Developments in understanding early onset Alzheimer's disease

On September 25 and 26, 2021, the Alzheimer's Association hosted the first meeting focused on people with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD)—sometimes referred to as younger onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Though a diagnosis of AD can be devastating at any age, those with a younger onset—defined as symptoms developing prior to 65 years of age—face unique challenges. EOAD occurs when people are in the prime of their lives, often with multiple responsibilities including careers, community activities, and raising children and caring for older family members. These challenges warrant special consideration and study, yet people with EOAD are often excluded from AD research because of their atypical age of onset. To help fill this gap, we designed and launched the Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADS) to enroll and follow 500 people with EOAD from > 15 sites in the United States, which the National Institute on Aging funded in 2018. The September 2021 meeting was designed to inform people with EOAD and their family members and caregivers about the latest research on the biology of EOAD, treatments in the pipeline, practical considerations about legal and financial arrangements for families, and the support networks available to them. More than 217 registrants attended.