Abstract: We have provided an overview on the profound impact of COVID-19 upon older people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and the challenges encountered in our management for dementia in different health care settings, including hospital, out-patient, care homes, and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also proposed a conceptual framework and practical suggestions for health care providers in tackling these challenges, which can also apply to the care of older people in general, with or without other neurological diseases, such as stroke or parkinsonism. We believe this review will provide strategic directions and set standards for health care leaders in dementia, including governmental bodies around the world in coordinating emergency response plans for protecting and caring for older people with dementia amid COIVD-19 outbreak, which is likely to continue at varying severity at different regions around the world in the medium term.
We have provided an overview on the profound impact of COVID‐19 upon older people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and the challenges encountered in our management of dementia in different health‐care settings, including hospital, out‐patient, care homes, and the community during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We have also proposed a conceptual framework and practical suggestions for health‐care providers in tackling these challenges, which can also apply to the care of older people in general, with or without other neurological diseases, such as stroke or parkinsonism. We believe this review will provide strategic directions and set standards for health‐care leaders in dementia, including governmental bodies around the world in coordinating emergency response plans for protecting and caring for older people with dementia amid the COIVD‐19 outbreak, which is likely to continue at varying severity in different regions around the world in the medium term.
In: Mok , V C T , Pendlebury , S , Wong , A , Alladi , S , Au , L , Bath , P M , Biessels , G J , Chen , C , Cordonnier , C , Dichgans , M , Dominguez , J , Gorelick , P B , Kim , S Y , Kwok , T , Greenberg , S M , Jia , J , Kalaria , R , Kivipelto , M , Naegandran , K , Lam , L C W , Lam , B Y K , Lee , A T C , Markus , H S , O'Brien , J , Pai , M C , Pantoni , L , Sachdev , P , Skoog , I , Smith , E E , Srikanth , V , Suh , G H , Wardlaw , J , Ko , H , Black , S E & Scheltens , P 2020 , ' Tackling challenges in care of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias amid the COVID-19 pandemic, now and in the future ' , Alzheimer's and Dementia , vol. 16 , no. 11 , pp. 1571-1581 . https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12143
We have provided an overview on the profound impact of COVID-19 upon older people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and the challenges encountered in our management of dementia in different health-care settings, including hospital, out-patient, care homes, and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also proposed a conceptual framework and practical suggestions for health-care providers in tackling these challenges, which can also apply to the care of older people in general, with or without other neurological diseases, such as stroke or parkinsonism. We believe this review will provide strategic directions and set standards for health-care leaders in dementia, including governmental bodies around the world in coordinating emergency response plans for protecting and caring for older people with dementia amid the COIVD-19 outbreak, which is likely to continue at varying severity in different regions around the world in the medium term.
Introduction: Many consequences of cerebrovascular disease are identifiable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but variation in methods limits multicenter studies and pooling of data. The European Union Joint Program on Neurodegenerative Diseases (EU JPND) funded the HARmoNizing Brain Imaging MEthodS for VaScular Contributions to Neurodegeneration (HARNESS) initiative, with a focus on cerebral small vessel disease. Methods: Surveys, teleconferences, and an in-person workshop were used to identify gaps in knowledge and to develop tools for harmonizing imaging and analysis. Results: A framework for neuroimaging biomarker development was developed based on validating repeatability and reproducibility, biological principles, and feasibility of implementation. The status of current MRI biomarkers was reviewed. A website was created at www.harness-neuroimaging.org with acquisition protocols, a software database, rating scales and case report forms, and a deidentified MRI repository. Conclusions: The HARNESS initiative provides resources to reduce variability in measurement in MRI studies of cerebral small vessel disease.
INTRODUCTION: Many consequences of cerebrovascular disease are identifiable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but variation in methods limits multicenter studies and pooling of data. The European Union Joint Program on Neurodegenerative Diseases (EU JPND) funded the HARmoNizing Brain Imaging MEthodS for VaScular Contributions to Neurodegeneration (HARNESS) initiative, with a focus on cerebral small vessel disease. METHODS: Surveys, teleconferences, and an in-person workshop were used to identify gaps in knowledge and to develop tools for harmonizing imaging and analysis. RESULTS: A framework for neuroimaging biomarker development was developed based on validating repeatability and reproducibility, biological principles, and feasibility of implementation. The status of current MRI biomarkers was reviewed. A website was created at www.harness-neuroimaging.org with acquisition protocols, a software database, rating scales and case report forms, and a deidentified MRI repository. CONCLUSIONS: The HARNESS initiative provides resources to reduce variability in measurement in MRI studies of cerebral small vessel disease.
In: Smith , E E , Biessels , G J , De Guio , F , de Leeuw , F E , Duchesne , S , Düring , M , Frayne , R , Ikram , M A , Jouvent , E , MacIntosh , B J , Thrippleton , M J , Vernooij , M W , Adams , H , Backes , W H , Ballerini , L , Black , S E , Chen , C , Corriveau , R , DeCarli , C , Greenberg , S M , Gurol , M E , Ingrisch , M , Job , D , Lam , B Y K , Launer , L J , Linn , J , McCreary , C R , Mok , V C T , Pantoni , L , Pike , G B , Ramirez , J , Reijmer , Y D , Romero , J R , Ropele , S , Rost , N S , Sachdev , P S , Scott , C J M , Seshadri , S , Sharma , M , Sourbron , S , Steketee , R M E , Swartz , R H , van Oostenbrugge , R , van Osch , M , van Rooden , S , Viswanathan , A , Werring , D , Dichgans , M & Wardlaw , J M 2019 , ' Harmonizing brain magnetic resonance imaging methods for vascular contributions to neurodegeneration ' , Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring , vol. 11 , no. 1 , pp. 191-204 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadm.2019.01.002
Introduction: Many consequences of cerebrovascular disease are identifiable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but variation in methods limits multicenter studies and pooling of data. The European Union Joint Program on Neurodegenerative Diseases (EU JPND) funded the HARmoNizing Brain Imaging MEthodS for VaScular Contributions to Neurodegeneration (HARNESS) initiative, with a focus on cerebral small vessel disease. Methods: Surveys, teleconferences, and an in-person workshop were used to identify gaps in knowledge and to develop tools for harmonizing imaging and analysis. Results: A framework for neuroimaging biomarker development was developed based on validating repeatability and reproducibility, biological principles, and feasibility of implementation. The status of current MRI biomarkers was reviewed. A website was created at www.harness-neuroimaging.org with acquisition protocols, a software database, rating scales and case report forms, and a deidentified MRI repository. Conclusions: The HARNESS initiative provides resources to reduce variability in measurement in MRI studies of cerebral small vessel disease.
ImportanceOne major advantage of developing large, federally funded networks for clinical research in neurology is the ability to have a trial-ready network that can efficiently conduct scientifically rigorous projects to improve the health of people with neurologic disorders.ObservationsNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials (NeuroNEXT) was established in 2011 and renewed in 2018 with the goal of being an efficient network to test between 5 and 7 promising new agents in phase II clinical trials. A clinical coordinating center, data coordinating center, and 25 sites were competitively chosen. Common infrastructure was developed to accelerate timelines for clinical trials, including central institutional review board (a first for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke), master clinical trial agreements, the use of common data elements, and experienced research sites and coordination centers. During the first 7 years, the network exceeded the goal of conducting 5 to 7 studies, with 9 funded. High interest was evident by receipt of 148 initial applications for potential studies in various neurologic disorders. Across the first 8 studies (the ninth study was funded at end of initial funding period), the central institutional review board approved the initial protocol in a mean (SD) of 59 (21) days, and additional sites were added a mean (SD) of 22 (18) days after submission. The median time from central institutional review board approval to first site activation was 47.5 days (mean, 102.1; range, 1-282) and from first site activation to first participant consent was 27 days (mean, 37.5; range, 0-96). The median time for database readiness was 3.5 months (mean, 4.0; range, 0-8) from funding receipt. In the 4 completed studies, enrollment met or exceeded expectations with 96% overall data accuracy across all sites. Nine peer-reviewed manuscripts were published, and 22 oral presentations or posters and 9 invited presentations were given at regional, national, and international meetings.Conclusions and relevanceNeuroNEXT initiated 8 studies, successfully enrolled participants at or ahead of schedule, collected high-quality data, published primary results in high-impact journals, and provided mentorship, expert statistical, and trial management support to several new investigators. Partnerships were successfully created between government, academia, industry, foundations, and patient advocacy groups. Clinical trial consortia can efficiently and successfully address a range of important neurologic research and therapeutic questions.