Harvard Dementia: A Comprehensive Update 2023

Foundations of Cognitive Aging and Dementia

• Normal cognitive aging and the spectrum of cognitive impairment
• Very mild cognitive impairment and progression to dementia
• Epidemiology, risk factors, and societal costs of dementia
• Pathobiology of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders
• Clinical differences among common neurodegenerative dementias
• Challenges in distinguishing normal aging, MCI, and dementia
• Frameworks for early recognition and accurate clinical assessment

Alzheimer’s Disease Spectrum

• Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
• MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease and prodromal AD
• Alzheimer’s disease dementia phases
• Alzheimer’s Association clinical practice guideline concepts
• Diagnostic and management approaches to the AD spectrum
• Risk reduction, prevention, and future therapeutic strategies
• Clinical treatment considerations for patients and caregivers

Other Common and Atypical Dementias

• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Vascular cognitive impairment and vascular-ischemic dementia
• Frontotemporal degeneration
• Parkinson’s disease with dementia
• Parkinson’s-plus syndromes
• Atypical Alzheimer’s disease variants
• Less common dementias and differential diagnosis strategies

Neuroanatomy and Cognitive Systems

• Neural processes supporting cognition
• Memory systems and dementia syndromes
• Language networks and primary progressive aphasias
• Attention and frontal-executive function
• Visuospatial and motor systems
• Posterior cortical atrophy and network-based presentations
• Linking neuroanatomy to bedside cognitive assessment

Office-Based Assessment and Cognitive Testing

• Practical office-based dementia assessments
• Mental status examination for cognitive disorders
• Use of screening instruments such as MoCA
• Efficient approaches to cognitive screening in clinical practice
• Interpreting cognitive testing patterns across dementia syndromes
• Role of neuropsychological evaluation
• Using testing results to guide diagnosis, monitoring, and care planning

Laboratory Testing, Imaging and Biomarkers

• Appropriate laboratory testing in dementia evaluation
• MRI in neurodegenerative dementia assessment
• FDG-PET in dementia diagnosis
• Amyloid and tau PET imaging
• CSF amyloid-beta and tau biomarkers
• Clinical versus research use of biomarkers
• Appropriate use criteria and diagnostic value of biomarker testing

Clinical Treatment and Pharmacologic Management

• Data-supported pharmacologic management strategies
• Use of cholinesterase inhibitors in dementia
• Role of memantine in dementia care
• Potential benefits, risks, side effects, and warnings of dementia medications
• Antipsychotic use and cautions in dementia
• Antidepressants and behavioral symptom management
• Treatment nuance in interdisciplinary dementia care

Behavioral and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

• Managing problem behaviors in dementia
• Aggression, agitation, and behavioral distress
• Apathy, anxiety, depression, and psychosis
• Education and behavioral interventions as first-line approaches
• Environmental strategies to reduce symptoms and caregiver burden
• Balancing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches
• Holistic care for patients and families affected by dementia

Caregiving, Disclosure and Psychosocial Support

• Disclosure of dementia diagnosis and risk
• Caregiver education and counseling strategies
• Recognizing caregiver burden and burnout
• Community resources and respite care
• Psychosocial and environmental support for patients and families
• Coordinated individualized care planning
• Quality-of-life considerations across the disease course

Delirium, CTE and Special Dementia Topics

• Delirium and dementia overlap
• Recognition of encephalopathy in patients with cognitive impairment
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy as a dementia-related entity
• Differentiating reversible and progressive cognitive symptoms
• Special clinical situations in dementia care
• Risks and complications in medically complex dementia patients
• Practical strategies for complex diagnostic presentations

Medicolegal, Capacity and Safety Issues

• Capacity for medical care decisions
• Capacity for finances, contracts, and independent living
• Driving safety in dementia
• Undue influence and vulnerability concerns
• Medicolegal issues affecting patients and families
• Safety practices to support patients and caregivers
• Balancing autonomy, protection, and public safety

Long-Term Care, Palliation and End-of-Life Planning

• Long-term care and nursing home care in dementia
• Neuroethics in dementia management
• Pain recognition and treatment in dementia
• Palliation and hospice care
• Advanced care planning for dementia patients
• Medical, legal, and ethical issues in end-stage dementia
• Supporting families through end-of-life decision-making

This course is best suited for primary care physicians, specialty physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers, and healthcare professionals involved in dementia diagnosis and care.

The package includes 39 recorded videos and a course syllabus.

Topics include Alzheimer’s disease, MCI, preclinical AD, Lewy body dementia, vascular cognitive impairment, frontotemporal degeneration, Parkinsonian dementias, cognitive testing, neuropsychology, biomarkers, MRI, FDG-PET, amyloid/tau PET, CSF testing, pharmacologic treatment, behavioral symptoms, caregiver support, delirium, CTE, capacity, driving, long-term care, neuroethics, palliation, hospice, and advanced care planning.

Yes. The course reviews appropriate use of biomarkers including CSF amyloid-beta/tau, MRI, FDG-PET, and amyloid/tau PET imaging in dementia evaluation.

Yes. The course focuses on practical diagnosis, office-based assessment, treatment planning, behavioral management, caregiver support, safety issues, and long-term care considerations.

Yes. This product is provided as recorded course access so you can review the material at your own pace.

No. CME credits and certificates are not included with this course package.

You can contact support at support@getmedicalcourses.com.