Research in the field of Alzheimer's disease is developing rapidly. In addition to established neuropsychological testing methods, structural and molecular imaging, and CSF diagnostics, the new fields of blood-based biomarkers and digital app-based cognitive testing are opening up. The hope is that this will make early disease detection in particular easier and more accessible. At the same time, however, there are still high hurdles to implementing these new methods in terms of standardization, interpretation, application in the care setting, and more. In the presentation on diagnostics, an overview of current developments will be given and the potential role of these methods in a diagnostic process will be discussed.
In terms of therapy development, there have been recent ups and downs with respect to the development of anti-amyloid therapies. A number of monoclonal antibodies are in the final stages of clinical development. Aducanumab has been approved in the U.S. in a controversial accelerated process based on amyloid reduction without clear clinical proof of efficacy. In Europe, the EMA application has been withdrawn. Other antibodies that may come up for approval in the near future include lecanemab, gantenerumab and donanemab. Numerous other therapeutic strategies are being pursued in a parallel fashion. In the lecture on the therapy, the current developments will be presented and discussed how, in the case of approval, an introduction in the care in Germany could succeed.