DemaNDs Seminar - 9th February 2026

Speaker: Professor Delphine Boche (Southampton University)

Presentation title:  Can Ab immunotherapy prevent Alzheimer’s disease? A neuroimmunopathological perspective

Abstract:  In Southampton, we conducted a comprehensive neuroimmunopathological investigation over more than 15 years on Alzheimer’s patients who participated in the AN1792 clinical trial—the first active anti‑Aβ immunotherapy, which used full‑length Aβ42 peptide to stimulate the production of anti‑Aβ antibodies. Our findings have significantly influenced the development of subsequent Alzheimer’s immunotherapies, contributing to the emergence of recently approved treatments such as lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kinsula) for early Alzheimer’s disease. However, the occurrence of amyloid‑related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) has limited the widespread implementation of these therapies.

Spontaneous cerebral amyloid angiopathy–related inflammation (CAA‑ri) is an aggressive inflammatory syndrome that arises in a small subset of patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Because of its clinical and pathological resemblance to ARIA, CAA‑ri has been proposed as a valuable model to investigate the mechanisms that drive ARIA.

In this presentation, I will review the neuropathological changes observed following Aβ immunotherapy, examine the immune mechanisms underlying ARIA as highlighted by our study of CAA‑ri, and consider how immunotherapy may ultimately be applied as a preventive strategy for Alzheimer’s disease.

Refreshments will be available in Scafell room (1.05, 1st Floor, Biomedical Research Building, CAV) from 12.00 and the seminar will commence at 12.30pm in the Great Gable meeting room (1.01).  Microsoft Teams details are below, though we encourage everyone who can to join in person.

Microsoft Teams Meeting details:

Meeting ID: 378 631 602 552 9

Passcode: UF33Cj7E