Driving global consensus on Alzheimer’s disease imaging BMJ China and West China Hospital’s Alzheimer’s disease imaging roundtable, December 2024 Each year we run more than 20 expert led roundtables, hundreds of webinars, and international panel discussions and forums. These clinically focused events connect our journal communities with evidence based insight from healthcare leaders and decision makers, serving as catalysts for change. The Alzheimer’s disease imaging roundtable, hosted in Chengdu in partnership with the Department of Radiology at West China Hospital of Sichuan University and the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (JNNP) , is just one example of how we deliver this value in action. The roundtable explored how brain scans can help safely introduce new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. These treatments offer fresh hope for millions of people, but they can also cause side effects in the brain, known as amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). These changes can only be seen on MRI scans and may be dangerous if missed. That’s why high quality imaging is so important. It catches these changes early and ensures patients get the safest, most effective care. The hybrid event convened leading neurologists, radiologists, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) physicists, and public health experts from China, the USA, the UK, Switzerland and Asia Pacific. It also convened principal contributors to the white paper on imaging recommendations for monitoring of ARIA, “Alzheimer’s Disease Anti- Amyloid Immunotherapies: Imaging Recommendations and Practice Considerations for Monitoring of Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities”. 38 Policymakers and Radiological Society of North America affiliated guideline developers also contributed, ensuring the dialogue translated into real world, implementable practice change.
Convening experts to strengthen health systems The impact of the roundtable demonstrates how BMJ Group goes beyond publishing the best available evidence. We create, structure, and connect the right voices to amplify their relevance . Clinical relevance: experts called for MRI protocol optimisation to improve detection of ARIA, enabling safer DMT monitoring Global-local integration: discussions bridged international Radiological Society of North America recommendations with local practice in China Knowledge into action: the group drafted regionally adapted consensus recommendations for publication in JNNP , extending global best practices to underserved populations
Pathway to impact: The roundtable directly advanced a key goal: expanding ethical, safe access to Alzheimer’s disease therapies in Asia
“The consensus we’ve reached on harmonising ARIA imaging protocols could reshape how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed and monitored, not just in China, but worldwide.” Professor Na Hu , chief radiologist, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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