Curriculum Title
Implementing Blood‐Based Biomarker Testing for Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease
ACTIVITY CODE: ALZBIO250
Release Date: January 23, 2026
Expiration Date: January 23, 2027
Statement of Need
Nearly 7 million Americans are currently living with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050 with the aging of the population and the lack of a cure for the disease. However, recognition of the onset of pathologic changes in the brain long before symptoms appear has led to new definitions of the disease and prompted the development of new diagnostic tools and disease-modifying therapies to enable earlier intervention. Unfortunately, even with diagnostic advances, there is no single test for AD and physicians must use a variety of approaches including assessment of family and medical history, cognitive test results, and lab tests/brain imaging. Recently, though, the approval of blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) for detection of neuropathologic changes associated with AD provides a new avenue for earlier, more efficient diagnosis of the disease. Consequently, a key objective for improving the diagnosis of AD is the incorporation and optimal use of BBMs within routine practice. Unlike cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and imaging tests, BBMs are more accessible and cost effective and can be scaled to address increasing test volumes required to confirm amyloid pathology and determine patient eligibility for treatment with disease-modifying therapies. However, use of BBMs in the diagnosis of AD involves a number of considerations that will be addressed in this educational program, such as who should be tested and when? What are recommended BBM testing algorithms and workflows? Which BBM test is best? How should the test results be interpreted? How should test results and a potential diagnosis of AD be discussed with patients and family members? Considering all of these factors, clinicians require training on optimal implementation of BBM testing in practice. This activity will provide you with the knowledge and resources you need to use BBMs as a diagnostic/triaging tool to accelerate a diagnosis of AD and allow for earlier intervention.
Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, learners will be able to:
Target Audience
This activity is intended for primary care providers and general neurologists who most frequently encounter individuals with or at risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.
Faculty
Suzanne E. Schindler, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO
Chuck Vega, MD
Clinical Professor, Assistant Dean
University of California, Irvine
Santa Ana, CA
Disclosure of Financial Relationships
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 all ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to this activity.
Staff and Reviewer Disclosures
ACHL staff members, RealCME 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.
Faculty Disclosures
The following financial relationships have been provided:
Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD
Advisory Board: Eisai, Novo Nordisk
Speakers' Bureau: Eli Lilly, Eisai, Novo Nordisk
Chuck Vega, MD
Consultant: Boehringer Ingelheim, Exact Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning and RealCME LLC. The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning designates this other activity (blended live and enduring curriculum) for a maximum of 3.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completion as AAPA, AANP, and ANCC accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through their reciprocity agreements.
Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
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 the speaker to disclose that a product is not labeled for the use under discussion.
Discussion of scientific information on unapproved uses (SIUU), off-label, investigational, or experimental drug/device use: PrecivityAD2, ALZpath Quanterix, and LucentAD Quanterix tests are not approved by the FDA
Pharmacists should consult with their state pharmacy on pharmacist vaccination authority included within their scope of practice.
Disclaimer
The content for this activity was developed independently of any 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(s).
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.
Method of Participation
Estimated time to complete this activity is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
To obtain credit, a score of 70% or better on the Final Assessment is required. This activity is offered at no cost to participants. Please proceed with the activity until you have successfully completed this curriculum, answered all test questions, completed the Final Assessment, Post Group Assessment, and evaluation, and have received a digital copy of your credit certificate.
For questions, contact Karen Catino at kcatino@achlcme.org
Contact Information
For questions regarding CME credit, contact Karen Catino at the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning at kcatino@achlcme.org
For technical questions related to this activity, please contact support@gathered.com.
Providership
Provided by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL).
Commercial Support
Supported by an educational grant from Lilly.
