Overview

The rapid emergence of blood-based biomarkers, alongside established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and amyloid/tau PET imaging, has fundamentally altered the diagnostic landscape for AD. Recent advances and evolving standards in use of biomarkers for the diagnosis and clinical management of Alzheimer’s disease have led to improved accuracy in the detection of Alzheimer pathology. While blood biomarkers are increasingly accurate, their real-world usefulness depends on identification of appropriate patients for testing, proper interpretation and referral pathways for specialty evaluation, disease modifying therapies, and research participation. Blood‑based biomarkers, alongside established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and amyloid/tau PET imaging, has fundamentally altered the diagnostic landscape for AD.

This continuing medical education conference will examine the biological framework for Alzheimer’s disease and evidence-based practices of utilization of biomarkers including blood-based biomarkers, cerebrospinal fluid testing, amyloid and tau PET imaging as diagnostic tools after appropriate patient selection, interpretation of positive, negative, and indeterminate biomarker results and referral pathways for specialty evaluation based biomarkers, cerebrospinal fluid testing, amyloid and tau PET imaging as diagnostic tools after appropriate patient selection, interpretation of positive, negative, and indeterminate biomarker results and referral pathways for specialty evaluation.

By Participating, You Will Be Able To:

• Describe current evidence-based Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers, including blood-based, CSF, and neuroimaging modalities, and their appropriate clinical use in routine practice.
• Identify patients in primary care and general neurology settings who are appropriate candidates for AD biomarker testing based on symptoms, risk factors, and stage of cognitive concern.
• Interpret AD biomarker test results and employ effective diagnostic communication strategies to support informed decision-making and patient centered discussions.
• Initiate appropriate referral pathways to specialty neurology, memory clinics, advanced diagnostics, or research trials based on biomarker and clinical findings.
• Differentiate AD biomarkers from other diagnostic tools (e.g., neuropsychological testing, structural imaging, PET, genetic testing) and select appropriate complementary tests based on clinical context.

Who Should Attend?

Practitioners who care for individuals with neurodegenerative brain disorders to include geriatricians, neurologists, primary care providers, nurses, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals who treat patients with behavioral and neurodegenerative brain disorders.