AAN 2026 — Alzheimer's Disease Dates: April 18-22, 2026
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Organizer: American Academy of Neurology
Track: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Overview
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events_aan_2026_alzh_0["Key Topics"]
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events_aan_2026_alzh_1["Diagnosis and Biomarkers"]
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events_aan_2026_alzh_2["Treatment Updates"]
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events_aan_2026_alzh_3["Clinical Care"]
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events_aan_2026_alzh_4["Research Advances"]
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events_aan_2026_alzh_5["Emerging Topics at AAN 2026"]
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...
AAN 2026 — Alzheimer's Disease Dates: April 18-22, 2026
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Organizer: American Academy of Neurology
Track: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Overview
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)
The Alzheimer's disease sessions at AAN 2026 will cover the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment, and research for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. As the premier neurology meeting in North America, AAN provides a critical platform for translating laboratory discoveries into clinical practice["@aan2026"].
This year's Alzheimer's track will build on the momentum of recent therapeutic breakthroughs in anti-amyloid and anti-[tau](/proteins/tau) immunotherapies, while addressing remaining challenges in biomarker implementation, diversity in clinical trials, and comprehensive care["@niaaa"].
Key Topics
Diagnosis and Biomarkers
Blood-Based Biomarkers The clinical implementation of blood-based biomarkers is accelerating:
[p-tau217](/biomarkers/p-tau-217): High diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's pathology, FDA-cleared assays emergingp-tau181: Utility in primary care and specialty settings[Neurofilament light](/biomarkers/neurofilament-light-chain-nfl) chain (NfL): Disease progression and treatment response markerCombination panels: Multi-analyte tests for enhanced accuracyImaging Biomarkers
Amyloid PET: Standardization and clinical utility
Tau PET: Correlation with clinical outcomes and treatment response
Neurodegeneration markers: FDG-PET, structural MRI
Clinical Diagnostic Criteria
NIA-AA revised criteria implementation
ATN framework in clinical practice
Early detection in preclinical stages
Treatment Updates
Anti-Amyloid Immunotherapies
[Lecanemab](/entities/lecanemab) (Leqembi): CLARITY-AD 3-year data, real-world effectiveness[Donanemab](/entities/donanemab) (Kisunla): TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 long-term follow-upNext-generation antibodies: Different binding profiles, improved efficacyDisease-Modifying Approaches
Anti-tau therapies in clinical trials
Synaptic protection strategies
Neuroinflammation modulation
Combination therapy approaches
Symptomatic Treatments
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: Optimizing use
[NMDA receptor](/entities/nmda-receptor) antagonists: Memantine combinations
Novel targets: Sigma-1 receptor agonists, 5-HT6 antagonists
Clinical Care
Person-Centered Care
Individualized treatment approaches
Quality of life optimization
Non-pharmacological interventions
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms
Agitation and psychosis management
Sleep disturbances
Depression and anxiety
Caregiver Support
Caregiver education programs
Respite care resources
Financial and legal planning
Health Disparities
Representation in clinical trials
Access to novel therapies
Cultural considerations in care
Research Advances
Basic Science
Amyloid and tau mechanisms
Synaptic dysfunction
Neuroinflammation pathways
Cellular senescence
Genetics
Risk gene characterization
Polygenic risk scores
Family-based studies
Prevention Strategies
Lifestyle interventions
Modifiable risk factor targeting
Primary prevention trials
Emerging Topics at AAN 2026
Combination Therapy Approaches The field is moving toward combination approaches that address multiple pathological targets simultaneously:
Anti-amyloid + anti-inflammatory: Exploring synergy between amyloid clearance and neuroinflammation modulationSymptomatic + disease-modifying: Combining cholinesterase inhibitors with antibodiesPrecision medicine combinations: Tailoring combinations based on biomarker profilesDigital Health Integration Digital biomarkers and remote monitoring are increasingly integrated into AD clinical practice:
Wearable sensors: Tracking motor function and activity patternsSmartphone apps: Monitoring cognitive performance through frequent brief assessmentsRemote cognitive testing: Enabling at-home longitudinal monitoringAI-driven analysis: Detecting subtle changes before clinical symptoms emergeHealth Equity in Alzheimer's Care AAN 2026 will address critical disparities in Alzheimer's diagnosis and treatment:
Underrepresentation of diverse populations in clinical trialsBarriers to biomarker access in underserved communitiesCultural competency in dementia care across different populationsHealth system infrastructure needed to deliver new therapies equitablyRegulatory and Policy Updates
CMS reimbursement decisions for anti-amyloid therapies
FDA perspectives on biomarker-based endpoints
Accelerated approval pathway considerations
Post-approval monitoring requirements for ARIA
Expected Sessions
Plenary Lectures
Alzheimer's disease therapeutics: The path forward
Biomarker-driven diagnosis: Ready for prime time?
Diversity in Alzheimer's research
Symposia
Anti-amyloid therapy: Lessons learned
Tau targeting: Where are we now?
Blood biomarkers: Clinical implementation
Neuroinflammation: Therapeutic opportunities
Workshops
PET interpretation workshop
Biomarker result communication
Clinical trial design
[AAIC 2026](/events/aaic-2026) — Alzheimer's Association International Conference
[CTAD 2026](/events/ctad-2026) — Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease
[AD/PD 2026](/events/adpd-2026) — Alzheimer's Disease/Parkinson's Disease
See Also
[AAN 2026](/events/aan-2026) — Main conference page
[AAIC 2026](/events/aaic-2026) — Alzheimer's-specific conference
[Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
[AAN 2026 Dementia Track](/events/aan-2026/dementia)
External Links
[AAN 2026 Annual Meeting](https://www.aan.com/meetings/annual-meeting)
[AAN Alzheimer's Disease Section](https://www.aan.com/communities/sections/alzheimers-dementia)
[Alzheimer's Association](https://www.alz.org)
References
[American Academy of Neurology, AAN 2026 Alzheimer's Disease Track (2026)](https://www.aan.com/annualmeeting)
[NIA-AA Research Framework Authors, NIA-AA Alzheimer's Disease Research Framework. Alzheimers Dement. 2018 (2018)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2018.02.001)
[van Dyck CH, et al., Lecanemab in Early Alzheimer's Disease. N Engl J Med. 2023;388:9-21 (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36471413)
[Sims JR, et al., Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease. JAMA. 2023;329:1344-1358 (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37140946) Show full description