Vascular Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Post-stroke dementia affects nearly one-third of stroke survivors, yet effective prevention and management strategies remain limited. This session will explore how acute ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes impact cognition, with an emphasis on secondary prevention strategies such as blood pressure control, lifestyle interventions, and neurorehabilitation. Speakers will discuss novel neuroprotective agents and personalized rehabilitation programs to mitigate cognitive impairment following a stroke. Advances in neuroimaging and AI-based prognostic tools will be highlighted, offering new ways to predict post-stroke cognitive outcomes. This session will benefit clinicians, rehabilitation experts, and researchers working on stroke-related cognitive impairment.

Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes significantly increase the likelihood of developing vascular dementia. This session will examine the underlying mechanisms by which chronic vascular damage, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction contribute to cognitive decline. Experts will discuss breakthroughs in pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to prevent and manage vascular contributions to dementia. Attendees will gain insights into long-term studies linking cardiovascular health with brain aging and explore the latest AI-driven risk assessment tools. This session is essential for cardiologists, neurologists, and public health researchers focusing on dementia prevention

Reduced cerebral blood flow is a major factor in the progression of vascular dementia. This session will focus on the role of white matter lesions, silent strokes, and chronic ischemia in cognitive impairment. Experts will present findings on the use of functional MRI, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and PET imaging to track cerebral blood flow abnormalities. Attendees will learn about the latest pharmacological agents targeting vascular integrity and explore promising lifestyle-based interventions, such as exercise and dietary modifications, that enhance cerebrovascular health. This session is highly valuable for researchers in neurovascular imaging, geriatric medicine, and cognitive neurology.

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of vascular dementia. This session will explore the impact of pro-inflammatory cytokines, microglial activation, and oxidative damage on cerebral small vessels and neurons. Researchers will present innovative strategies to counteract neuroinflammation, including anti-inflammatory drugs, dietary antioxidants, and lifestyle modifications. The session will also highlight cutting-edge biomarker discoveries for early detection and targeted therapy development. This session is ideal for neuroscientists, pharmacologists, and clinicians interested in anti-inflammatory approaches to dementia treatment.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in maintaining neural homeostasis, but its dysfunction is a key contributor to vascular dementia. This session will explore the latest research on BBB breakdown, focusing on how it allows harmful molecules, toxins, and immune cells to enter the brain, exacerbating neurodegeneration. Experts will discuss advanced imaging techniques such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to assess BBB permeability in early dementia. Novel therapeutic approaches, including targeted drug delivery systems and regenerative therapies, will also be highlighted. This session is ideal for neuroscientists, neurologists, and pharmacologists working on BBB-targeted interventions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming the early diagnosis of vascular dementia by enabling predictive analytics and pattern recognition in imaging and biomarker data. This session will focus on how AI-powered tools analyze MRI scans, cognitive tests, and genetic risk factors to detect early-stage vascular dementia with high accuracy. Attendees will explore how AI algorithms differentiate between vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and mixed dementia, improving diagnostic precision. Discussions will also cover ethical considerations in AI-driven healthcare. This session is essential for neurologists, data scientists, and researchers working on AI in neurology.

Mixed dementia, where vascular pathology coexists with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, presents unique diagnostic and treatment challenges. This session will explore the interplay between cerebrovascular damage and amyloid/tau pathologies, emphasizing how their combined effects accelerate cognitive decline. Experts will present new biomarkers and imaging techniques that help differentiate mixed dementia from pure forms of Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia. Attendees will gain insights into tailored therapeutic approaches that target both vascular and neurodegenerative mechanisms simultaneously. This session is crucial for clinicians, researchers, and pharmacologists developing combination therapies.

Modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and sleep quality play a major role in reducing the risk of vascular dementia. This session will present the latest findings on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, intermittent fasting, exercise, and sleep hygiene in preventing vascular cognitive impairment. Researchers will discuss how these interventions improve cerebral blood flow, reduce oxidative stress, and enhance neuroplasticity. Real-world case studies and community-based interventions will be explored to highlight effective public health strategies. This session is valuable for public health professionals, neurologists, and researchers focusing on dementia prevention.

Despite its growing prevalence, vascular dementia has limited FDA-approved treatments. This session will explore promising drug candidates, including vasoactive drugs, anti-inflammatory agents, neuroprotective compounds, and anti-hypertensive therapies. Researchers will also present breakthroughs in clinical trials investigating stem cell therapy, gene therapy, and neurotrophic factors that promote brain repair. Attendees will gain insights into personalized medicine approaches, identifying which treatments work best for different vascular dementia subtypes. The session will also cover challenges in drug development, such as clinical trial design and patient recruitment. This session is highly relevant for pharmacologists, neuroscientists, and biotech industry professionals.

Early diagnosis is critical for managing neurodegenerative diseases effectively. This session will focus on cutting-edge fluid biomarkers (CSF and blood-based), neuroimaging techniques (PET, MRI), and genetic markers that aid in the early detection of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers will discuss the role of tau, beta-amyloid, alpha-synuclein, and neurofilament light chain in disease progression. AI-driven biomarker analysis will also be explored to enhance predictive accuracy. Attendees will learn how early diagnostics can improve patient outcomes and facilitate personalized treatment approaches. This session is valuable for neurologists, researchers, and clinicians working on neurodegenerative disease diagnostics.

Neurodegenerative diseases are often characterized by abnormal protein aggregation. This session will focus on how tau (in Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia) and alpha-synuclein (in Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia) misfold and spread in the brain, leading to neurodegeneration. Experts will present findings on prion-like propagation mechanisms, genetic risk factors, and novel drug targets aimed at stopping protein aggregation. The session will also highlight therapeutic strategies such as monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors designed to disrupt these toxic protein interactions. This session is ideal for molecular biologists, neuroscientists, and drug developers.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases, affecting energy production and increasing oxidative stress in neurons. This session will explore how mitochondrial defects contribute to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease, and how emerging therapies like mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, gene therapy, and metabolic interventions could provide neuroprotection. Recent advancements in mitochondrial imaging and bioenergetics will also be discussed. Attendees will gain insights into how improving mitochondrial function can slow disease progression. This session is valuable for neuroscientists, pharmacologists, and researchers working on cellular metabolism in neurodegeneration.

Chronic neuroinflammation is a key driver of neuronal damage in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. This session will explore the role of microglia activation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and immune system dysregulation in neurodegeneration. A special focus will be placed on the gut-brain axis, discussing how alterations in gut microbiota influence neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. Experts will present potential interventions, including probiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and dietary modifications to modulate immune responses. This session is beneficial for immunologists, neuroscientists, and clinical researchers studying inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.

Gene therapy and CRISPR-based genome editing are revolutionizing neurodegenerative disease treatment. This session will highlight advances in gene-silencing strategies for Huntington’s disease, gene replacement therapy for ALS, and CRISPR-based corrections for inherited Alzheimer’s mutations. Discussions will cover delivery challenges, ethical considerations, and clinical trial progress in gene therapy for neurodegeneration. Attendees will gain insights into how genetic medicine is shaping the future of neurological disease treatment. This session is essential for geneticists, neuroscientists, and biotech professionals working on gene-based therapies.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, and ALS are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, leading to toxic aggregates that disrupt neural function. This session will explore the molecular mechanisms behind amyloid-beta, tau, alpha-synuclein, and TDP-43 aggregation, as well as their propagation within the brain. Researchers will discuss cutting-edge therapeutic strategies, including chaperone proteins, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapies that target these misfolded proteins. This session is ideal for neuroscientists, biochemists, and pharmaceutical researchers developing protein-targeted therapies.

Recent breakthroughs in neuroimaging have transformed our ability to detect and track neurodegenerative diseases at their earliest stages. This session will focus on novel imaging techniques such as amyloid and tau PET scans, functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and molecular imaging that allow for precise visualization of pathological changes in the brain. Attendees will learn how these tools improve differential diagnosis, monitor disease progression, and assess treatment efficacy in clinical trials. This session is beneficial for radiologists, neurologists, and researchers working on neurodegeneration diagnostics.

The brain’s vascular system plays a crucial role in neurodegeneration, with impaired blood flow contributing to cognitive decline in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This session will examine how cerebrovascular dysfunction, blood-brain barrier breakdown, and neurovascular inflammation accelerate neurodegeneration. Experts will discuss innovative therapies targeting vascular health, including antihypertensive treatments, neuroprotective drugs, and lifestyle interventions that promote healthy brain circulation. This session is crucial for neurologists, vascular researchers, and clinicians seeking new treatment avenues.

With the emergence of precision medicine, treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases are becoming increasingly tailored to individual patients based on their genetic, molecular, and clinical profiles. This session will highlight biomarker-driven clinical trials, pharmacogenomics, and AI-powered patient stratification in developing personalized interventions. Case studies of successful precision medicine approaches in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS will be presented. This session is valuable for clinicians, researchers, and biotech professionals involved in personalized neurology care.

Stem cell therapy offers hope for reversing neurodegeneration by replenishing lost neurons and restoring brain function. This session will explore recent advancements in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), neural progenitor cell transplantation, and gene-modified stem cell therapies for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Experts will discuss challenges such as cell survival, immune rejection, and ethical considerations in clinical applications. Attendees will gain insights into ongoing clinical trials and the future of regenerative medicine. This session is ideal for neuroscientists, stem cell researchers, and clinicians exploring innovative treatment strategies.