This document outlines four formats for teaching approaches about Alzheimer disease: point of care, morning report, noon conference, and self-directed learning. For point of care, it suggests having web-based resources directly accessible in clinical settings to address common questions. The morning report format suggests discussing case-based materials covering major Alzheimer disease points, potentially using online teaching cases. For self-directed learning, it recommends online videos, comprehensive summaries of Alzheimer disease genetics from GeneReviews, and other resources.

1. Suggested Teaching Approaches for
Alzheimer Disease
Format 1: Point of Care (~ 5 min)
Overview Resources available at time of patient contact, to help learner care for patient and advance own knowledge of the topic.
Suggested educational material GeneticTools “Alzheimer Disease At-A-Glance,” www.genetictools.org
 Brief, bulleted summary of the current issues in testing for the ApoE genotype in Alzheimer disease
 Briefly mentions early-onset, autosomal Alzheimer disease and the genes known to be associated with this form of the
disease
Mini-topics
Addressing common questions in clinical
precepting.
Suggested approach Have unified access point with direct links to web-based resources available in the clinic precepting environment.
ACGME/RRC requirements Do these apply to topics covered in precepting?
Format 2: Morning Report (~ 20 min.)
Overview Brief informal discussion of case-based materials presenting major points regarding Alzheimer disease. Could be led by faculty or
chief/senior resident.
Suggested educational material Genetic Tools teaching cases (www.genetictools.org). These cases include key issues, red flags, clinical care issues, risk
assessment, genetic counseling and testing, interventions, and ethical/legal/social/cultural issues. Cases also include lists of
additional resources as well as patient information and references to primary literature.
 Case 14: suspected dementia in an 80-year-old woman. Discusses issues involved in testing for ApoE genotype,
http://www.genetests.org/servlet/access?
id=8888892&key=hfGKlsg8pb7ET&fcn=y&fw=5MYn&filename=/tools/cases/dementia-14/index.html
 Case 15: cognitive difficulties in a 45-year-old man. Discusses issues involved in testing for early-onset Alzheimer
disease, http://www.genetests.org/servlet/access?
id=8888892&key=hfGKlsg8pb7ET&fcn=y&fw=5MYn&filename=/tools/cases/dementia-15/index.html
Suggested pre- reading All attendees: ??
Discussion leader:
Suggested approach Some of the 5-minute mini-topics suggested for Point of Care teaching (above) can be expanded, modified, or combined to work
in a 20-minute teaching discussion. Add a 1 or 2-sentence case at the start to introduce the topic, and spend more time asking
questions and discussing each point. Examples below:
ACMG/RRC requirements ??
Revised 3/31/2006 Page 1 of 3
M. Calanthe Wilson-Pant, MD
McLaughlin Research Institute

2. Suggested Teaching Approaches for
Alzheimer Disease
Evaluation ??
Format 3: Noon Conference (~ 1 hour)
Overview Formal lecture-style presentation of information on hereditary Alzheimer disease.
Suggested educational material
Suggested pre- reading ??
Suggested approach
ACGME/RRC requirements ??
Evaluation ??
Format 4: Self- Directed Learning
Overview AAFP 2005 Annual Clinical Focus, Alzheimer disease, http://www.aafp.org/x33920.xml
 One of a series of online videos on genetic disorders seen in family medicine.
 The Alzheimer disease video features a summary of the genetics of Alzheimer disease, followed by an
example of a physician interview with a young female requesting information on her risk of developing
Alzheimer disease and possible testing. The case focuses on ApoE testing.www.
GeneReviews, www.genetests.org:
 Select Gene Reviews and Search by Disease.
 Comprehensive summaries of the genetics and genetic counseling issues of Alzheimer disease in general, as
well as early- and late-onset forms.
 Authored by experts and regularly updated.
 Associated glossary embedded within each entry.
 A list of resources is included, as is a list of published statements on genetic testing for Alzheimer disease
and references to the primary literature.
 Also features links to Laboratory and Clinical Directories.
Suggested educational material ??
Suggested pre- reading ??
Suggested approach ??
ACGME/RRC requirements ??
Evaluation ??
Revised 3/31/2006 Page 2 of 3
M. Calanthe Wilson-Pant, MD
McLaughlin Research Institute

3. Suggested Teaching Approaches for
Alzheimer Disease
Other Resources (more detail)
OMIM, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
db=OMIM
Revised 3/31/2006 Page 3 of 3
M. Calanthe Wilson-Pant, MD
McLaughlin Research Institute