Overview

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s proudly presents our 11th Annual National Alzheimer’s Summit, “The Time Is Now: Advocating Alzheimer’s Policy for Every Generation.” Join us as we highlight the importance of caring for the brain at every stage of life, from childhood through the older adult years, and explore the barriers to care facing Black and Latino communities and the specific factors increasing women's risk of Alzheimer’s. With multiple calls to action throughout the two-day summit, our discussions will offer attendees meaningful ways to optimize their brain health and make a difference for everyone affected by the disease.

DAY ONE

Setting Your Brain Up for Success: Brain Care from Childhood through Early Adulthood for Lifelong Cognitive Health

It is never too early—or too late—to start caring for your brain and implementing habits that support brain health. Emerging evidence suggests that up to 45% of dementia cases may be prevented by addressing key factors in brain health protection before midlife. This session will explore how brain health is a lifelong journey and how habits established in childhood and early adulthood lay the foundation for a healthy brain throughout the lifespan.

The “Panini Generation”: Caregiving Under Pressure

This panel will bring together caregivers being pressed from both sides: individuals who are caring for both young children and aging parents experiencing cognitive decline. The more traditional term for this group is the Sandwich Generation, but as those caring for two generations at once attest, this intense period feels more like a panini: squeezed, under constant pressure, with little room to breathe. Caregivers with diverse lived experiences will talk honestly about what that pressure looks like day to day and why protecting their own cognitive and emotional health is a necessity, not a luxury. Panelists will cover practical, evidence-based strategies for preserving their own brain health while responding to the needs of both children and aging parents.

Building Trust: Alzheimer’s Awareness in Black and Latino Communities 

Black and Latino communities are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s but often face barriers to getting resources, care, and support. Building trust through culturally relevant messaging and community partnerships is key to helping more people recognize the signs, seek care earlier, and access resources. This session will explore why Alzheimer’s affects communities differently, what gets in the way of care, and proven approaches that are making a difference. Hear a real-world success story that shows how trusted community outreach can increase awareness, build trust, and help Black and Latino families connect to Alzheimer’s care and support.

DAY TWO

Beyond Memory Loss: Why Midlife Is the Front Line for Early Detection and Brain Health

When people think about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, memory loss is often the first symptom that comes to mind. Yet many individuals experience earlier changes that can be more subtle and less recognized. Changes in decision-making, financial management, planning, behavior, or personality, for example, are often dismissed as stress, menopause, depression, or normal aging. Given that midlife is a time when we routinely screen for cancers, heart disease, and other chronic conditions long before symptoms become severe, why doesn’t brain health receive the same preventive approach? This panel will explore why brain health should, like other conditions, prioritize early detection to improve outcomes, highlighting emerging approaches to cognitive assessment, biomarker testing, and risk identification. Panelists will discuss how earlier recognition and screening can empower individuals to access treatments, adopt risk-reducing lifestyle changes, plan for the future, and participate in research.

What’s New in Science and Policy

This panel will spotlight new advances in brain health and Alzheimer's treatments. Medical devises have not seen the same use in Alzheimer's as they have in other fields like cardiology, but new examples on the horizon could add powerful new therapeutic and preventive options. At the same time, the emphasis on midlife brain health has made the workplace a key area for investing in and preserving brain health, with new tools available to create a healthier, more productive work environment.

Women’s Brain Health: Risks, Research, and What We Need Next

Women are disproportionately and differentially impacted by Alzheimer’s disease: two-thirds of the individuals living with Alzheimer’s are women, and a wide range of influences throughout life—from endocrine and vascular changes to genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors—lead to a woman’s individual risk. An understanding of these factors and their potential impact is critical to delivering effective personalized diagnostic approaches, risk reduction strategies, and disease interventions. This session will bring together researchers with unique and complementary perspectives to reveal new and important directions in the field of sex differences in Alzheimer's.