Harvard Dementia: A Comprehensive Update 2025

Overview

Harvard Dementia: A Comprehensive Update 2025 provides a practical, multidisciplinary update on understanding, diagnosing, and managing dementia. This course is designed primarily for clinicians who treat older adults or individuals presenting with cognitive concerns.

On-demand neurology education — accessible anytime, anywhere.

Agenda

This comprehensive course agenda covers key topics in dementia care through a series of sessions delivered by experts in the field, providing detailed knowledge relevant for clinical practice.

• Introduction to the Course — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Human Cognition: An Overview — Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Memory Systems & Amnesia — Andrew Budson, MD
• Neuropathology of AD/ADRD: A Guide for Practicing Clinicians — Matthew P. Frosch, MD, PhD
• From Proteinopathies to Neuroimaging & Biomarkers in AD/ADRD: Primer on Practice and Advances — David Wolk, MD
• Morning Coffee Break
• Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias: Global Perspectives and Opportunities — Heather Snyder, PhD
• Alzheimer’s Disease Pathobiological Definitions & Prevention Strategies — Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD
• Panel Discussion and Q&A — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD; Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Lunch Break
• Afternoon Introductions — Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• AD Dementia: Practical Evaluation & Management in Clinical Practice — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Afternoon Coffee Break
• Mild Cognitive Impairment: Prodromal AD and Beyond — Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD
• Advances in AD Experimental Therapeutics — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Panel Discussion and Q&A — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD; Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Cocktail Reception with Faculty
• Morning Introductions — Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Neuropsychology of Aging — Sandra Weintraub, PhD
• Attentional and Executive Systems – Don’t Leave Home without Them — Kirk Daffner, MD
• Frontotemporal Dementias: Focus on Behavioral/Executive Variants — Bruce Miller, MD
• Morning Coffee Break
• Language Systems & Aphasia-Predominant Dementia Syndromes — M. Marsel Mesulam, MD
• Updates on Vascular Cognitive Impairment & Dementia — Charles DeCarli, MD, FAAN, FAHA
• Panel Discussion and Q&A — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD; Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Lunch Break
• Afternoon Introductions — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Lewy Body Disease, and Parkinsonian & Sensorimotor-predominant Dementias — James Galvin, MD, MPH
• Assessment of Cognition in Clinical Practice — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Practical Compensatory Strategies for Cognitive Decline — Lynn Shaughnessy, PsyD
• Assessment of Daily Function and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms/Behavior and Staging of Dementia in Practice — Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Afternoon Coffee Break
• Case-Based Discussion of Lecanemab — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD; Brad Dickerson, MD
• Panel Discussion and Q&A — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Morning Introductions — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Problem Behaviors in Dementia — Helen Kales, MD
• Pharmacological Management of Behavioral Problems in Dementia — Clive Ballard, MDB ChB, MRC Psych, MD
• Morning Coffee Break
• Practical & Ethical Considerations for Disclosure of Dementia-Related Diagnosis and Risk — Jason Karlawish, MD
• Caregiving in Dementia: Impact, Consequences & Opportunities — Mary Mittelman, DrPH
• Panel Discussion and Q&A — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Lunch Break
• Afternoon Introductions — Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Community Advocacy and Activism For Dementias — Katie Brandt, MM
• Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) & Dementia — Robert Stern, PhD
• Afternoon Coffee Break
• Delirium, Encephalopathies and Uncommon Dementias — Jeremy Schmahmann, MD
• Panel Discussion, Q&A and Conclusions — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD; Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Morning Introductions — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Dementia & The Law: Clinical Pearls on Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence — Judith G. Edersheim, JD, MD; Bruce H. Price, MD
• Principles & Practice of Mental Capacity and Competence in Dementia: From Finances to Firearms — Barry S. Fogel, MD
• Driving, Home & Community Safety and Dementia — Margaret O’Connor, PhD, ABPP/CN
• Morning Coffee Break
• Advance Care Planning & Management of End-stage Dementia, Pain, Palliation & Hospice in Long-Term Care — Mary Norman, MD
• Panel Discussion, Q&A and Conclusions — Alireza Atri, MD, PhD; Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc

Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Review latest diagnostic criteria and evaluation strategies.
• Understand diverse types of dementia: Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Lewy body, frontotemporal, etc.
• Apply advances in pharmacological and non-pharmacological management.
• Integrate behavioral, psychosocial, and caregiver support approaches.
• Navigate palliative and end‑of‑life care strategies when appropriate.

Topics Covered

The curriculum typically includes:

• Overview and diagnostic methods for various dementia subtypes
• Neuropsychological and neuroimaging tools
• Medication updates and treatment plans
• Behavioral symptom management and non-drug options
• Support for caregivers and families
• Ethical and end-of-life care considerations

Speakers

• Alireza Atri, MD, PhD
• Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc
• Andrew Budson, MD
• Matthew P. Frosch, MD, PhD
• David Wolk, MD
• Heather Snyder, PhD
• Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD
• Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD
• Sandra Weintraub, PhD
• Kirk Daffner, MD
• Bruce Miller, MD
• M. Marsel Mesulam, MD
• Charles DeCarli, MD, FAAN, FAHA
• James Galvin, MD, MPH
• Lynn Shaughnessy, PsyD
• Helen Kales, MD
• Clive Ballard, MDB ChB, MRC Psych, MD
• Jason Karlawish, MD
• Mary Mittelman, DrPH
• Katie Brandt, MM
• Robert Stern, PhD
• Jeremy Schmahmann, MD
• Judith G. Edersheim, JD, MD
• Bruce H. Price, MD
• Barry S. Fogel, MD
• Margaret O’Connor, PhD, ABPP/CN
• Mary Norman, MD

Target Audience

This course is designed for healthcare professionals involved in dementia care, including physicians in primary care, neurology, psychiatry, and geriatrics; advanced practice nurses; pharmacists; psychologists; social workers; and allied health professionals such as occupational therapists and counselors.

Why This Topic Matters

Harvard Dementia: A Comprehensive Update 2025 addresses critical advances and multidisciplinary approaches essential to the field of neurology. Updating dementia care knowledge supports clinicians in strengthening diagnostic accuracy and management strategies.

This course available through MedHub Central offers relevant clinical insights and evidence-based information, providing healthcare professionals the opportunity to reinforce expertise in dementia care.