Sponsored by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning
Supported by educational grants from Lilly and Genentech, a member of Roche Group.
Release Date
December 7, 2022
Expires On
December 7, 2023
Faculty
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Andrew E. Budson, MD
Chief, Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, VA Boston Healthcare System
Associate Director and Outreach, Recruitment, & Engagement Core Leader, Boston
University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Professor of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine
Lecturer in Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
Target Audience
This educational activity is designed for primary care physicians, internists, geriatricians,
neurologists, and NPs and PAs who care for patients with or at risk for AD.
Activity Purpose
Alzheimer disease (AD) accounts for an estimated 60% to 80% of cases of dementia, which is
characterized by declines in memory, language, problem-solving, and other cognitive abilities
necessary for performance of daily activities. It is also associated with a significant burden
for patients, their caregivers, and society, which will increase sharply as the number of
patients increases over the next few decades. However, detection of AD remains suboptimal with
many patients not diagnosed, misdiagnosed, or experiencing a delay in diagnosis. There appears
to be a lack of appreciation of the benefits of an earlier, or “timely” diagnosis, for patients
and caregivers, which can permit earlier intervention to prolong independence and functioning
and improve quality of life. Consequently, there is a significant educational need in
identification of symptoms and differential diagnosis, as well as the importance of early
diagnosis. Contributing to this lack of diagnostic expertise, particularly in primary care
settings, is a lack of knowledge about appropriate testing methodologies and their
interpretation, suggesting a need for education on the use of cognitive, imaging, and biomarker
assessments. Finally, the emotional toll of an AD diagnosis can be significant for patients and
caregivers, leading many healthcare professionals to delay or poorly communicate the diagnosis.
As such, training on communication strategies has been recommended. Therefore, it is apparent
that education is needed to improve clinical practices related to the diagnosis of AD. To
improve diagnostic practices across the spectrum of care, facilitate communication, and support
the translation of evidence into real-world practice, this activity employs an instructional
design called “cinemeducation” that uses “films” as an educational strategy to illustrate and
model best practices. In this case-based experience that utilizes a stop-action method of film,
patient/caregiver interactions with physicians are shown, with expert faculty commentary on
these interactions. In addition, evidence and recommendations for ways in which to optimize
physician interactions with patients/caregivers are provided. Through commentary and evidence,
the interactions are replayed to improve practices in the diagnosis of AD.
Learning Objectives
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Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
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Identify the symptoms of Alzheimer disease to differentiate it from other
neurodegenerative disorders and normal aging to gain confidence in making a
diagnosis
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Employ and interpret appropriate cognitive, biomarker, and imaging tests in clinical
practice to improve diagnosis of Alzheimer disease
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Describe the benefits of earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer disease for patients and
caregivers
Accreditation and Credit Designation
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning designates this enduring material for a maximum of
1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with
the extent of their participation in the activity.
To Receive Credit
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2.
Click on “Use Certificate Code”
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3.
Enter the Certificate Code: 47271037
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4.
Complete the posttest (75% passing score required), complete the evaluation, and
your certificate will be immediately available to you.
There is no fee to participate in the activity or for the generation of the
certificate.
For questions, contact Karen Catino at kcatino@achlcme.org.
Disclosure
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) requires that the faculty participating in
an accredited continuing education activity disclose all affiliations or other financial
relationships within 24 months (1) with the manufacturers of any commercial product(s) and/or
provider(s) of commercial services discussed in an educational presentation and (2) with any
ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to this
activity.
The following financial relationships have been provided:
Andrew E. Budson, MD
Advisor or Review Panel member: Lilly, Genentech
Speakers' Bureau: Lilly
Royalty recipient: Oxford University Press, Elsevier
Discussion of Off-Label, Investigational, or Experimental Drug/Device Use: Blood tests for
beta-amyloid, tau, neurofilament light chain, and glial fibrillary acidic protein are not
approved by the FDA.
ACHL staff members and others involved with the planning, development, and review of the content
for this activity have no relevant affiliations or financial relationships to disclose.
Disclaimer
The content for this activity was developed independently of the ineligible company. All
materials are included with permission. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are
not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantor.
This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for
Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Recommendations involving
clinical medicine in a continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity must be based on evidence
that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their
indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to,
reported, or used in CME/CE in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must
conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and
analysis.
This CME/CE activity might describe the off-label, investigational, or experimental use of
medications and/or devices that may exceed their FDA-approved labeling. Physicians should
consult the current manufacturers’ prescribing information for these products. ACHL requires its
speakers to disclose that a product is not labeled for the use under discussion.
CLAIM CME
