AAN 2026 — Parkinson's Disease

AAN 2026 — Parkinson's Disease

Dates: April 18-22, 2026 Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA Organizer: American Academy of Neurology Track: Movement Disorders

Overview

The Parkinson's disease sessions at AAN 2026 will address the full spectrum of Parkinson's care and research, from basic science to clinical management. As part of the Movement Disorders track, this session brings together neurologists, researchers, and care providers working to improve outcomes for the millions living with Parkinson's disease worldwide["@aan2026"].

AAN 2026 — Parkinson's Disease

Dates: April 18-22, 2026 Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA Organizer: American Academy of Neurology Track: Movement Disorders

Overview

The Parkinson's disease sessions at AAN 2026 will address the full spectrum of Parkinson's care and research, from basic science to clinical management. As part of the Movement Disorders track, this session brings together neurologists, researchers, and care providers working to improve outcomes for the millions living with Parkinson's disease worldwide["@aan2026"].

AAN 2026 will highlight recent advances in disease modification, neuroprotection, and comprehensive care, while addressing remaining challenges in motor complications, non-motor symptoms, and personalized treatment approaches["@mds"].

Key Topics

Movement Disorders

Diagnosis and Assessment

• Clinical diagnostic criteria
• Prodromal markers
• Neuroimaging biomarkers
• Smell testing and other screening tools

Treatment Algorithms

• Initial therapy selection
• Levodopa optimization
• Dopamine agonist use
• MAO-B inhibitor strategies

Motor Complications

• Motor fluctuations management
• Dyskinesia treatment and prevention
• Off-period management
• Advanced delivery systems

Non-Motor Symptoms

• Sleep disorders: RBD, insomnia, daytime sleepiness
• Neuropsychiatric: Depression, anxiety, psychosis
• Autonomic dysfunction: Orthostasis, constipation, urinary
• Cognitive impairment: MCI to dementia

Emerging Topics at AAN 2026

Alpha-Synuclein-Targeted Therapies

AAN 2026 will feature significant updates on therapies targeting alpha-synuclein pathology:

• Immunotherapies: Active and passive vaccines targeting alpha-synuclein aggregates
• Small molecule aggregation inhibitors: Preventing misfolding and oligomerization
• Seed amplification assays: Using synuclein SAA for diagnosis and trial enrollment
• Strain diversity: Understanding how different alpha-synuclein strains affect disease progression

Gene Therapy and Cell-Based Approaches

Gene therapy for Parkinson's disease is maturing rapidly:

• AAV2-GAD: Glutamic acid decarboxylase gene therapy for subthalamic nucleus (completed trials)
• AXO-Lenti-PD: Lentiviral vector delivering three dopaminergic enzymes (TH, AADC, GCH1)
• Cell replacement: iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons entering clinical trials
• Gene silencing: ASOs targeting GBA and LRRK2 mutations

Precision Medicine in Parkinson's

Genetic stratification is enabling personalized therapeutic approaches:

• [LRRK2](/entities/lrrk2) mutation carriers: GBA-enhancing therapies, LRRK2 kinase inhibitors
• [GBA](/entities/gba) variants: Enzyme enhancement strategies, substrate reduction
• SNCA duplications: Alpha-synuclein-targeted approaches
• Polygenic risk scores: Combining multiple genetic variants for risk prediction

Neuroprotection and Disease Modification

Key trials in disease modification:

• Inosine: Raising urate as neuroprotective strategy
• CoQ10: Mitochondrial support in early PD
• GM1 ganglioside: Restoring dopaminergic function
• Anti-inflammatory approaches: GLP-1 receptor agonists with neuroprotective effects (e.g., exenatide trials)

Digital Measures and Remote Monitoring

Digital biomarkers are transforming PD assessment and clinical trials:

• Wearable accelerometry: Objective motor symptom quantification
• Smartphone-based assessments: Remote monitoring of tremor, bradykinesia, gait
• Voice analysis: Detecting speech changes as early PD markers
• Digital twin models: AI-driven prediction of disease progression

Therapeutic Advances

New Pharmacological Treatments

• Extended-release formulations
• Novel dopamine agonists
• Adenosine A2A antagonists
• 5-HT1A agonists

Deep Brain Stimulation

• STN vs. GPi targeting
• Directional leads
• Closed-loop systems
• Patient selection criteria

Gene Therapy Approaches

• AAV-based gene delivery
• GCH1, AADC, TH genes
• Glutamate decarboxylase
• Clinical trial results

Cell Replacement Therapy

• Stem cell approaches
• Embryonic dopaminergic cells
• iPSC-derived [neurons](/entities/neurons)
• Clinical trial updates

Clinical Management

Interdisciplinary Care

• Movement disorder specialists
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and swallowing therapy

Rehabilitation Approaches

• Exercise-based interventions
• LSVT BIG therapy
• Balance training
• Fall prevention

Psychiatric Manifestations

• Depression and anxiety treatment
• Psychosis management
• Impulse control disorders
• Sleep behavior disorders

Quality of Life Interventions

• Nutritional considerations
• Sleep hygiene
• Patient education
• Support groups

Research

Alpha-Synuclein Biology

• Aggregation mechanisms
• Spreading hypothesis
• Strain diversity
• Therapeutic targets

Genetic Forms of Parkinson's

• [LRRK2](/entities/lrrk2) mutations
• [GBA](/entities/gba) variants
• SNCA duplications
• PRKN, PINK1, DJ-1

Biomarker Development

• Fluid biomarkers
• Imaging markers
• Clinical progression markers
• Treatment response predictors

Neuroprotection Strategies

• Disease-modifying trials
• Antioxidant approaches
• Mitochondrial protection
• Anti-inflammatory strategies

Expected Sessions

Plenary Lectures

• Parkinson's disease: From symptom control to disease modification
• [Alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein): Target validation and therapeutic development

Core Symposia

• Update on dopaminergic therapies
• Deep brain stimulation: State of the art
• Non-motor symptoms: Recognition and management
• Gene therapy and cell replacement

Workshops

• Botulinum toxin injection techniques
• Neuropsychological assessment
• Advanced Parkinson's management

Related Conferences

• [MDS 2026](/events/mds-2026) — Movement Disorder Society
• [AAN 2026](/events/aan-2026) — Main conference page
• [AD/PD 2026](/events/adpd-2026) — [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)/Parkinson's Disease

See Also

• [AAN 2026](/events/aan-2026) — Main conference page
• [MDS 2026](/events/mds-2026) — Movement Disorder Society
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
• [AAN 2026 Movement Disorders Track](/events/aan-2026)

External Links

• [AAN 2026 Annual Meeting](https://www.aan.com/meetings/annual-meeting)
• [AAN Movement Disorders Section](https://www.aan.com/communities/sections/movement-disorders)
• [Parkinson's Foundation](https://www.parkinson.org)
• [Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://www.michaeljfox.org)

References