Advancing Research: The ECT-AD Study and Recent Updates

Agitation is present in over 50% of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Severe agitation, characterized by intense physically and verbally aggressive behaviors that pose risks of harm to a patient and staff, is more likely to occur in those with more advanced dementia. There have not been any FDA-approved treatments for severe agitation in people with advanced dementia until the recent approval of brexpiprazole. Psychotropic medications used off-label generally have limited efficacy and risk for adverse effects. Behavioral interventions are not effective in the most severely agitated patients. Alternative nonpharmacological approaches are needed for severe dementia-related agitation refractory to psychopharmacologic and behavioral interventions. Existing literature that provides evidence for the safety and efficacy of acute electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in reducing agitation in this population are limited to case series and clinical reviews. In this session we will describe the ECT-AD study and provide updates on this NIA-funded multisite research consortium clinical trial designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of ECT for severe agitation in advanced dementia.