Dates: November 14-18, 2026
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., USA
Event: SfN Neuroscience 2026 — Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
The neurodegeneration track at SfN Neuroscience 2026 represents one of the meeting's most substantial research themes, reflecting the intense scientific interest in understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders. With thousands of presentations expected across multiple days, the neurodegeneration sessions will cover molecular mechanisms, therapeutic approaches, biomarkers, and clinical trial outcomes.
This page catalogs the major neurodegeneration-related sessions, symposia, and minisymposia at SfN 2026. The detailed program is released closer to the meeting date; this content will be updated as session information becomes available.
The Alzheimer's disease track at SfN 2026 encompasses:
- Amyloid-beta aggregation and oligomerization pathways
- Tau protein phosphorylation, truncation, and spread mechanisms
- Amyloid-tau interaction and synergistic toxicity
- Synaptic dysfunction in early AD
- Neuroinflammation and microglial activation
- Anti-amyloid antibodies (lecanemab, donanemab, others)
- Anti-tau therapies and vaccination strategies
- Small molecule inhibitors of aggregation
- Synaptic protectors and modulators
- Gene therapy approaches
¶ Biomarkers and Diagnostics
- Blood-based biomarkers (p-tau217, p-tau181, Aβ42/40 ratio, NfL, GFAP)
- CSF biomarkers advances
- PET imaging tracers
- Digital biomarkers and cognitive assessments
- Phase 3 outcomes and efficacy data
- Combination therapy approaches
- Prevention trials in preclinical AD
- Outcome measure validation
| Topic |
Description |
| Amyloid Cascade |
Aβ production, clearance, and toxicity mechanisms |
| Tau Pathology |
Spreading mechanisms, strains, and therapeutic targets |
| Neuroinflammation |
Microglia, astrocytes, and complement in AD |
| Vascular Contributions |
CVD-Biomarker interactions and vascular dementia |
| Sex Differences |
Gender-specific risk and progression factors |
The Parkinson's disease track covers:
¶ Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms
- Alpha-synuclein aggregation, misfolding, and strains
- LRRK2 kinase activity and pathogenicity
- GBA1 and lysosomal dysfunction
- Mitochondrial dysfunction in dopaminergic neurons
- Neuroinflammation in PD progression
¶ Genetics and Risk Factors
- LRRK2, GBA1, SNCA, PARKIN, PINK1 mutations
- Risk loci identified by GWAS
- Polygenic risk and gene-environment interactions
- Alpha-synuclein targeting (antibodies, small molecules, vaccines)
- LRRK2 inhibitors in clinical development
- Gene therapy for dopamine replacement
- Cell replacement (iPSC-derived neurons)
- Neuroprotective and disease-modifying strategies
- Motor complications and treatment outcomes
- Non-motor symptoms (cognitive impairment, psychosis, autonomic dysfunction)
- Deep brain stimulation optimization
- Digital health monitoring
| Topic |
Description |
| Alpha-Synuclein |
Aggregation mechanisms, strains, propagation |
| LRRK2 Pathway |
Kinase biology, inhibitors, clinical trials |
| Mitochondrial PD |
PINK1/Parkin, complex I dysfunction |
| Levodopa Pharmacology |
Delivery systems, motor complications |
| Non-Motor Symptoms |
Cognitive, psychiatric, autonomic dysfunction |
- Huntington's disease: Genetic therapies, mutant huntingtin targeting
- Ataxias: Spinocerebellar ataxias, treatment approaches
- Dystonia: Mechanisms and botulinum toxin alternatives
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
- Corticobasal degeneration (CBD)
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
- Kennedy's disease (SBMA)
For dedicated coverage, see:
Sessions covering inflammation across neurodegenerative conditions:
- Microglial activation states and disease relevance
- Complement system in neurodegeneration
- Astrocyte reactivity and dysfunction
- Peripheral immunity interactions with CNS
For dedicated coverage of glial cell biology sessions, see:
¶ Imaging and Biomarkers
- PET tracers for amyloid, tau, and synuclein
- MRI advances for neurodegeneration
- Fluid biomarker development and validation
- Neurofilament light chain (NfL) as biomarker
- Gene therapy vectors and targets
- RNA therapeutics (ASOs, siRNA)
- CRISPR applications in neurodegeneration
- iPSC-derived cell therapies
| Session Type |
Description |
| Symposia |
90-minute organized presentations (3-4 speakers) |
| Minisymposia |
90-minute emerging research (6-8 speakers) |
| Poster Sessions |
Visual presentations with interactive discussion |
| Special Lectures |
Keynote addresses by field leaders |
| Workshops |
Interactive professional development |
- SfN Annual Meeting — Main conference page
- SfN 2025 — Previous year proceedings
- AAIC 2026 — Alzheimer's Association International Conference
- AD/PD 2026 — Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference
- CTAD 2026 — Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease
- MDS 2026 — Movement Disorder Society Congress
- AAN 2026 — Alzheimer's Disease
- AAN 2026 — Parkinson's Disease
The detailed scientific program for Neuroscience 2026 is expected to be published in spring 2026. According to the SfN website, the full session schedule, speaker list, and abstracts will be available closer to the meeting date.
- Abstract submission: May 27 – June 10, 2026, 5 p.m. EDT
- Registration opens: July 15, 2026 (members), July 21, 2026 (non-members)
- Networking event submissions: October 22, 2026
- Meeting dates: November 14-18, 2026
This page will be updated with specific session titles, speakers, and abstracts as they become available from SfN.