Advances in Alzheimer's

and Dementia Research: A

Global Perspective
Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D.
Medical & Scientific Relations
Disclosure

• I am a full time employee of the Alzheimer’s

Association.
• I have no other disclosures.
Our Work is About People and Science

The Alzheimer’s
Association is a global
organization working to
advance care, support
and research across the
world
We Advocate
 Alzheimer’s Association
Global Research Investment

$165 million
450+ projects
25 countries
Research Strategy
Dynamic, Durable, Multi-dimensional,
Multi-faceted Research Program

SCALE
SPEED
SEED
Moving the Needle on Research

Our Research Priority Areas

Inform the Structure of our Grant Program and
Global Collaborative Partnerships
Impact of Alzheimer’s
Exciting Time in Research
 Dementia
• Alzheimer’s dementia
• Vascular dementia
• Lewy Body Dementia
• Frontotemporal
Dementia
• Others

10
β-Amyloid plaques Tau tangles

Brain cell death

11
 Modernizing the Diagnosis
Cognitively Unimpaired Alzheimer’s Dementia

Biomarkers History & Cognition

Adapted from Reisa Sperling, BWH, MGH

 Biomarkers Are Changing the Game
Saliva Biofluid Tau PET Imaging
Blood Test

80 min
100 min
Amyloid-β PET Imaging
Healthy

Healthy Mild Cognitive Mild Severe

Individual Impairment Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s
CSF – Lumbar Puncture

Optical Evaluation
AD
Progress Toward More Effective
Treatment By 2025

Lifestyle &
Medicines
Behavior
 Current Landscape of Clinical
Trials for Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Drugs and Devices

Phase I Phase II Phase III

111 178 63
Always a Need for Participants
As of April 2019
 Diverse Therapeutic Mechanisms
Under Investigation
• Amyloid Beta
• Tau
• Vascular/ Blood flow
• Brain cell communications
• Genetics
• Immunity and Inflammation
• Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Cell transport/ clearance
• Environmental Mediated Factors
• Sleep & Circadian Rhythms
• Cell Death
• APOE & Lipid Neurobiology
• Presenilin Biology
• Proteinopathies
• Neuroendocrine
Anti-Amyloid Trials In The News
• Drug trial demonstrates: Amyloid-β PET Imaging

– Clearance of amyloid plaque

Healthy
– Suggested improvement of
cognition
– BAN2401 (Ph 3 Readout 2022)
– Phase 3 confirmatory study to

AD
validate Phase 2b results

• Biogen and Eisai stop Phase 3 trial

of Aducanumab
18
• In DIAN individuals, 2.5+ hrs/ week
of moderate exercise linked to less
brain changes and more benefits for
cognition, function
• Published in Alzheimer's & Dementia
The SPRINT-MIND Study
First Study to Demonstrate Reduction
of New Cases of Cognitive Impairment

Intensive SBP treatment

in 9,000+ people:
• 19% reduced risk for MCI (1:5)
• 15% reduced combined MCI, dementia
In The News…SPRINT-MIND Study
 SPRINT MIND 2.0
• SEED 2.0 to clarify impact
on dementia with 2 years
additional follow up
• Over 7,000 will be contacts
for additional follow up
• Initiate study NOW to allow
for maximum participant retention
 Why Is This Important?
There are things you can do to
reduce your risk of MCI and
dementia – especially regarding
cardiovascular disease risk factors

Immediate opportunity with

life changing impact potential
U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health through
Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk
Two year multi-center
randomized clinical trial
Self-Guided and Structured
Lifestyle Groups
2,000 Participants at
five U.S. sites ALZ.org/USPOINTER
ALZ.org/WW-FINGERS

Sweden and MIND AD

FINGER
Can-Thumb
U.K. FINGER Netherlands

U.S. POINTER MIND Japan

Germany, Spain, Italy FINGER
South Korea
Mexico India
SINGER
AU-ARROW and
Maintain Your Brain

Argentina
 Changing the Trajectory of
Alzheimer’s Disease
DELAYED ONSET
If we develop a
treatment by 2025
5.7
MILLION
that delays the onset people expected to
of Alzheimer’s by just develop Alzheimer’s
5 years, then: would not in 2050.
 In Summary …
• Exciting time in research
– New tools for detection and diagnosis
– Growing diversity of therapies under investigation
• New research adding credibility to future
therapy that combines drugs and modifiable
risk factor interventions
• There is HOPE in research !!
ALZ.ORG