Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians involved in the management of elderly patients and patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Statement of Need/Program Overview

The purpose of this educational video is to further educate medical professionals about Alzheimer's disease, early detection and diagnosis, current therapies, and the value and importance of clinical trials.  The basics of Alzheimer's disease will be covered. Medical professionals will gain an understanding of how to actively diagnose Alzheimer's disease, particularly early in the disease process. In addition, awareness of Alzheimer's disease research and clinical trials will be highlighted along with the need for volunteer participation in Alzheimer's clinical trials.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

1. Discuss the importance of early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
2. Discuss how pharmacological therapies currently available and in clinical trials benefit patients with dementia
3. Apply cognitive surveillance in clinical practice using current tests and tools.
4. Express the potential benefits of participation in clinical studies including methods of gaining access in specific geographic areas.
5. Share the experience of early onset Alzheimer's disease from the point of view of the patient and spouse.

Faculty and Presenters

Bob Balfour

Trish Balfour

Harry Johns, CEO, Alzheimer's Association

Steven T. DeKosky, MD
Vice President and Dean
University of Virginia School of Medicine

Ronald C. Petersen, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology
Cora Kanow Professor of Alzheimer's Disease Research
Director, Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Director, Mayo Clinic Study of Aging

Monica Willis Parker, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Wesley Woods Geriatric Center

 

Physician Continuing Education

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and the Alzheimer's Association. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.
The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Name of Faculty or Presenter	Reported Financial Relationship
Harry Johns	No financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.
Ronald C. Petersen, MD, PhD	Consulting Fees: Elan Pharmaceuticals, GE Healthcare Chair Data Committee: Pfizer, Janssen Alzheimer's Immunotherapy
Bob Balfour	Ownership Interest: Elan Pharmaceuticals
Trish Balfour	Ownership Interest: Elan Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer
Steven T. DeKosky, MD	Consultant: Eisai, Elan/Wyeth, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Psychogenics Advisory Board: Pfizer Site Principle Investigator: Elan, Forest Laboratories, Novartis, Janssen
Monica Willis Parker	No financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Name of Planner or Manager	Reported Financial Relationship
William Thies, PhD – Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Alzheimer's Association	No financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.
Jan Hixon, RN, BSN, MA, Trace Hutchison, PharmD, Julia Kimball, RN, BSN, Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, Jan Schultz, RN, MSN, CCMEP, and Patricia Staples, MSN, NP-C, CCRN	No financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.

Method of Participation and Request for Credit

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period May 15, 2011 and May 31, 2012, participants must read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures and study the educational activity. 

PIM supports Green CME by offering your Request for Credit online.  If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please complete the post-test and evaluation on www.cmeuniversity.com. On the navigation menu, click on “Find Post-test/Evaluation by Course” and search by course ID 7481. Upon registering and successfully completing the post-test with a score of 70 percent or better and the activity evaluation, your certificate will be made available immediately.  Processing credit requests online will reduce the amount of paper used by nearly 100,000 sheets per year.

Media

Internet

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and the Alzheimer's Association do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM the Alzheimer's Association. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.