CIEN holds the first assembly with SCAP-AD volunteers focused on Alzheimer’s prevention

Today, the first of the five planned assemblies organized by Fundación CIEN for the volunteers of the SCAP-AD project has taken place. SCAP-AD is a strategic initiative focused on early detection and personalized prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

The session, held at the Alzheimer Center Fundación Reina Sofía – CIEN, was led by Pascual Sánchez-Juan, Scientific Director of CIEN and principal investigator of the project, who shared with attendees the main progress achieved to date and the new lines of work that will shape the next phase of the study.

During his presentation, Sánchez-Juan thanked the volunteers for their commitment and involvement, emphasizing that their participation is essential to advancing research into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. He also outlined the scientific and healthcare context of SCAP-AD, addressing key topics such as the societal challenge posed by dementia, the paradigm shift towards early diagnosis and prevention, the development of biomarkers, and new therapeutic strategies based on precision medicine.

Throughout the assembly, he also presented the main milestones achieved by the project since its inception, including the creation of clinical and digital cohorts, the collection of multimodal samples and data, and the development of innovative tools based on spontaneous language and digital assessment.

In addition, the new phase of SCAP-AD was introduced, focusing on transforming the collected data into useful scientific knowledge to advance towards earlier and more accurate detection of the disease. Participants were also informed about future longitudinal follow-up proposals, new digital tasks, and potential opportunities to participate in clinical trials for individuals at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The session also included a segment dedicated to raising awareness about brain donation through the CIEN Brain Tissue Bank (BT-CIEN), as well as an invitation to continue being part of the CIEN community through cultural and outreach initiatives such as the Memorables Film Festival.

The meeting concluded with an experimental concert led by Guglielmo Foffani, head of the neurophysiology platform, in a proposal that combined science, music, and active participation.

This has been the first of the five assemblies scheduled by CIEN within the SCAP-AD project, designed as spaces for meeting, information-sharing, and active participation for all volunteers who contribute to advancing research in Alzheimer’s prevention.