The Mind Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) will host a symposium related to the CAS (Center of Advanced Studies at the LMU) international initiative on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
This event is dedicated to the launch of an international study focused on Alzheimer's disease associated with Down Syndrome (DSAD) coordinated by Prof. Jason Hassenstab (University of Washington, St. Louis). This international interdisciplinary research aims to better understand the causes, genetic component and progression of this dementia in individuals with Trisomy 21.
The symposium held at the CIMCYC will serve as a meeting point for an international research network, featuring specialists from Spain, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Argentina and the United States. The study will focus on clinical, cognitive, and biomarker assessments including neuroimaging of individuals living with Down syndrome who are at high genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
During the symposium, participants will review the latest scientific advances in understanding Down Syndrome and other forms of genetic dementias from diverse points of view including neuropsychology, clinical neurology, neuroimaging and other biomarkers.
The scientific event will feature the participation of renowned experts in neurodegenerative disease research. Among them is Prof. Johannes Levin from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, who will share his knowledge of neurodegenerative pathologies and their clinical consequences, Prof. Jason Hassenstab from the Washington University in St. Louis who will report on cutting-edge digital assessment tools for dementia and Prof Andre Strydom from the Kings College in London who will discuss health inequalities in people with intellectual disabilities.
This research project will receive funding of 10 million dollars contributed by the U.S. Government. Furthermore, the Symposium is being held as a precursor to the 2026 IEEE NSS MIC RTSD conference (https://nssmic.ieee.org/2026/), highlighting the connection between research in technology, neuroscience and health.
Speaker Agenda
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Topic |
Presenter |
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8:45 AM 30 min |
Coffee/Settling in |
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9:15 AM 15 min |
Meeting opening, introductions, and welcome to the CIMCYC |
Jason Hassenstab, PhD Washington University, St. Louis Maria Ruz CIMCYC Director |
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9:30 AM 15 min |
Neuropsychological tools to detect and characterize Alzheimer’s disease across the continuum in adults with Down syndrome |
Laura del Hoyo, PhD Sant Pau Memory Unit, Barcelona |
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9:45 AM 15 min |
Tackling health inequalities and avoidable deaths in people with Intellectual disability: The English Learning from lives and deaths of people with learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) programme |
Andre Strydom, PhD King’s College London |
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10:00 AM 15 min |
Measuring cognitive abilities within the context of activities of daily living |
Ma Jesús Funes Molina, PhD CIMCYC - University of Granada |
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10:15 AM 15 min |
Tales from the Alhambra: Comparisons Between Down Syndrome Alzheimer Disease and Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer Disease |
Beau Ances, MD, PhD Washington University, St. Louis |
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10:30 AM 25 min |
Q&A |
Q&A MC: Jason Hassenstab |
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10:55 AM 20 min |
Coffee break |
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11:15 AM 15 min |
COGNITO, a computerized battery for the detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment and dementia |
Nieves Revert Alcántara, PhD San Rafael University Hospital, Granada |
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11:30 AM 15 min |
Mixed Neurodegenerative Pathologies: Clinic, causes and consequences |
Johannes Levin, MD Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich |
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11:45 AM 15 min |
What can we learn from high-frequency cognitive assessments? |
Jason Hassenstab, PhD Washington University, St. Louis |
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12:00 PM 15 min |
Is it possible to conduct research in a clinical care setting? |
Manuel Gómez Río MD, PhD and Ángel Toval Sánchez, MD, PhD Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada |
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12:15 PM 30 min |
Q&A and closing remarks |
Q&A MC: Jason Hassenstab |
Thank you for attending!