The AD/PD™ Podcast: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases

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AD/PD™ is the leading international platform dedicated to exploring the latest breakthroughs and treatments in Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, and related neurodegenerative diseases. The "AD/PD™ Session Spotlight" series is an AI-powered podcast that brings you key insights from the AD/PD™ Conference, with expert presentations and research discussions transformed into concise, easy-to-digest episodes. Join us as we uncover the latest innovations, explore groundbreaking research, and discuss the future of neurodegenerative disease treatments and therapies.

  1. 1d ago

    pTau217: Clinical and Economic Benefits to the Healthcare System

    In this episode, Dr. Soeren Mattke, physician and health services researcher at the University of Southern California, explores the growing role of blood-based biomarkers in the diagnosis and evaluation of Alzheimer’s disease. He discusses how blood tests could make Alzheimer’s diagnosis faster, more accurate, and more scalable, helping to reduce pressure on specialist services and integrate diagnosis more effectively into primary care. The episode also examines their potential applications beyond initial detection, including disease staging, risk stratification, prognostication, and treatment monitoring.

    pTau217: Clinical and Economic Benefits to the Healthcare System

  2. Aug 6

    Neuropathology in the Biomarker Age & Sleep in Lewy Body Disease, AD/PD™ Session Spotlight

    In this episode, we spotlight Plenary Lectures 01 and 02 from the AD/PD™ 2026 International Conference, held on March 17, 2026. The lectures were chaired by Sandra O. Moose (USA) and Prof. Gabriel Gold (Switzerland). Plenary Lecture 01, "Understanding Neurodegenerative Diseases Today: Lessons from Clinicopathological Correlations and the Ongoing Role of Neuropathology in the Biomarker Age," was presented by Prof. Lea Grinberg (USA). Plenary Lecture 02, the Eric N. Birch Lecture, "Key Sleep Issues Pertinent to the Development and Progression of Neurodegeneration in Lewy Body Disease and Related Disorders," was presented by Prof. Bradley Boeve (USA). Key highlights from this session include: • Why biomarker positivity alone can oversimplify disease biology — illustrated by patients with positive Alzheimer's biomarkers but very different syndromes and autopsy findings • How the predictive value of a positive biomarker depends heavily on age and pretest probability, a growing concern as blood-based tests reach beyond specialty clinics • Copathology as the rule rather than the exception in Alzheimer's, helping explain why symptoms, trajectories and treatment responses vary so widely • Neuropathology as an active field still defining new targets — from LATE, ARTAG and caspase-6-truncated tau to TMEM106B and annexin A11 pathologies • Evidence that neuromodulatory subcortical nuclei, including the locus coeruleus and orexinergic neurons, may be affected before the entorhinal cortex, reframing early neuropsychiatric symptoms as manifestations of the earliest biology • REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) as a prodromal synucleinopathy, present in roughly 80–85% of dementia with Lewy bodies and often preceding other features by years or decades • Data showing about 80% of individuals with isolated RBD phenoconvert to Parkinson's disease, DLB or MSA within 14 years, though timing and phenotype remain unpredictable • The state-dissociation framework linking DLB with narcolepsy, and the orexin system as a key stabilizer of the sleep-wake switch and a potential therapeutic target • Isolated RBD as one of the best windows for disease-modifying intervention, supported by longitudinal platforms such as NAPS, PPMI and the International RBD Study Group Together, these lectures established two complementary messages for clinicians and researchers: neuropathology remains essential for correct biological interpretation in the biomarker era, and sleep and subcortical systems may offer some of the earliest, most actionable signals of neurodegeneration in both Alzheimer's and Lewy body disease. This episode is particularly relevant for neurologists, neuroscientists, neuropathologists, sleep medicine specialists, translational scientists, clinical trialists, biomarker researchers, and biotech and pharma professionals working across Alzheimer's disease and synucleinopathies. This podcast was created using AI to provide a concise and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2026 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to consult official conference materials for detailed information. The AD/PD™ 2026 International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases and related neurological disorders took place March 17–21, 2026, in Copenhagen, Denmark. 🔗 https://adpd.kenes.com

  3. Jul 9

    Moonshots and Milestones: Is the Future of Neurodegeneration Drug Discovery in Startups, Big Pharma, or Academia? AD/PD™ Session Spotlight

    In this episode, we will cover the Fireside Debate "Moonshots and Milestones: Is the Future of Neurodegeneration Drug Discovery in Startups, Big Pharma, or Academia?" that took place on March 17, 2026 at the AD/PD™ 2026 International Conference. The debate was moderated by Dr. Henrietta Nielsen (Sweden) and Prof. Philip Scheltens (Netherlands), with expert contributions from Dr. Geoffrey Kerchner (Switzerland), Prof. Cynthia Lemere (USA), Dr. Mark Mintun (USA), Dr. Marco Prado (Canada), and Prof. Niranjan Bose (USA). Key highlights from this session include: • The field has moved from repeated uncertainty to cautious optimism, anchored by disease-modifying anti-amyloid therapies that demonstrably slow Alzheimer's progression • Acceptance of biological heterogeneity in dementia, and how biomarker-driven stratification has reshaped diagnosis and trial design • The persistent gap between biomarker change and clinically meaningful outcomes, with cognition, function and independence remaining the endpoints that matter most • Blood-based biomarkers as potentially transformative for moving diagnosis beyond specialist centers into neurology clinics and primary care • Complementary views on the field's bottlenecks — surrogate endpoints and recruitment for industry, funding and slow translation for academia, outdated cognitive tools, and fragmented data infrastructure • The growing role of AI, multimodal data and data harmonization, alongside recognition that neurodegeneration still lags other fields in deploying AI • Strong support for combination therapy, with anti-amyloid treatment as an anchor and tau-directed or anti-inflammatory strategies layered on top • A closing consensus on the ideal ecosystem: openness, cross-sector collaboration, data sharing, smarter enrollment, sustained patient engagement, and support for early-career investigators The panel conveyed that disease modification is now real but still modest, that blood-based biomarkers are poised to reshape diagnostic and treatment pathways, and that future progress will depend on combination approaches, better surrogate markers, and coordinated collaboration across the neurodegeneration ecosystem. Encouragingly, participants agreed the next breakthrough should not take another 25 years — the field now has working therapies, sharper tools, and better biological resolution than ever before. This episode is particularly relevant for neurologists, clinical trialists, translational scientists, biotech and pharma professionals, academic researchers, data and AI experts, and patient advocacy leaders working across the neurodegenerative disease landscape. This podcast was created using AI to provide a concise and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2026 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to consult official conference materials for detailed information. The AD/PD™ 2026 International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases and related neurological disorders took place March 17–21, 2026, in Copenhagen, Denmark. 🔗 https://adpd.kenes.com

  4. Jan 16

    Drug Development & Biomarkers in Rare CNS Diseases, AD/PD™ Session Spotlight

    In this episode, we spotlight Forum Discussion 08 from the AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference — “Drug Development & Biomarkers in Rare CNS Diseases (ALS, FTD) from Basics to Approval – How to Define Success.” The discussion was moderated by Prof. Angela Genge (Canada) and Prof. Laura Ranum (USA), with expert contributions from Dr. Francesca Cignarella (USA), Prof. Guy Rouleau (Canada), Dr. Toby Ferguson (USA), and Prof. Patrick Weydt (Germany). Key highlights from this session include: • Advances in drug development for rare neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) • Lessons learned from antisense oligonucleotide therapies, including SOD1-targeting approaches that have shown meaningful clinical impact in ALS • The growing importance of genetic stratification, enabling earlier and more targeted intervention in both symptomatic and presymptomatic individuals • How insights from related disorders, such as Huntington’s disease, are informing biomarker development, including the interpretation of neurofilament signals • The critical role of biomarkers in guiding clinical trials, measuring disease-relevant outcomes, and accelerating regulatory approval • The power of public–private partnerships, exemplified by initiatives such as the ALS Accelerating Medicines Partnership • The need for data sharing, collaboration, and patient involvement to overcome the challenges inherent in rare disease research • New infrastructure efforts, including the upcoming ALS Knowledge Platform, aimed at integrating data across studies to drive discovery The panel emphasized that success in rare CNS disease research requires not only scientific innovation, but also coordinated global collaboration, smarter trial design, and biomarkers that truly reflect disease biology. While challenges remain, the session conveyed strong optimism that genetics-driven approaches and shared data ecosystems will accelerate progress for ALS and FTD. This episode is particularly relevant for neurologists, translational researchers, clinical trialists, biotech and pharma professionals, patient advocacy leaders, and regulators working in rare neurodegenerative diseases. This podcast was created using AI to provide a concise and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2025 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to consult official conference materials for detailed information. The AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders took place April 1–5, 2025, in Vienna, Austria. 🔗 https://adpd.kenes.com

  5. 11/14/2025

    Challenges and Opportunities for Anti-Tau Therapies: Turning Hope Into Clinical Progress, AD/PD™ Session Spotlight

    In this episode, we highlight Forum Discussion 07 from the AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference — “Challenges and Opportunities for Anti-Tau Therapies in Clinical Trials – How Can We Make Hopes Come True?” The session was moderated by Prof. Manfred Windisch (Austria) and Prof. Luc Buée (France), featuring expert insights from Prof. Virginia Lee (USA), Dr. Toby Ferguson (USA), Dr. Larisa Reyderman (USA), Dr. Szofia Bullain (Switzerland), and Dr. Adam Fleisher (USA). Key themes explored in this discussion include: • The scientific and clinical complexities of targeting tau pathology across the continuum of Alzheimer’s disease • The importance of early therapeutic intervention and matching treatment modalities—immunotherapies, RNA-based approaches, small molecules—to the stage of tau progression • Longstanding and emerging perspectives on tau biology, including:– The structural insights into tau filament formation,– The implications of core tau domains, and– The relevance of astrocytic markers such as GFAP • Industry and academic collaboration on next-generation programs, including Biogen’s E2814 and other early-phase anti-tau candidates • The ethical and scientific challenges of selecting the right patient populations, especially as precision medicine reshapes clinical trial expectations • The need for robust biomarkers to define tau-driven pathology, enable better staging, and support development of more targeted and effective therapies • Recognition that Alzheimer’s is often a multi-pathology disease, requiring treatment approaches capable of addressing interacting pathways, not only tau • The importance of broad, well-designed clinical trials to clarify which interventions work best—and for whom The session concluded on a note of cautious optimism: while anti-tau therapy remains one of the field’s greatest challenges, rapid progress in molecular understanding, biomarker development, and precision medicine is accelerating the path toward meaningful clinical breakthroughs. This episode is ideal for scientists, clinicians, drug developers, and anyone closely following the evolving landscape of tau-targeted therapies and Alzheimer’s disease research. This podcast was created using AI to provide a quick and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2025 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to refer to original conference materials and recordings for detailed information. The AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders, took place on April 1-5, 2025, in Vienna Austria. https://adpd.kenes.com/

  6. 10/16/2025

    Therapy for AD, PD & LBD: Translational Models, Neuroinflammation, and Novel Therapeutic Targets, AD/PD™ Session Spotlight

    In this episode, we spotlight Forum Discussion 06 from the AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference — “Therapy for AD, PD & LBD: Novel Translational Models, New Receptor- and Neuroinflammation-Based Targets – How Close Are We to Success?” The session was moderated by Prof. Gabriel Gold (Switzerland) and Dr. Meg Smith (USA), with contributions from Dr. Pablo Sardi (USA), Prof. Michael Heneka (Luxembourg), Prof. Thomas Südhof (USA), Dr. Taylor Schmitz (Canada), Prof. Frank Longo (USA), and Dr. Cynthia Lemere (USA). Key highlights include: • The ongoing challenge of translating preclinical success into human trials, and the limitations of current animal models • Efforts to develop more human-relevant models, such as those from the NIH-funded Model AD and Marmoset AD initiatives • The potential of cross-species omics approaches to improve understanding between mouse and human biology • Advances in in vitro and organoid models, offering new opportunities to study human-specific neuronal and synaptic functions • The role of AI and data integration in accelerating drug discovery and identifying novel therapeutic pathways • Exploration of pathology spread in Alzheimer’s disease, an area poorly represented in traditional models • Discussion of non-human primate models, highlighting both their translational promise and ethical considerations • The emergence of neuroinflammation, receptor-based mechanisms, and systemic factors as key therapeutic targets • Recognition of resilience mechanisms and sex differences in disease progression and response to treatment This discussion offers a deep dive into the evolving landscape of translational neuroscience, where technology, biology, and innovation intersect to drive new therapeutic possibilities. Ideal for researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals working in neurodegenerative disease modeling, drug discovery, and translational medicine. This podcast was created using AI to provide a quick and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2025 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to refer to original conference materials and recordings for detailed information. The AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders, took place on April 1-5, 2025, in Vienna Austria. https://adpd.kenes.com/

  7. 10/02/2025

    Pivotal Points in Prevention Trials and the New Era of Precision Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease, AD/PD™ Session Spotlight

    In this episode, we spotlight Plenary Lecture 06 from the AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference — “Pivotal Points in Prevention Trials and the New Era of Precision Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders.” The session was chaired by Prof. Gabriel Gold (Switzerland), with the lecture delivered by Prof. Miia Kivipelto (Sweden), an internationally recognized leader in dementia prevention research. Key highlights include: • Results from the landmark FINGER study and the global expansion through Worldwide FINGERS, now active in 70 countries• Evidence showing that delaying dementia onset by five years could cut cases by 50% worldwide • Insights into modifiable risk factors — lifestyle, vascular, metabolic, and environmental — and the importance of early intervention • Emerging studies, such as HAHA, which explores the role of hearing aids in preventing cognitive decline • Long-term cognitive, cardiovascular, and cost-effectiveness benefits of multi-domain prevention strategies • The potential of personalized and precision prevention, combining lifestyle interventions with pharmacological treatments like metformin • Ongoing work to harmonize global research, validate tools, and ensure effective implementation in clinical practice This episode is essential listening for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of Alzheimer’s prevention, precision medicine, and brain health strategies at both individual and population levels. This podcast was created using AI to provide a quick and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2025 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to refer to original conference materials and recordings for detailed information. The AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders, took place on April 1-5, 2025, in Vienna Austria. https://adpd.kenes.com/

  8. 09/12/2025

    Novel Approaches to Accelerate Development of Biomarkers, Imaging, and Therapy of Alpha-Synuclein, LRRK2, and GBA Pathologies, AD/PD™ Session Spotlight

    In this episode, we spotlight Forum Discussion 5 from the AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference — “Novel Approaches to Accelerate Development of Biomarkers, Imaging, and Therapy of Alpha-Synuclein, LRRK2, and GBA Pathologies Linked to PD, LBD, and MSA.” Moderated by Dr. Jamie Eberling (USA) and Dr. Ken Marek (USA), the discussion brought together leading experts: Prof. Fabrizio Stocchi (Italy), Prof. Amos Korczyn (Israel), Dr. Tomislav Babic (Austria), Dr. Maria Maccecchini (USA), Dr. Robert Drolet (USA), Dr. Jose-Alberto Palma (USA), and Dr. Tania Nikolcheva (Switzerland). Key highlights include: • The promise of digital biomarkers, including app-based approaches to monitor disease progression • Advances and challenges in developing alpha-synuclein PET ligands and the importance of curated patient samples • Precision medicine strategies targeting lysosomal, mitochondrial, and neuroinflammatory pathways • The potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists and combination therapies for Parkinson’s and related disorders • Progress toward patient stratification using genetic and biomarker profiles to improve outcomes • Critical reflections on causation vs. correlation in biomarker science • How Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) may serve as a model to accelerate therapy developmentThis episode is relevant for neuroscientists, clinicians, industry researchers, biotech developers, and anyone interested in advancing biomarker science, precision medicine, and therapeutic innovation in Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and MSA. This podcast was created using AI to provide a quick and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2025 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to refer to original conference materials and recordings for detailed information. The AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders, took place on April 1-5, 2025, in Vienna Austria. https://adpd.kenes.com/

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AD/PD™ is the leading international platform dedicated to exploring the latest breakthroughs and treatments in Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, and related neurodegenerative diseases. The "AD/PD™ Session Spotlight" series is an AI-powered podcast that brings you key insights from the AD/PD™ Conference, with expert presentations and research discussions transformed into concise, easy-to-digest episodes. Join us as we uncover the latest innovations, explore groundbreaking research, and discuss the future of neurodegenerative disease treatments and therapies.

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