This Moment in Alzheimer's 2026
This Moment in Alzheimer's 2026: Taking Stock and Looking Forward
Welcome to our annual summer bonus episode of the Age of Aging, where our Penn Memory Center experts reflect on the latest research from the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). On today’s episode, Age of Aging Executive Producer and PMC Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish sat down with Co-Director Dr. David Wolk and Dr. Chris Brown to unpack their biggest takeaways from their time in London. They discuss everything from new blood-based biomarkers to the latest data on anti-amyloid and tau-targeting therapies as well as what the future of Alzheimer’s treatment may look like.
The Age of Aging will return for Season 6 in September, so please make sure you’re subscribed wherever you get your podcasts, and we’ll see you soon.
Inside this episode:
2:40 – How AAIC Has Changed: The group compares this year's meeting to AAIC 2017 and discusses how the science has shifted to a more clinical focus.
9:26 – Predicting Brain Health: Dr. Brown and Dr. Wolk discuss where p-tau 217 stands as a biomarker as well as new markers like neuronal pentraxin (NPTX) for measuring synaptic health beyond amyloid and tau.
22:42 – The Blood-Brain Barrier: The clinicians provide an update on the two anti-amyloid therapies currently available as well as discuss the brain "shuttle" technology, which appears to significantly improve amyloid clearance and safety.
29:59 – Tau has its Moment: Results from the CELIA antisense oligonucleotide study show a "Goldilocks dose" effect, plus a look at a negative Lilly tau-lowering trial.
35:25 – Closing Highlights & What’s Next: Jason spotlights the LiBBY study, testing a THC/CBD combination for agitation in advanced dementia, before the group previews next year's AAIC 2027 meeting in Chicago.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association and AAIC
“Amyloid removal may reduce tau buildup and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease” (Penn Medicine)
Press release on Phase 2 of the CELIA Study
Press release on LiBBY Trial
Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD, David Wolk, MD, and Christopher Brown, MD, PhD.
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The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production, hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson. Contributors include Morgann Adams, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, Alison Lynn, and Mischa Norton.
The show is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund and Lena Chow.
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