Dementia: A Comprehensive Update
- Continuing Education
Equip health care professionals with the latest clinical guidelines, diagnostic tools, and emerging disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
- Live Online or In Person
This course is taught online or in person.
Fairmont Copley Plaza | 137 St. James Ave, Boston, MA 02116
$870 Save with early registration
For a full list of profession pricing see below.
View All
Fee increases to $945 after
Continuing Education
Earn up to:
25.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™
View All
Three Days
Please view the Schedule for a full description of the program.
On This Page
Overview
The spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases spans from asymptomatic preclinical disease to very mild cognitive impairment to frank dementia. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a devastating condition that affects patients and their whole family of caregivers at tremendous emotional and financial cost. Dementia: A Comprehensive Update is a three-and-a-half day, annual, review course designed by clinicians for clinicians. The course is organized by Neurology faculty members of Harvard Medical School who specialize in the care of patients with cognitive and behavioral disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, McLean Hospital, and Banner Sun Health Research Institute/Banner Health. The course takes a practical and multidisciplinary approach to understanding and treating dementia and is designed for health care professionals involved in the diagnosis, management, and investigation of disease states causing dementia. This cutting-edge course is in its 29th year, includes locally, nationally and internationally renowned faculty, and attracts 300-400 participants from throughout the U.S. and the world. The organization of the course takes an integrative approach by interweaving lectures within the main program that establish the neuroanatomical and cognitive framework underlying disorders of cognition, address specific diseases (e.g. AD, vascular cognitive impairment/dementia, Parkinsonian dementias, frontotemporal dementias), and discuss the latest clinical practices and research approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of dementing illnesses (e.g. Alzheimer’s Association Clinical Practice Guidelines, practical office-based assessments, application of biomarkers, spinal fluid and amyloid/tau PET imaging in dementia, clinical treatment, and prevention and experimental trials), with optional, fee-based programs. New this year will be a discussion of recently approved disease-modifying therapies for AD. Lectures and programs also provide education on special topics in dementia such as managing problem behaviors, disclosure of diagnosis and risk, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, caregiving in dementia, pain, palliation, hospice care, medicolegal issues, capacity and competence, undue influence, driving, long-term/ nursing home care, delirium and dementia, neuroethics, advanced care planning, and neuropsychology of aging.
Learning Objectives
- Describe current understanding of epidemiology, risk factors, pathobiology, societal costs, clinical differences, gaps in knowledge, and challenges in distinguishing and managing the spectra of normal cognitive aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other neurodegenerative dementias.
- Summarize tiered diagnostic and management approaches, including the new Clinical Practice Guidelines sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association for the diagnostic evaluation of patients with cognitive impairment. Summarize current and future experimental therapeutics strategies under consideration for risk reduction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the AD spectrum.
- Differentiate, based on neuropathology, affected neural systems, clinical criteria and biomarkers, AD and its atypical variants from other common dementias including Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI)/Vascular-Ischemic Dementia, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), Parkinson’s disease with Dementia (PDD), Parkinson’s-Plus Syndromes and less common dementias.
- Identify and explain the importance of evidence-based and coordinated individualized approaches to the evaluation and management of MCI, AD and neurodegenerative dementias that stress combining: (i) early and accurate detection, assessment and monitoring; (ii) psycho-education and non-pharmacological interventions; (iii) pharmacological strategies; and (iv) caregiver, psychosocial/environmental, quality of life, ethical, medico-legal and end-of-life considerations.
- Apply data-supported diagnostic, behavioral, pharmacological, and environmental strategies, including appropriate and tiered use of cognitive tests/measures, labs, and imaging studies/biomarkers; and delineation of expectations, roles (i.e., indications and benefits), cautions (i.e., risks, side-effects, warnings) and treatment nuances in the interdisciplinary management of CI, AD and neurodegenerative dementias.
- Explain the roles of office-based screening instruments, mental status exam (MSE) and neuropsychological evaluation in the diagnosis and management of dementia; develop efficient approaches to MSE and use of screening instruments (e.g. MOCA); and interpret and compare cognitive testing/neuropsychological performance patterns for different conditions and clinical syndromes (e.g. MCI, AD, FTD, primary progressive aphasias, posterior cortical atrophy, DLB).
- Utilize appropriate laboratory tests, imaging studies, and neuropsychological testing for the diagnosis of dementia in clinical practice; incorporate appropriate use of clinical biomarkers (e.g. CSF a-beta/tau, MRI, FDG- and Amyloid-PET) in evaluation of neurodegenerative dementias to differentiate AD and non-AD processes; and explain clinical versus research use, and apply appropriate use criteria/guidelines for the clinical use of biomarkers in the diagnosis of AD-like syndromes.
- Apply data-supported pharmacologic management strategies including the roles (i.e., indications and benefits), cautions (i.e., risks, side-effects, warnings) and potential alternatives to using cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, antipsychotics and antidepressants in dementia and AD.
- Integrate a holistic approach to management of problem behaviors and neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g. aggression, apathy, anxiety, depression, psychosis) in individuals with dementia that stresses education, and behavioral and non-pharmacological interventions as first-line approaches.
- Discuss the important role, and the challenges and risks caregivers face; describe strategies to help dementia caregivers cope and better care for themselves and for patients with dementia including psychosocial counseling, community support resources, and respite care.
- Develop appropriate practices concerning medico-legal and safety issues surrounding patients with dementia, including capacity with regards to medical care, finances, contracts, independent living, and driving; and integrate medico-legal and safety practices to support and safeguard patients and families, and the public-at-large.
- Describe issues related to dementia neuroethics, and implement effective practices in the long-term care/nursing-home environment and in end-stage dementia regarding medical, legal, and ethical issues including recognition and treatment of delirium/encephalopathy and pain, providing palliation and hospice care, and managing end-of-life issues related to dementia.
- Demonstrate neural processes and functional networks that support perception and cognitive systems including memory, language, attentional, frontal/executive, visuo-spatial, and motor systems.
- Distinguish pre-clinical AD, MCI due to AD/prodromal AD, and AD dementia phases.
- Identify delirium/encephalopathy and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy(CTE) as a dementia risks or entities.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Massachusetts General Hospital.
Who Should Participate
Specialty Physicians, Psychologists, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Primary Care Physicians, Social Workers, and Others.
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
Course Directors
Brad Dickerson
MD | Course Director
Lynn Shaughnessy
PsyD | Course Director
Alireza Atri
MD, PhD | Course Director
Clive Ballard, MBChB, MD
Katie Brandt, MA
Andrew Budson, MD
Maria Carrillo, PhD
Kirk Daffner, MD
Charles DeCarli, MD
Judith Edersheim, JD, MD
Barry Fogel, MA, MBA, MD
Matthew Frosch, MD, PhD
James Galvin, MD, MPH
Helen Kales, MD
Jason Karlawish, MD
Marsel Mesulam, MD
Bruce Miller, MD
Mary Norman, MD
Raseeka O'Chander, MA
Margaret OConnor, PhD
David Perez, MD, MS
Ronald Petersen, MD
Bruce Price, MD
Jeremy Schmahmann, MD
Robert Stern, PhD
Sandra Weintraub, PhD
David Wolk, MD
Mary Mittelman, DrPH
Complete Your Registration
Started a registration? Log in to enroll today.
Request Information
Interested in learning more about this program? Sign up for details.
Course Fees
Registration Details
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus, and most of the recordings are available for up to 90 days after the course ends. At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
Early Registration Deadline:
| Role | Course Fee | Early Registration Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $945 | $870 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $595 | $520 |
| PA | $595 | $520 |
| Psychologist | $595 | $520 |
| Resident/Fellow | $595 | $520 |
| Social Worker | $595 | $520 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $595 | $520 |
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 25.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.