2026:
Salk’s
Year of
Brain
Health

Janelle Ayres on immune resilience and the aging brain

See how the immune system helps the body maintain balance, recover from stress, and stay resilient across a lifetime.

Salk’s Year of Brain Health

We are fortunate to live in a time when the average life expectancy in the United States is more than

0Years

But we want those extended years to be healthy ones.

Salk’s Competitive Edge in Brain Health

The Salk Institute is Uniquely poised to drive this special focus on brain health and Alzheimer's prevention.

Foundational Focus

Interdisciplinary "Think Tanks"

Attacking Challenges Together

Trailblazing Technology

Cutting-Edge Capabilities

History of Advanced Brain Science

Pioneering Neuroendocrinology

Foundational Focus

Breakthrough treatments begin with understanding how biology works. Salk’s foundational science seeks answers to fundamental questions about brain function, from neural circuits and protein misfolding to the effects of diet and social environment on cognition. These discoveries create the scientific groundwork needed to develop future strategies for preventing and treating brain diseases.

INTERDISCIPLINARY “THINK TANKS”

Salk’s collaborative research brings together experts in neuroscience, genetics, immunology, cancer, metabolism, and computational biology to address some of the most complex questions in human health. Donor-supported Innovation and Collaboration Grants fuel interdisciplinary biomedical research, enabling innovative ideas and discoveries that can transform science and medicine.

TRAILBLAZING TECHNOLOGY

From brain organoids and single-cell epigenomics to advanced imaging and AI-powered research tools, Salk scientists are transforming how the brain is studied. Researchers not only use leading-edge technologies but also develop new capabilities that reveal the cellular and molecular processes underlying brain function, health, and disease.

HISTORY OF ADVANCING BRAIN SCIENCE

Salk scientists have reshaped neuroscience by pioneering neuroendocrinology, uncovered key immune cell receptors, and proven that adults can generate new neurons. These breakthroughs overturned dogma and set the stage for new ideas, diagnostics, and therapies—a legacy that continues today.

Meet the Scientists

Through the Year of Brain Health, Salk scientists are conducting foundational research to deepen our understanding of brain health and lay the groundwork for Alzheimer’s disease prevention.

Cardiovascular Health

Strong aerobic fitness supports mitochondria, which are key to healthy brain function. Salk researchers study how mitochondrial pathways, microproteins, and inflammation link cardiovascular fitness and brain health.

John Reynolds

Alan Saghatelien

Immune Health

Salk’s NOMIS Foundation-supported Neuroimmunology Initiative examines how the brain and immune system influence each other, including how non-neuronal brain cells support neurons and how damage-repair cycles drive amyloid and tau buildup. Researchers are mapping how genetics, diet, and pathogens shape inflammation. They aim to find points where immune activity can be adjusted to slow Alzheimer’s.

2026:
Salk’s
Year of
Brain
Health

Janelle Ayres on immune resilience and the aging brain