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Clinical Digest: May Update
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Dear ISTAART Member,
Welcome to the May issue of the ISTAART Clinical Digest. In this edition, learn about the newly launched Brain Health Advancement Institute, clinician opportunities at the upcoming Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) and the first Veterans Affairs (VA) site to join Alzheimer's Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET). Learn more about our new resource to support researchers using blood-based biomarker tests through ALZPro. And catch the latest clinician-focused science in our journal family as well as funding opportunities for clinician scientists.
Read on to explore this month's updates.
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Announcements, Events and Opportunities
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Alzheimer's Association International Conference® (AAIC®) 2026
AAIC, taking place in London, U.K., and online, July 12-15, is designed with clinicians in mind. Join neurologists, geriatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, social workers and other care professionals for practical, evidence‑based education focused on dementia diagnosis, risk reduction and care. Gain actionable insights through Clinical Pearls and Clinical Toolboxes that translate the latest research into real‑world practice, while learning alongside multidisciplinary peers. Stay on the leading edge of Alzheimer's and dementia care, and earn continuing education credits while you're there. Check out what these clinicians had to say about attending AAIC.
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AAIC For All: Clinicians
For clinicians who may not be able to attend our full AAIC conference, AAIC For All is taking place on July 16. This no‑cost, single‑day program designed specifically for busy clinicians and dementia health care professionals who want to stay at the forefront of Alzheimer's and dementia care. As an extension of the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), the world's largest dementia research conference, this hybrid event features the most impactful, clinically relevant research on diagnosis, treatment, risk reduction and care. Attendees can earn CME/CE credits, hear directly from leading experts and participate live or virtually, with 30 days of on‑demand access. This will help you translate the latest science into improved patient outcomes. Registration is free but required. Register today!
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Introducing the Brain Health Advancement Institute
The Brain Health Advancement Institute is the Alzheimer's Association's platform for advancing brain health through research, professional education and systems-level partnership. Serving as a single destination for brain health programs, research and resources, the Institute bridges science and real-world action across research, clinical practice, public health and policy. From landmark clinical trials and global research networks to ready-to-use tools like the Brain Health Habit Builder and 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain, the Institute connects professionals with the studies, data, funding, and resources that drive dementia risk reduction.
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Ralph H. Johnson VA Joins ALZ-NET to expand Alzheimer's Care for Veterans
The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Charleston, South Carolina, has become the first VA site to join ALZ-NET, a key step in expanding Alzheimer's treatment and care for the approximately 500,000 U.S. Veterans living with the disease. Managed through VA's Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias National Coordinating Center, the partnership will help onboard additional VA sites, with planned expansion to locations such as Pittsburgh and Albany. By contributing real-world data on newly approved amyloid-targeting therapies in Veteran populations, the collaboration aims to strengthen current care while advancing future Alzheimer's treatment outcomes.
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Preferred methodological reporting for blood-based biomarker research for the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias research community
A new resource is now available on ALZPro to support researchers conducting blood-based biomarker (BBM) test accuracy studies. Developed in response to gaps identified during the first iteration of the systematic review and clinical practice guideline on the use of BBMs in specialized care settings—published by the Alzheimer's Association last year—this resource focuses on improving how test accuracy data are reported in the primary literature. It encourages more complete and transparent reporting of diagnostic performance so that primary research can be effectively included in systematic reviews and inform future clinical practice guidelines.
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Dementia: A Comprehensive Update
The neurology faculty at Harvard Medical School will host their annual three-and-a-half-day review course from May 27-30, 2026, in Boston, USA, and online! This course is specifically designed by clinicians for clinicians and takes a practical, multidisciplinary approach to understanding and treating dementia. It is intended for healthcare professionals involved in diagnosing, managing and researching various conditions that lead to dementia. ISTAART members can use the code 'A26' to receive a 25% discount on the course fee. Register here.
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For more information about the Alzheimer's Association grant programs, visit alz.org/grants, or you can contact a member of the Alzheimer's Association Grants staff at grantsapp@alz.org.
Alzheimer's Association Clinician Scientist Fellowship for All (AACSFA) Program
The Alzheimer's Association recognizes the need to support the training of clinician scientists in Alzheimer's and all other dementias. For the purpose of this program, a clinician scientist is defined as an individual already trained, licensed and practicing in a clinical field that includes patient contact (e.g., neurology, psychiatry, geriatrics, psychology) or patient-related diagnostic studies (e.g., neuropathology and radiology).
Applicants are eligible for this program that are (1) within 15 years of receiving their M.D., D.O. or Ph.D. (or equivalent); (2) have active licensure for clinical practice; and (3) actively care for patients in a healthcare setting at the time of submission. Positions higher than Assistant Professor (or an equivalent position) will not be considered.
Each AACSFA award is limited to $250,000.
Letter of Intent Launch: July 2026
The Tau Pipeline Enabling Program V (T-PEP)
The Tau Pipeline Enabling Program (T-PEP) seeks to accelerate the discovery of potential new therapies for tauopathies. This program intends to enrich the pipeline for therapy development by facilitating the translation of academia-derived ideas into practical application. In short, T-PEP bridges the gap between innovative but resource-constrained researchers and the larger pharmaceutical companies that are looking for drug candidates to be taken into human trials.
T-PEP is open to researchers at academic institutions as well as small companies; but preference will be given to companies with 50 or fewer employees. The maximum grant amount for non-profit academic institutions is $750,000, with up to 10% indirect cost. The maximum grant amount for for-profit companies, with no indirect expenses allowed, is $750,000.
Letter of Intent Launch: April 12, 2026
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Alzheimer's & Dementia®: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Long-term adherence and changes in the Mediterranean and MIND diets in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function
Liu et al. outline the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean (MedDiet) and Mediterranean–Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets and cognitive outcomes. To address this, authors prospectively analyzed 86,740 women from the Nurses' Health Study conducted in 1980–2023 and 43,500 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study conducted in 1986–2023. The follow-up period for analysis was up to 43 years. Diet was assessed repeatedly using validated food frequency questionnaires. Cognitive function was analyzed by telephone screens and self-reported subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Dementia incidence was identified from self-reported physician diagnoses and death records. Results indicated, participants with the highest adherence compared to lowest, to the MedDiet and MIND diet had 21% and 14% lower dementia risk, respectively. Higher adherence was associated with 0.75 to 1.59 fewer years of cognitive aging, and 40% to 42% lower risk of SCD. Improved adherence to the diets also demonstrated slower cognitive aging and self-reported SCD over a 4 or 8 year period. These findings indicate, long-term adherence to Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diets are linked to cognitive benefits. The results are impactful as this establishes longitudinal evidence that sustained improvements in adherence to dietary patterns are linked to lower dementia risk and better cognition.
DOI: 10.1002/alz.71324
Alzheimer's & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging (BSEA)
Comorbid diabetes and hypertension in early adulthood predict neurodegeneration in midlife: insights across racial/ethnic groups using a blood-based biomarker of dementia risk
Weaver and Lei evaluate the influence of cardiometabolic conditions on early neurodegenerative processes and whether this differs based on race/ethnicity. Data collected from 4173 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health study were analyzed to determine the predicted association between early-adulthood cardiometabolic conditions of diabetes and/or hypertension and midlife serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels, a neurodegeneration biomarker. Cardiometabolic health was assessed at study Wave 4 (ages 24-32) and Wave 5 (ages 33-43); sNfL was measured at Wave 5. Regression models tested associations overall and by race/ethnicity. Comorbid hypertension and diabetes at Waves 4 and 5 were associated with higher sNfL at Wave 5, suggesting both lag and concurrent effects. The presence of a single condition showed minimal effects. Additional results demonstrated Wave 4 comorbidity (concurrent hypertension and diabetes) had stronger associations than Wave 5, suggesting differences in temporal dysregulation impact on neurobiological markers. There were nuanced differences across racial/ethnic groups, with isolated divergences among Hispanic participants. This study is a large, nationally representative cohort demonstrating early-adulthood comorbid cardiometabolic conditions predict higher midlife sNfL levels. These findings support the potential compounding effect of cardiometabolic conditions on neurodegenerative processes, underscoring the need for targeted, equity-informed interventions that address both the biological and sociostructural determinants of neurodegenerative processes.
DOI: 10.1002/bsa3.70069
Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, & Disease Monitoring (DADM)
Mid-life cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of late-onset dementia incidence
Wiklund et al. outline findings of the relationship between adulthood cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and late-onset dementia risk. This study evaluated the impact of adulthood moderating factors of sex, civil/marital status, or education on late-onset dementia using the Swedish National Healthcare Registry. 370, 980 dementia-free individuals were followed for a mean of 11.9 years, CRF was estimated with a submaximal cycle test. Results demonstrated high CRF was associated with lower dementia risk in those both under and over the age of 55 at the time of CRF cycle assessment. Dementia incidence was determined via health registry information. Moderate to high levels of education lowered dementia risk in those under the age of 55 at the time of CRF assessment. Sex and civil status did not moderate the association. These findings underscore the role of maintaining a high CRF in dementia prevention, emphasizing education level as a critical moderating factor. Further analyses of similar moderating factors across countries should be completed to expand the translatability of these findings.
DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70239
Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions (TRCI)
Association between plasma p-tau181 levels and the evolution of cognitive and physical performance in a cohort of cognitively impaired older adults with frailty criteria: Longitudinal data from the CogFrail study
Angioni et al. detail findings associated with plasma p-tau181 levels and cognitive performance in older adults with cognitive impairment. The relationship between plasma p-tau181 and trajectories of cognitive and physical performance in a population of pre-frail and frail older adults has been sparsely investigated. This study is a 2-year evaluation of longitudinal data collected from the CogFrail observational trial (NCT03129269). Physical measurements included gait speed, handgrip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, and chair rise time. Cognitive and functional measurements included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SoB), and Activities of Daily Living (ADL)-Index. High p-tau181 levels were defined by a cut-off corresponding to the highest tertile of its distribution. Longitudinal changes in measurements were compared against plasma p-tau181 status (high vs. low/intermediate levels) using linear mixed-effects models. Among 227 participants analyzed, 33.9% were classified as having high plasma p-tau181 levels. Mean plasma p-tau181 values were 14.64 (± 3.83) in the low/intermediate and 29.96 (± 7.63) pg/mL in the high level group. Over 2 years, participants with high p-tau181 levels showed greater progression in CDR-SoB and greater decline in MMSE, ADL, and handgrip strength compared to those with low/intermediate levels. These findings suggest in a population of pre-frail and frail older adults with cognitive impairment, individuals with elevated plasma p-tau181 levels showed greater cognitive and physical deterioration over a 2-year period. These results suggest that age-related loss of proteostasis may play a role not only in cognitive but also in physical decline, representing a potential target for preventive and therapeutic interventions.
DOI: 10.1002/trc2.70213
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We want to hear from you!
Do you have ideas on how to improve ISTAART? Do you have questions about your membership, or would you like to learn how to get involved? Reach out to us at ISTAART@alz.org and join the conversation on ISTAART Community at alz.org/ISTAARTclinicians.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes and is not intended to provide medical advice. This communication is intended for clinicians specializing in dementia. If you received this message in error or would prefer not to receive further updates, please contact ISTAART.
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