Three Houston Methodist Hospital neurologists will present research this month at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, the nation's largest gathering of neuroscience professionals.

AAN 2024, to be hosted in Denver April 13-18, provides attendees with the latest educational content, information about scientific discoveries and opportunities to connect with colleagues from around the globe. The 2023 meeting, in Boston, drew more than 15,000 attendees.

The Houston Methodist presentations will be given by Dr. Joseph Masdeu (Alzheimer's and dementia); Dr. Jun Li (peripheral nerve disease); and Dr. Timea Hodics (ischemic stroke).

Read below for more information about the researchers' schedules, topics and work.

Neuroinflammation Co-Localizes Highly with Tau in Mild Cognitive Impairment from Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease

Presenter: Dr. Joseph Masdeu

Details: April 16, 1:50-2:00

Synopsis: To study neuroinflammation in early-onset Alzheimer's disease and its brain topography, compared with that of tau and amyloid, researchers analyzed the brains of 25 patients with early-onset amnestic mild cognitive impairment and 23 healthy controls, both groups with a similar proportion of translator protein-binding affinities. The study found that the propagation of tau in humans is associated with neuroinflammation, a potential therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease. Learn more here.

See Dr. Masdeu's Profile and Published Works

Amyloid PET and Possible Use of Tau PET

Presenter: Dr. Joseph Masdeu

Details: April 13, 10:40-11:10

Synopsis: Part of the AAN 2024 Anti-Amyloid Therapy Bootcamp, this daylong session on Aging, Dementia, Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology will feature training from Dr. Joseph Masdeu on imaging and fluid biomarkers used in recent clinical trials of anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody therapies in Alzheimer's disease. Following the session, participants should be able to understand biomarkers relevant for treatment eligibility and monitoring; identify proposed clinical criteria for appropriate use of anti-amyloid therapies in clinical practice; summarize mechanisms, risk factors and safety monitoring for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities; and assess practice-level adaptations needed for emerging Alzheimer's disease therapies. Learn more here.

ARIA Frequency, Management and Other Side Effects

Presenter: Dr. Joseph Masdeu

Details: April 13, 1-1:30 

Synopsis: Part of the AAN 2024 Anti-Amyloid Therapy Bootcamp, a daylong session on Aging, Dementia, Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology will feature training from Dr. Joseph Masdeu on Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA). Following the session, participants should understand differences seen in brain MRIs in patients with Alzheimer's disease and be able to categorize the two types of ARIA: ARIA-E and ARIA H. Learn more here.

PAK2 is Necessary for Myelination in the Peripheral Nerve System

Presenter: Dr. Jun Li

Details: April 16, 2:36-2:48

Synopsis: Part of Inherited Myopathies and Neuropathies: New Therapeutic Approaches and Observations workshop, a Neuromuscular and Clinical Neurophysiology (EMG) workshop, Dr. Jun Li will present new findings from his study investigating the role of P21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) in the peripheral nerve system. Researchers produced a Schwann cell-specific knockout mouse of PAK2 to evaluate its role in myelination. Deletion of PAK2 resulted in severe hypomyelination, slowed nerve conduction velocity and behavior dysfunctions in the peripheral nerve. Many Schwann cells in sciatic nerves were arrested at the stage of axonal sorting. These abnormalities were rescued by reintroducing Pak2 via lentivirus delivery. Learn more about the presentation here and more about the research here.

See Dr. Li's Profile and Published Works

Enhanced Detection of Reversible Acute Ischemic Stroke: High-Resolution Mapping of Net Water Uptake as a Tissue Clock in Non-Contrast CT Scans

Presenter: Dr. Timea Hodics

Details: April 17, Poster Presentation

Synopsis: Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is typically the initial imaging study for suspected acute ischemic stroke but lacks sensitivity for detecting early ischemia. Net water uptake (NWU) measurement can characterize the ischemic core but is limited by the need CT perfusion. This study introduces an innovative artificial intelligence method to generate high-resolution NWU maps from NCCT and demonstrates its utility in visualizing potentially reversible acute ischemic stroke. Learn more here.

See Dr. Hodic's Profile