Advancements in Immunity and Dementia Research: Highlights from the 2023 AAIC Advancements: Immunity Conference

Courtney M. Kloske*, Simin Mahinrad, Christopher J. Barnum, Andre F. Batista, Elizabeth M. Bradshaw, Brittany Butts, Maria C. Carrillo, Paramita Chakrabarty, Xiaoying Chen, Suzanne Craft, Sandro Da Mesquita, Luke C. Dabin, Davangere Devanand, Violeta Duran-Laforet, Wassim Elyaman, Elizabeth E. Evans, Patricia Fitzgerald-Bocarsly, Kate E. Foley, Ashley S. Harms, Michael T. HenekaSoyon Hong, Yu Wen A. Huang, Stephanie Jackvony, Laijun Lai, Yann Le Guen, Cynthia A. Lemere, Shane A. Liddelow, Alfonso Martin-Peña, Anna G. Orr, Francisco J. Quintana, Grace D. Ramey, Jessica E. Rexach, Stacey J.S. Rizzo, Claire Sexton, Alice S. Tang, Jose G. Torrellas, Andy P. Tsai, Lynn van Olst, Keenan A. Walker, Whitney Wharton, Malú Gámez Tansey, Donna M. Wilcock

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The immune system is a key player in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. While brain resident immune cell-mediated neuroinflammation and peripheral immune cell (eg, T cell) infiltration into the brain have been shown to significantly contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, the nature and extent of immune responses in the brain in the context of AD and related dementias (ADRD) remain unclear. Furthermore, the roles of the peripheral immune system in driving ADRD pathology remain incompletely elucidated. In March of 2023, the Alzheimer's Association convened the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), Advancements: Immunity, to discuss the roles of the immune system in ADRD. A wide range of topics were discussed, such as animal models that replicate human pathology, immune-related biomarkers and clinical trials, and lessons from other fields describing immune responses in neurodegeneration. This manuscript presents highlights from the conference and outlines avenues for future research on the roles of immunity in neurodegenerative disorders. Highlights: The immune system plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The immune system exerts numerous effects throughout the brain on amyloid-beta, tau, and other pathways. The 2023 AAIC, Advancements: Immunity, encouraged discussions and collaborations on understanding the role of the immune system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere14291
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2025

Funding

We would like to thank and acknowledge all conference organizers, speakers, and session chairs for their tremendous contributions to this conference. Additionally, we would like to give a special thanks to additional speakers and moderators from the conference not included in the author list: Maria Teresa Ferretti, Robert Baloh, Mathew Blurton Jones, Ukpong Eyo, David Gate, Todd Golde, Catherine Kaczorowski, Renzo Mancuso, Rebecca Wallings, Caroline Wasen, and Hui Zheng. C. M. Kloske is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. S. Mahinrad is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. E. M. Bradshaw was funded by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the National Institute of Health through the following grants: R01AG076018, R21AG073882, and R01AG067581. B. Butts was supported by National Institutes of Health grant number K23AG076977. M. C. Carrillo is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. P. Chakrabarty was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) grant number RF1NS128626. S. Craft was supported by the National Institute of Health for the following grants (NIH RF1 AG041845, R01 AG10882, and P30 AG072947). S. Craft is additionally supported by Alzheimer's Association Zenith and Part the Cloud programs, the Hartman Family Foundation, and the Roena Kulynych Center for Memory and Cognition. S. Da Mesquita was supported by the BrightFocus Foundation (A2021025S), Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Glaucoma Research Foundation (Catalyst for a Cure Initiative to Prevent and Cure Neurodegeneration), NIH/NIA/Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (P30 AG062677), and NIH/NIA (1RF1AG080556-01A1). V. Duran-Laforet was supported by the Alzheimer's Association, Grant/Award Number: AARF-22-23219 BrightFocus Foundation, Grant/Award Number: A2022006F. W. Elyaman was supported by grants from the National Institute of Aging (5R01AG067581 and 3R01AG067581-04S1), the Parkinson's Foundation (PF-IMP-870699), and the Department of Defense (AL210128, AL200097, and AL230130). E. E. Evans is an employee of Vaccinex, Inc. P. Fitzgerald-Bocarsly is supported by grants from the National Institute of Health (R21AG067368-02S1, 5R01AG053961). S. Hong is supported by the UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI-1011) through UK DRI Ltd, principally funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Neurodegeneration Challenge Network, BrightFocus Foundation (A2021032S), Alzheimer's Association, Anonymous Foundation, and Alzheimer's Society UK. Y. A. Huang is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH AG083943). S. Jackvony is supported by the National Institute on Aging (1F31AG079616-01). L. Lai is supported by the National Institute on Aging (R21AG072234). Y. Le Guen is supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Sklodowska-Curie (grant agreement no. 890650). A. Mart\u00EDn-Pe\u00F1a received partial funding for this work derived from awards from the Alzheimer's Association AARG-D-22-972117, the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease. A. G. Orr is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging NINDS/NIA grant 1R01NS118569. G. D. Ramey is supported by the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AG060393, T32GM007618, 1F30AG079504-01, and NIH P30 AR070155). J. E. Rexach is supported by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, NIH grants (K08 NS105916, R01 AG075802, and RF1NS128800), Alzheimer's Association, and John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation. S. J. S. Rizzo is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute on Aging (U19AG07486, U54AG054345, U54AG065181, and U54AG065187). C. Sexton is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. A. S. Tang is supported by the National Institute on Aging NIA F30 Fellowship 1F30AG079504-01, NIA R01AG060393, and Medical Scientist Training Program T32GM007618. L. van Olst is supported by Alzheimer Nederland Impulssubsidie WE.06-2023-03 and Early Career Grant WE.03-2023-08. K. A. Walker is funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural Research Program. This research was funded, in part, by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural Research Program. W. Wharton is funded by the National Institutes of Health (1R01AG066203-02 and R24AG066599). C. M. Kloske is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. S. Mahinrad is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. C. J. Barnum is an employee of INmune Bio, Inc. A. F. Batista has nothing to disclose. E. M. Bradshaw has nothing to disclose. B. Butts has nothing to disclose. M. C. Carrillo is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. P. Chakrabarty has nothing to disclose. X. Chen has nothing to disclose. S. Craft has served as a Scientific Advisory Board member for T3D Therapeutics, Inc. and for the Neurodegeneration Consortium. S. Da Mesquita was listed as an inventor in patent applications concerning meningeal lymphatic function in neurological diseases. L. C. Dabin has nothing to disclose. D. Devand has nothing to disclose. V. Duran\u2010Laforet has nothing to disclose. W. Elyamn has nothing to disclose. E. E. Evans is an employee and stockholder, Vaccinex, Inc. P. Fitzgerald\u2010Bocarsly has nothing to disclose. K. E. Foley has nothing to disclose. A. S. Harms has nothing to disclose. M. T. Henea has nothing to disclose. S. Hong has acted as a paid consultant to Eisai Ltd, Novo Nordisk, and Alnylam; receives research funding from AstraZeneca and Eisai Ltd; and has a collaborative project with Ionis Ltd. Y. A. Huang has nothing to disclose. S. Jackvony has nothing to disclose. L. Lai has nothing to disclose. Y. Le Guen has nothing to disclose. C. Lemere has nothing to disclose. S. A. Liddelow maintains a financial interest in AstronauTx Ltd and Synapticure. A. Mart\u00EDn\u2010Pe\u00F1a has nothing to disclose. A. G. Orr has nothing to disclose. F. J. Quintana has nothing to disclose. G. D. Ramey has nothing to disclose. J. E. Rexach has nothing to disclose. S. J. S. Rizzo has served as a consultant for Hager Biosciences, Genprex, Inc., and Sage Therapeutics, and holds shares in Momentum Biosciences. C. Sexton is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. A. S. Tang has nothing to disclose. J. G. Torrelas has nothing to disclose. A. P. Tsai has nothing to disclose. L. Van Olst has nothing to disclose. K. A. Walker has nothing to disclose. W. Wharton has nothing to disclose. M. G. Tansey is a co\u2010inventor on the DN\u2010TNF (XPro1595) patent and a consultant to INmune Bio. which is developing the biologic for neurological indications. M. G. Tansey is a member of the MSAG at the Alzheimer's Association. D. M. Wilcock is Editor\u2010in\u2010Chief, of Alzheimer's & Dementia. Paid services for Novo Nordisk. Travel support from ADPD and Alzheimer's Association. Author disclosures are available in the supporting information . We would like to thank and acknowledge all conference organizers, speakers, and session chairs for their tremendous contributions to this conference. Additionally, we would like to give a special thanks to additional speakers and moderators from the conference not included in the author list: Maria Teresa Ferretti, Robert Baloh, Mathew Blurton Jones, Ukpong Eyo, David Gate, Todd Golde, Catherine Kaczorowski, Renzo Mancuso, Rebecca Wallings, Caroline Wasen, and Hui Zheng. C. M. Kloske is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. S. Mahinrad is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. E. M. Bradshaw was funded by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the National Institute of Health through the following grants: R01AG076018, R21AG073882, and R01AG067581. B. Butts was supported by National Institutes of Health grant number K23AG076977. M. C. Carrillo is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. P. Chakrabarty was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) grant number RF1NS128626. S. Craft was supported by the National Institute of Health for the following grants (NIH RF1 AG041845, R01 AG10882, and P30 AG072947). S. Craft is additionally supported by Alzheimer's Association Zenith and Part the Cloud programs, the Hartman Family Foundation, and the Roena Kulynych Center for Memory and Cognition. S. Da Mesquita was supported by the BrightFocus Foundation (A2021025S), Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Glaucoma Research Foundation (Catalyst for a Cure Initiative to Prevent and Cure Neurodegeneration), NIH/NIA/Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (P30 AG062677), and NIH/NIA (1RF1AG080556\u201001A1). V. Duran\u2010Laforet was supported by the Alzheimer's Association, Grant/Award Number: AARF\u201022\u201023219 BrightFocus Foundation, Grant/Award Number: A2022006F. W. Elyaman was supported by grants from the National Institute of Aging (5R01AG067581 and 3R01AG067581\u201004S1), the Parkinson's Foundation (PF\u2010IMP\u2010870699), and the Department of Defense (AL210128, AL200097, and AL230130). E. E. Evans is an employee of Vaccinex, Inc. P. Fitzgerald\u2010Bocarsly is supported by grants from the National Institute of Health (R21AG067368\u201002S1, 5R01AG053961). S. Hong is supported by the UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI\u20101011) through UK DRI Ltd, principally funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Neurodegeneration Challenge Network, BrightFocus Foundation (A2021032S), Alzheimer's Association, Anonymous Foundation, and Alzheimer's Society UK. Y. A. Huang is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH AG083943). S. Jackvony is supported by the National Institute on Aging (1F31AG079616\u201001). L. Lai is supported by the National Institute on Aging (R21AG072234). Y. Le Guen is supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Sklodowska\u2010Curie (grant agreement no. 890650). A. Mart\u00EDn\u2010Pe\u00F1a received partial funding for this work derived from awards from the Alzheimer's Association AARG\u2010D\u201022\u2010972117, the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease. A. G. Orr is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging NINDS/NIA grant 1R01NS118569. G. D. Ramey is supported by the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AG060393, T32GM007618, 1F30AG079504\u201001, and NIH P30 AR070155). J. E. Rexach is supported by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, NIH grants (K08 NS105916, R01 AG075802, and RF1NS128800), Alzheimer's Association, and John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation. S. J. S. Rizzo is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute on Aging (U19AG07486, U54AG054345, U54AG065181, and U54AG065187). C. Sexton is an employee of the Alzheimer's Association. A. S. Tang is supported by the National Institute on Aging NIA F30 Fellowship 1F30AG079504\u201001, NIA R01AG060393, and Medical Scientist Training Program T32GM007618. L. van Olst is supported by Alzheimer Nederland Impulssubsidie WE.06\u20102023\u201003 and Early Career Grant WE.03\u20102023\u201008. K. A. Walker is funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural Research Program. This research was funded, in part, by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural Research Program. W. Wharton is funded by the National Institutes of Health (1R01AG066203\u201002 and R24AG066599).

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • immunity
  • inflammation
  • microglia
  • therapeutics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Advancements in Immunity and Dementia Research: Highlights from the 2023 AAIC Advancements: Immunity Conference'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this