness (DAC-SP) Early Detection program implemented a digital cognitive assessment (DCA) in primary care and other non-specialty settings to increase the rate of detection of cognitive impairment.

Methods: The DAC-SP Early Detection program was initiated in 2021 in seven healthcare systems across six countries.

Assessment of Atrial Size, Shape, and Contractility in Growth-Restricted and Small-for-Gestational-Age Fetuses.

Objectives: The size, shape, and contractility of the heart's atrial chambers have not been evaluated in fetuses with growth restriction (FGR) or who are small-for-gestational-age (SGA) as defined by the Delphi consensus protocol. This study aimed to examine the atrial chambers using speckle tracking analysis to identify any changes that may be specific for either growth disturbance.

Methods: Sixty-three fetuses were evaluated with an estimated fetal weight <10th percentile who were classified as FGR or SGA based on the Delphi consensus protocol.

Technology and Dementia Preconference.

Background: Familial Alzheimer's disease research necessitates innovative methodologies to disentangle the intricate relationships between genetic factors and neuroimaging measures. Traditional frequentist approaches, often hampered by small sample sizes in this population and challenges in incorporating prior knowledge transparently, may limit the robustness of findings.

Methods: We analyzed neuroimaging data of preclinical PSNE1 single mutation carriers, utilizing the software JASP to test effects of carrier status on measures of basal forebrain functional connectivity using both frequentist and Bayesian approach.

Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: A Dangerous Liaison.

The field of cardio-oncology has traditionally focused on the impact of cancer and its therapies on cardiovascular health. Mounting clinical and preclinical evidence, however, indicates that the reverse may also be true: cardiovascular disease can itself influence tumor growth and metastasis. Numerous epidemiological studies have reported that individuals with prevalent cardiovascular disease have an increased incidence of cancer.

Racism and Postpartum Blood Pressure in a Multiethnic Prospective Cohort.

Background: Postpartum hypertension is a key factor in racial-ethnic inequities in maternal mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that experiences of racism, both structural and interpersonal, may contribute to disparities. We examined associations between gendered racial microaggressions (GRMs) during obstetric care with postpartum blood pressure (BP).

"Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty Using Robotic Peritoneal Flap Method: Long Term Outcomes of 500 Cases".

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes of robotic peritoneal flap vaginoplasty.

Background: There is a lack of long-term outcomes data for gender-affirming vaginoplasty to inform patient decision-making.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 500 consecutive patients undergoing robotic peritoneal flap vaginoplasty from 2017-2023 were reviewed.