The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference is an annual event where researchers worldwide discuss the latest advances in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. This year’s conference included over 9,000 in-person attendees and an estimated 5,000 online participants. For the first time, the Alzheimer’s Association introduced a community option on the last day of the conference called “AAIC for All.” This event allowed non-scientists to immerse themselves in the conference experience and learn from world experts about the latest research findings on Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

The highlights from this year’s conference showed the progress made in the last 20+ years of research. This progress has been possible through collaboration among scientists from various disciplines such as biology, biochemistry (the study of chemical processes within living organisms), pharmacology (the study of drugs and their effects), medicine, psychology, computer science, statistics, public health, engineering, and neuroscience (the study of the nervous system, including the brain).

Among the major takeaways were advances in developing reliable blood biomarkers (biological indicators in the blood that can signal the presence of a disease) for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Although these blood tests have been used in research, new studies suggest that the technology has improved enough for clinical use. Groups from Sweden and the U.S. presented work showing that blood tests can accurately and reliably detect the protein hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. These blood tests are comparable to more expensive tests that involve analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (the clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) or using imaging technology (scanning techniques like MRI or PET scans) available at few medical centers. The findings suggest a scalable approach to screening older adults with memory complaints. These simpler methods could accurately detect and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. With treatments becoming available, having such tests in the hands of clinicians is more important than ever. This ensures early diagnosis and treatment when the first clinical signs of the disease appear.

There was also significant attention at the AAIC 2024 meeting on new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and ways to protect the brain and prevent disease. Repurposed drugs (medications originally developed for other conditions) like those used in the U.S. for weight loss and diabetes show promise for treating dementias. Investigators at Imperial College, London, used an older drug, liraglutide (a drug originally used to treat diabetes), in a Phase 2 trial called “ELAD” involving 204 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. They showed that daily injections of the drug appeared to offer some brain protection. Brain imaging showed reduced atrophy (shrinking of brain tissue) in the frontal, temporal, and parietal areas (specific regions of the brain involved in functions like decision-making, memory, and sensory processing) of the brain, along with an 18% slowing of cognitive decline.

Other exciting new drugs are also in the pipeline. One of these is a compound called buntanetap (a drug that targets several abnormal proteins in dementia, not just Alzheimer’s disease). It works by improving axonal transport (the process by which nerve cells communicate and transport essential materials). Investigators, including scientists from Duke, showed that in a study of 240 people with biomarker-confirmed (diagnosed using biological indicators) mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, the drug improved both cognition and functional ability. The results suggest that new treatments may soon be available to help not only Alzheimer’s patients but also those with other forms of dementia. Until such treatments are widely available, the conference presented data from the World Wide FINGERS study (a global study on dementia prevention) and the U.S. POINTER study (a study focusing on lifestyle interventions to reduce dementia risk). These studies showed that by following healthy lifestyle practices in midlife or even later, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias can be reduced by 45%. Important factors for brain health include regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, adequate sleep, stress reduction, treating depression, managing medical conditions, and staying cognitively active. These findings suggest that we can all take control of our health and lower our risk of developing dementia. The topline findings from this systematic review and the recommendations from the Lancet Commission were unveiled at the conference and are available in the journal Lancet as of July 31st. (see: Lancet Commission report 2024.)