New Brain-Body Connections Expand Understanding of Alzheimer's Disease
16 November 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
Session Speakers
Maiken Nedergaard, University of Rochester Medical Center/University of Copenhagen
Bart Rypma, University of Texas at Dallas
Elaine Bearer, University of New Mexico
Andrei Vakhtin, University of New Mexico
Qi Yuan, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Session Description
While Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research typically focuses on brain cells, researchers are increasingly looking at how influences outside of the brain might contribute. New research suggests nanoplastics could be damaging blood vessels critical for brain health, and the brain’s waste clearance system could become less efficient as we age. Experts will also discuss the role of the gut in AD, including insights into how long COVID’s gastrointestinal symptoms could worsen, and probiotic supplements might improve, AD outcomes.