In the US, 5.4 million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Roughly 96% of these people are 65 or older, and the prevalence of AD in this group is expected to increase 30% by 2025. AD was responsible for 82,435 deaths in 2008 and is currently considered the 6th leading cause of death in the US. Though much research has been done to better understand the pathophysiology process of AD and to develop effective, targeted treatments for this disease, there are currently no treatment options available to halt or reverse the progression of AD. Diagnostic tools have been and are being developed in order to detect AD progression at an earlier stage, but there is a clear underutilization of these novel diagnostic tools and technologies. There is some evidence to indicate that earlier treatment with currently available therapies may delay the progression of AD, although no significant reduction in long-term risk has been observed. Nevertheless, the observed delay in progression highlights the potential impact of effective early diagnosis and management of AD on the quality of life of patients. Thus, there is a clear need to educate clinicians on when to use these novel diagnostic methods and who the appropriate patients may be so that AD can be diagnosed at an early stage. These case-based activities are designed to educate neurologists and will focus on patients with mild cognitive impairment and the most effective diagnostic methods for early determination of progression of AD and current and future pharmacologic treatment strategies. Furthermore, safety, efficacy, and clinical trial data regarding the current and emerging pharmacotherapies for the treatment of AD will be discussed.
This activity is designed for neurologists and other healthcare professionals who may be interested in the diagnosis and management of patients who may progress to have Alzheimer's disease.
Physician Continuing Medical Education
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education, Dannemiller, and ACCELMED. The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Registered Nurses
Dannemiller is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 4229. This activity has been approved for 1.25 contact hours.
RNs outside California must verify with their licensing agency for approval of this course.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
It is the policy of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education (EOCME) that all faculty, instructors, and planners disclose real or apparent conflicts of interest relating to the topics of this educational activity.
The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:
James B. Brewer, MD, PhD
Consultant/Advisor: CorTechs Labs, Inc.; Lilly USA, LLC
Grant/Research Support: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Speakers' Bureau: Lilly USA, LLC
Stock Ownership: CorTechs Labs, Inc.
Michael Rafii, MD, PhD
Consultant/Advisor: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Grant/Research Support: Baxter Healthcare; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Lilly USA, LLC; F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Merck & Co., Inc.
Planners, Managers, Reviewers
Sandy Breslow, Jill McNair, Karen Overstreet, EdD, RPh, FACEHP, CCMEP, Ashley Amerson, Cara Bilinsky, Jennifer Hughes, and Jason LeDune, MS, hereby state that they or their spouse/life partners do not have any financial relationships to products or devices with any commercials interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.
Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education, Dannemiller, ACCELMED, and Lilly USA, LLC do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.
Disclaimer
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. 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.
CME Inquiries/Special Needs
For all CME inquiries or special needs, please contact elsevierCME@elsevier.com.
Method of participation
In order to claim credit, participants must complete the following:
- Read the learning objectives, accreditation information and disclosures at the beginning of this activity.
- Complete the presurvey.
- Review the Webcast content.
- Complete the post-activity survey and evaluation at the end of the enduring Webcast. Your certificate will be automatically sent to the email address you provided for log-in.
Media
Internet
Course Viewing Requirements
Internet Explorer 8.0+ for Windows 2000, 2003, Vista, XP, Windows 7, Windows 8
Google Chrome 18.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Mozilla Firefox 13.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Safari 4.0+ for Mac OSX 10.5 and above
Acknowledgements