2026: The Salk Institute’s Year of Brain Health Research
Upcoming events
Science Can’t Wait: A Discovery Series
Webinar Series Part 1: Salk’s Year of Brain Health
Date: January 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Zoom
SAVE THE DATE
Celebrating Salk’s Year of Brain Health: An Evening with Experts
Date: February 25, 2026
Where: Salk Institute
More information coming soon.
A turning point for brain science
We are fortunate to live in a time when the average life expectancy in the United States is more than 78 years. But we want those extended years to be healthy ones.
At the Salk Institute, our scientists have made landmark discoveries about how the brain develops, adapts, and functions. Last year, we focused on new approaches to treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Now, as an extension of that effort, we declare 2026 the Year of Brain Health—a bold initiative to transform our understanding of brain health and lay the foundation for new strategies to prevent Alzheimer’s disease through foundational research on:
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.
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.
Metabolic health
Stable glucose levels and balanced lipid metabolism help neurons survive and limit chronic inflammation. Salk researchers study both common and lesserknown lipid families and how habits like time-restricted eating improve metabolic function.
Exercise
Exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which helps neurons survive and boosts learning, memory, and even new neuron growth. Salk teams are exploring how aerobic exercise and strength training protect cognition, why muscle strength relates to lower Alzheimer’s risk, and how muscle-building pathways may shield the aging brain.
Cognitive health
Cognitive health includes memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and mental health factors like anxiety. Salk scientists are building a cellular map of the human brain to understand how these systems change with age and impairment, while also studying how anxiety, fear, and social isolation affect cognitive decline.
Healthy sleep
Sleep restores neuronal function and resets metabolic balance. Salk researchers are defining how circadian rhythms govern these processes and how disrupted cycles undermine both metabolic and brain health. This work guides practical strategies for strengthening circadian alignment to support long-term cognitive resilience.
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. Here’s what sets us apart:
Foundational focus
Salk focuses on foundational science, answering the core questions needed before new treatments can be created. By uncovering how brain circuits work, how proteins misfold, and how factors like diet and social environment shape cognition, Salk provides the groundwork that is critical for future prevention and intervention.
Interdisciplinary “think tanks” attack challenges together
Salk unites top experts across neuroscience, genetics, immunology, cancer, metabolism, and computational biology to tackle complex problems as a team. With support such as donor-backed Innovation and Collaboration Grants, this model fuels bold ideas and drives discoveries that reset the boundaries of science and medicine.
Trailblazing technology
From brain organoids to single-cell epigenomics, from high-resolution imaging to AI/machine learning tools, Salk labs are equipped with—and, in some cases, themselves invent—cutting-edge capabilities to decode the brain’s environment.
A distinguished 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.