AAN 2026 — Alzheimer's Disease

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

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

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

• [p-tau217](/biomarkers/p-tau-217): High diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's pathology, FDA-cleared assays emerging
• p-tau181: Utility in primary care and specialty settings
• [Neurofilament light](/biomarkers/neurofilament-light-chain-nfl) chain (NfL): Disease progression and treatment response marker
• Combination panels: Multi-analyte tests for enhanced accuracy

Imaging 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-up
• Next-generation antibodies: Different binding profiles, improved efficacy

Disease-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 modulation
• Symptomatic + disease-modifying: Combining cholinesterase inhibitors with antibodies
• Precision medicine combinations: Tailoring combinations based on biomarker profiles

Digital Health Integration

Digital biomarkers and remote monitoring are increasingly integrated into AD clinical practice:

• Wearable sensors: Tracking motor function and activity patterns
• Smartphone apps: Monitoring cognitive performance through frequent brief assessments
• Remote cognitive testing: Enabling at-home longitudinal monitoring
• AI-driven analysis: Detecting subtle changes before clinical symptoms emerge

Health Equity in Alzheimer's Care

AAN 2026 will address critical disparities in Alzheimer's diagnosis and treatment:

• Underrepresentation of diverse populations in clinical trials
• Barriers to biomarker access in underserved communities
• Cultural competency in dementia care across different populations
• Health system infrastructure needed to deliver new therapies equitably

Regulatory 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

Related Conferences

• [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