Alzheimer’s Disease: Treatment and Targets

Course Description

A 2021 report estimates 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Estimates predict this population could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 if no medical developments are made to prevent, slow, or cure AD. Furthermore, Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the US; while deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased between 2000-2019, deaths due to AD increased more than 145%. Currently available treatment options may modestly slow cognitive decline. Several medications are additionally used off label for psychosis and other behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia; recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected an application for one agent (pimavanserin) to receive FDA approval for this indication. More recently, aducanumab was approved using an accelerated process based on reducing amyloid beta plaque, a surrogate marker for AD. This approval has been met with controversy that impacts how AD is treated and may impact FDA approval for other agents in the future.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe current options for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
  2. Discuss the history of drug design focusing on amyloid plaque reduction.
  3. Review data leading to the Food and Drug Administration approval of aducanumab.
  4. Identify the potential use of aducanumab in individualized patient cases.

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Faculty

Ganesh Gopalakrishna, MD, MHA
View biographical information

Ganesh Gopalakrishna, MD, MHA
Program Director, Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship
Associate Clinical Medical Director, Stead Family Memory Center, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
Phoenix, AZ

Dr. Gopalakrishna received his medical degree from Bangalore Medical College in India. He completed his residency in adult psychiatry at University of Missouri-Columbia and received a masters in Health Administration at University of Missouri-Columbia. He completed additional subspecialty training in geriatric psychiatry at Vanderbilt University.
 
Dr. Gopalakrishna is board-certified in adult psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and addiction medicine. He has served as faculty at University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Arizona. He currently serves as the associate clinic director Banner Alzheimers Institute at Phoenix Arizona. He also serves as the program director for geriatric psychiatry fellowship at University of Arizona, Phoenix. 
 
His research interests include administrative psychiatry, neurocognitive disorders and use of technology in mental health.
 
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

My presentation will include discussion of off-label, experimental, and /or investigational use of drugs or devices: Unapproved agents solanezumab, donanemab, lecanemab, crenezumab, and gantenerumab

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:

  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Date: 04/27/2022
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-22-052-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

ACPEThe College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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AAPP owns the copyright, is licensed or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within any CPE activity. Authors and speakers are required to obtain necessary copyright permissions for content in CPE activities. AAPP complies with copyright laws and regulations.

Questions? Contact AAPP.

View planning committee disclosures

2022 Program Committee

Elayne D. Ansara, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Veteran Health Indiana
Indianapolis, IN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jolene R. Bostwick, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Program Administrative Chair
Assistant Dean for Co-Curriculum and Professional Development & Clinical Professor
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Ann Arbor, MI
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

Bridget Bradley, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Professor
Pacific University School of Pharmacy
Hillsboro, OR
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: ACCP PSAP May 2021, Neurology and Psychiatry Book
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: NACDS Community Pharmacy Residency Grant

Austin R. Campbell, PharmD, BCPP
Program Committee Chair

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Psychiatry
University of Missouri Health Care
Columbia, MO
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Speakers Bureau
Financial Interests: Up To Date Contributor "Pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia: Long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs"
Non-Financial Interests: Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, Show-Me ECHO Project

Chelsea N. Carr, PharmD, BCPP
Advanced Practice Pharmacist - Psychiatry
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Catonsville, MD
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Dana Chiulli, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist - Mental Health
VISN 06 Mental Health Clinical Resource Hub
Savannah, GA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jordan Cooler, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy
Columbia, SC
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

Bennett J. Doughty, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton, NY
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Achieve CE - CE provided for compensation
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: SUNY Germination Space Grant. $50,000. Awarded July 2019.
Non-Financial Interests: New York State American College of Clinical Pharmacists Executive Board

Amber R. Douglass, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Mental Health
VISN 1 Clinical Resource Hub - VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, BCPP, MS
BCPP Program Director

Professor
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Psych U Section Advisor, Lexi-Comp Consultant/Reviewer
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: FDA/University of Maryland CERSI, Maryland Behavioral Health Department, NIH

Kristen N. Gardner, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Behavioral Health
Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Denver, CO
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Biostrategies - one time consultant re:LAIAs (2019)
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: ACCP PSAP author (2021-2022); ACCP annual meeting speaker (2020)

Michelle L. Geier, PharmD, BCPP
Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist Supervisor
San Francisco Department of Public Health
San Francisco, CA
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Weitzman Institute Project ECHO Faculty
Nicole Hahn, PharmD, BCACP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Neurology
Kaiser Permanente
Denver, CO
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kayla D. Johnson, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Thompsons Station, TN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Erin D. Knox, PharmD, BCPP
Director of Experiential Education
UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Irvine, CA
Non-Financial Interests: Santa Ana Community College, Pharmacy Technology Program, Advisory Committee
Marketa Marvanova, PharmD, PhD, BCGP, BCPP, FASCP
Dean and Professor
University of Montana, Skaggs School of Pharmacy
Missoula, MT
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Editorial Board member: Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neuroilogy,
consultant for Lexicomp as a clinical specialist in neurology and psychiatry
Melissa Mitchell, PharmD, BCGP, BCPP, BCPS
Senior Clinical Pharmacist
RUHS MC
Moreno Valley , CA
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Neurocrine Speakers Bureau - Ingrezza,
Janssen Speakers Bureau - Spravato, Otsuka - PsychU.org Speaker
Thea R. Moore, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Professor
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Lindsey Peters, PharmD, BCPS
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kristina Reinstatler, PharmD, BCPP, MBA
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
UC Health University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: HEALing Communities NIH grant- pharmacy lead Athens Cty, Ohio
Michael D. Shuman, PharmD, BCPP
Staff Pharmacist
Central State Hospital
Lousiville, KY
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Taylor A. Thomas, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Mental Health
VA Northern Indiana Health Care System
Fort Wayne, IN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine
Tucson, AZ
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

All relevant relationships have been mitigated.

View disclaimer and disclosure of off-label use

Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. 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. 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 on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Presentation-Specific Disclosure: My presentation will include discussion of off-label, experimental, and /or investigational use of drugs or devices: Unapproved agents solanezumab, donanemab, lecanemab, crenezumab, and gantenerumab

View fair balance and integrity statement

It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.

Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.