Co-Hosted by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation and the American Federation for Aging Research
July 21, 2026 | Virtual
On July 21, the McKnight Brain Research Foundation (MBRF) and American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) co-hosted a webinar bringing webinar together researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs to explore how our understanding of brain health and cognitive aging is changing. The discussion highlighted major advances in neuroscience, precision medicine, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing a shared goal of moving beyond treating disease to understanding, protecting, and promoting healthy brain function across the lifespan.
Moderated by MBRF CEO, Alice Luo Clayton, PhD, and AFAR Board Member, Sergey Young, the webinar featured Leah Acker, MD PhD, Duke University School of Medicine, and Denise Cai, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, both recipients of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss, as well as neurotech leaders, Amit Etkin, MD, PhD, President and CEO, Alto Neuroscience, and Mariam Khayretdinova, CEO and Co-Founder, Brainify.AI.
The panelists discussed key advancements in studying brain health, including that the field is moving upstream and transitioning from treating disease to understanding and protecting brain function earlier in life. Looking ahead to challenges in the field, the panelists agreed that discovery alone is not enough; scientists in the field need to translate their research into real-world benefits through implementation, data sharing and communications.
Both Drs. Acker and Cai described that cognitive aging is not a story of inevitable decline. Instead the field is shifting toward better understanding how the brain adapts, remains plastic, and may be supported through earlier intervention.
Leah Acker, MD, PhD described how some older adults experience prolonged inflammation following surgery or even relatively minor illnesses. Her research suggests that repeated “small hits” to the body may accumulate over time, contributing to cognitive decline in vulnerable individuals.
Denise Cai, PhD discussed how memory changes with age, including declines in memory precision and the brain’s ability to update memories flexibly. She emphasized that memory remains highly dynamic throughout life and that understanding brain plasticity may open new opportunities to preserve cognitive function before disease develops.