AAN 2012: Hot Topic Session Highlights

HCPLive will be providing live coverage from the 64th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting starting April 21. At this year's meeting, the AAN will be introducing new sessions that focus on the hot topics in neurology. Here are some of the more notable sessions worth sitting-in on:

Hot Topics in Education: Institute of Medicine Report on Epilepsy [NEW]Monday, April 23

12:30-1:30PM

The Hot Topics in Education Session will address the April 2012 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on the public health dimensions of epilepsy. The session will provide a unique forum combining a didactic overview, followed by a moderated panel discussion, and ending with audience questions and answers for a lively discussion on interpretations of and recommendations regarding the IOM report. The session is open to all Annual Meeting attendees.

Hot Topics ForumTuesday, April 24

5:15-6:15PM

Members of the AAN Science Committee and AAN Scientific Program Subcommittee will note important and interesting abstracts presented at subspecialty meetings leading up to the Annual Meeting that are not on the program but should be heard by a wide audience at the Annual Meeting.

Sex Differences in the Bioenergetic Aging of the Brain: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease Risk

Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD, University of Southern California

Searching for Genetic Influences on Brain Structure

Jason Stein, PhD, University of California Los Angeles

Transynaptic Propagation of Tau Pathology: Neuroanatomical Considerations, Mechanistic Insight, and Clinical Implications

Karen Duff, PhD, Columbia University

CSF as Growth Factors

Christopher Walsh, MD, PhD, Childrens Hospital Boston

Controversies in Neuroscience Session [NEW] Wednesday, April 25

2:00-5:00PM

Join 10 experts in their fields as they discuss five of today’s most controversial topics in neuroscience. Using the debate format, two speakers will take questions and answers— and challenge each other’s knowledge—in each of the following five topic areas:

• ALS (Pacer/TROPHOS trials)
• Stenting vs. Surgery (CREST trial)
• CSF and Alzheimer’s Disease biomarkers
• Autism/Tourette’s therapy
• How much adult neurology training does an child neurologist need?

Clinical Trials Forum

Friday, April 27

12:00-1:30PM

Moderator: Natalia Sana Rost, MD, Member, Science Committee

This midday seminar covers important clinical topics identified from other society meetings that affect patient care. The latest updates within several clinical trials conducted over the course of the last year will be presented with an open panel discussion at the conclusion.

12:00—12:15PM

Fred Lublin, MD, FAAN

“The CombiRx Trial: A Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized Study Comparing the Combined Use of Interferon Beta-1a and Glatiramer Acetate to Either Agent Alone in Participants with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis — Clinical Outcomes”

12:15—12:30PM

Horacio Kaufmann, MD, FAAN

“Treatment of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension with Droxidopa: Results from a Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, Induction Design Study”

12:30—12:45PM

Shunichi Homma, MD

“Warfarin Versus Aspirin in Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction (WARCEF) Trial”

12:45—1:00PM

Carol Koski, MD

“Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Intravenous Gammaglobulin in a Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Trial for the Treatment of Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN)”

1:00—1:15PM

Mark S. Forman, MD, PhD

“The Novel BACE Inhibitor MK-8931 Dramatically Lowers CSF Aβ Peptides in Healthy Subjects: Results from a Rising Single Dose Study”

1:15—1:30PM

Open panel with speakers and closing remarks

Moderator: Jose Merino, MD, M Phil Member, Science Committee

Stay tuned for more highlights from this year's AAN meeting.