2026 NPS Initiative Meeting
2026 NPS Expert Meeting
4 July 2026
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM local time
Fletcher Wellness-Hotel Leiden, Netherlands
Meeting Purpose: To explore the interface between neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive changes, emerging treatments, and diagnostic testing; while also considering the evolving needs of patients and caregivers as new diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches are introduced and long-term monitoring becomes part of care.
Recent scientific findings have emphasized the importance of detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. It is now clear that the earlier the disease is detected, the more likely new treatments for AD, other neurodegenerative disorders, and the neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia will be effective. Emerging evidence suggests that NPS of dementia may represent some of the earliest symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. In this context, the early detection of NPS, including apathy, psychosis, agitation, and depression, may be important not only for symptomatic treatment, but also as an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, new onset of these symptoms in non-demented individuals have been shown to have amyloid accumulation, the signature pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. This early detection indicating the potential need to initiate anti-amyloid and, eventually, anti-tau therapies.
Building on our previous work on NPS, we aim to focus the next collaborative meeting between industry partners and International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) thought leaders on the importance of NPS as an early manifestation of neurodegeneration. In particular, the meeting will address the need to integrate the detection of NPS as a harbinger of cognitive deterioration of AD. Specifically, we will consider the integration of AD diagnostic markers in those with NPS, consider the detection and management of these two conditions and the opportunities for treating all of these conditions. A better understanding of the extent to which a comprehensive approach, especially in the early stages of the disease, may be synergistic and potentially enhance the effects of each approach when used alone. To that end, we will convene an international group of experts and leading industry scientists to jointly review available published and unpublished data and to discuss next steps toward a better understanding of these important issues.
We anticipate the emergence of a new cohort of individuals who will be either cognitively intact or experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), possibly living with AD. As therapeutic advances slow disease progression, new needs will emerge, including the development of tools and resources to provide emotional and practical support for this growing population living long-term with AD. We believe that IPA is uniquely positioned to initiate a dialogue on these issues among experts, industry partners, caregivers, and patients.
