With sincere appreciation to the Gan Lab and Guo Lab for their invitation and support, on December 15th 2025, the Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders (INPD) at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) hosted the Seminar on Frontiers and Challenges in Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in Shenzhen. The meeting focused on key scientific questions in early AD detection and intervention, with in-depth discussions on non-invasive early diagnostic technologies, disease-modifying therapeutic strategies, and emerging advances in the field. Particular attention was given to APOE4-related diagnostic and therapeutic research, multimodal data integration and analysis, and approaches to overcoming barriers in translational medicine, with the shared goal of accelerating the translation of research breakthroughs into clinical practice. 

        Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that poses a major threat to the health of older adults. Early detection and timely intervention are essential for slowing disease progression and improving quality of life. However, AD prevention and treatment efforts worldwide continue to face common challenges, including limited sensitivity of early diagnostic methods, insufficient effective therapies, and gaps between fundamental research and clinical translation. Within this context,  APOE4—the most prominent genetic risk factor for sporadic AD—has become a central focus for mechanistic investigation and the development of targeted interventions. 

        A major theme of the seminar was the exploration of APOE4-related mechanisms and actionable targets. The program featured a keynote lecture by Dr. Guojun Bu (SZBL Mangrove Forum), a leading international expert in the field. Drawing on decades of research, Dr. Bu systematically highlighted how APOE4 contributes to AD and related dementias through its involvement in multiple biological and pathological processes, including lipid metabolism regulation, Aβ pathology, neuroinflammatory responses, and synaptic function, offering important theoretical support for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. 

        The seminar was chaired and discussed by Dr. Xiaochun Chen and Dr. Jiawei Xin, with presentations from participating researchers including Dr. Dengfeng Zhang, Dr. Fang Xie, Dr. Xia Li, Dr. Chen Ming, Dr. Jing Zhao, and Dr. Tengfei Guo. Speakers shared their teams’ latest findings on APOE4-driven pathogenic mechanisms, as well as newly identified potential therapeutic targets and intervention strategies. These discussions provided valuable scientific evidence for advancing precision prevention and early treatment approaches tailored to high-risk populations. 

        Dr. Wenbiao Gan, Director of the SZBL INPD, emphasized that the seminar was convened to consolidate expertise and consensus across the field and to identify practical paths to address critical bottlenecks in early AD diagnosis and treatment. Participants widely agreed that breaking down disciplinary barriers and strengthening cross-field collaboration—spanning neuroscience, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, and clinical medicine—will be essential for accelerating innovation and achieving translational impact in AD research. 

        Looking ahead, attendees expressed a shared expectation that this seminar will serve as a starting point for building a sustained “clinic–research” integrated collaboration platform, enabling continuous innovation and real-world implementation of research outcomes in AD prevention and treatment.