World Brain Day 2025: 9 Studies on Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias Chosen for Primary Care
World Brain Day is celebrated on July 22 every year. In recognition Patient Care has summarized 9 notable studies of key interest to primary care for quick review.
Response latency measures captured during digitally administered cognitive testing may reveal neurodegenerative changes long before traditional neuropsychological scores indicate impairment, according to a recent review of research published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
The accumulating evidence evaluated in the review challenges the traditional binary framework of cognitive assessment, where an individual either passes or fails neuropsychological tests and impairment is detected only after substantial cognitive deterioration has occurred. Even individuals meeting biological criteria for Alzheimer disease remain clinically asymptomatic for years, underscoring a need for behavioral tools that can flag emerging decline, the authors stressed. Read more.
The FDA approved a revised label for donanemab-azbt (Kisunla, Eli Lilly), on July 9, updating the recommended dosing schedule for adults with early symptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD).
The modified titration regimen demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities with edema or effusion (ARIA-E), a known adverse effect of amyloid-targeting therapies, compared to the original schedule. Read more
Quest Diagnostics announced today that it will offer a newly FDA-cleared blood test to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) before the end of the summer.
According to the July 9 statement, the company will begin providing laboratory testing based on the Lumipulse G pTau 217/β-Amyloid (Aβ) 1-42 Plasma Ratio test developed by Fujirebio, the first blood-based in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test authorized by the FDA to help detect the amyloid pathology characteristic of AD in adults aged 50 years and older exhibiting signs and symptoms of cognitive decline. Read more
Study participants who were Black and those with parental history of Alzheimer disease (AD) were significantly more likely to decline learning results of biomarker tests for AD, according to a new observational cohort study published in JAMA Network Open. The findings challenge assumptions about participant interest in receiving personal research results and highlight important demographic differences in uptake, study authors wrote.
They also stress that the results "underscore the ethical importance of respecting the right not to know" noting that previous studies consistently suggested much higher interest levels for receiving AD research results. Read more.
Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an artificial intelligence–based clinical decision support system (CDSS) that could help clinicians identify patterns of brain activity associated with 9 types of dementia, including Alzheimer disease, from a single FDG-PET brain scan.
The tool, called StateViewer, was trained and validated on more than 3,600 brain scans and in a new study achieved a sensitivity of 0.89 ± 0.03 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.93 ± 0.02 in distinguishing neurodegenerative phenotypes. Read more.
Only half of adults prescribed antidementia drugs (ADD) remain on therapy after 1 year, according to a large-scale meta-analysis that pooled data from 68 real-world studies involving nearly 700,000 adults aged 50 years or older. The average 12-month persistence rate was 49% (95% CI, 42%–56%), exposing a significant gap in long-term adherence to inhibitors (ChEis) and memantine.
Researchers found that rates varied widely based on how studies defined persistence, particularly whether a permissible gap between prescription refills was used. They also found that adherence waned over time. Read more.
As the number of aging adults expands and rates of cognitive decline rise, primary care clinicians will remain the first point of contact for detection and early management—so how prepared do they feel for this role? A new survey of US primary care clinicians conducted by Patient Care offers a snapshot of current attitudes, practices, and knowledge related to cognitive assessment in the clinical setting and familiarity with standard-of-care medications.
While a majority report conducting annual screenings for mild cognitive impairment, barriers such as limited time, uncertainty about guidelines, and a lack of confidence in interpreting results persist. Read more.
“Many patients do not want to know about their condition, they’re in denial. There is also stigma attached to accepting help even if the patient does acknowledge cognitive decline.”
This was one response to the question How would you describe the most significant challenges in assessing, diagnosing, and caring for adults with mild cognitive impairment right now? The question ended a recent Patient Care© online survey of US primary care clinicians that sought to learn more about their knowledge of the signs and symptoms of neurocognitive decline and their level of comfort with diagnosis and treatment. For the other responses to open-ended questions, read more here.
A comprehensive study using advanced brain imaging and postmortem analysis has revealed that approximately 50% of adults with late-life mood disorders (LLMDs) demonstrate tau accumulation in their brains, compared to only 15% of healthy controls, suggesting these psychiatric conditions may serve as prodromal indicators of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer disease (AD).
The researchers examined 52 participants with LLMDs and 47 healthy controls using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 2 commonly used tracers. The study team also analyzed brain tissue samples from 208 autopsy cases to validate their neuroimaging findings. Read more.
Observed each year on July 22, World Brain Day, an initiative of the World Federation of Neurology, spotlights brain health. The 2025 theme, “Brain Health and Prevention Across the Lifespan,” invites clinicians to emphasize prevention and early detection, a key message for particularly for primary care.
In recognition of World Brain Day this year, the editors have reviewed Patient Care recent coverage of Alzheimer disease and related dementias and selected notable studies that investigate screening, diagnosis, and management of early and progressive cognitive decline.
The slide show format was designed as an at-a-glance update for busy primary care clinicians, and highlights critical topics that include:
- Innovations in early detection using digital tools and blood-based biomarkers
- FDA approvals and updates on disease-modifying treatments
- Patient perspectives on and participation in cognitive testing
- Real-world challenges in screening, diagnosis, and treatment adherence
- The emerging role of AI in differential dementia diagnosis
- New findings on the behavioral and psychiatric aspects of late-life cognitive decline
