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Salk Institute Salk Institute has declared a bold and timely focus for 2026: brain health.
Salk Institute has declared a bold and timely focus for 2026: brain health. Building on decades of landmark discoveries in neuroscience and a recent emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, this Institute-wide initiative advances research across interconnected areas essential to maintaining cognitive resilience across our lifetimes: cardiovascular fitness, immune and metabolic health, exercise, mental wellbeing, and sleep.
At its core, the Year of Brain Health asks foundational questions. What distinguishes a resilient brain from one vulnerable to disease? How do sleep, metabolism, exercise, immunity, and daily habits interact to protect cognition? What role does inflammation play, and how can we manage it?
Throughout the year, Salk is marking this milestone with public outreach designed to connect leading-edge science with the broader community, including events such as this.
An evening with experts
In February, the Salk campus welcomed the community to Celebrating Salk’s Year of Brain Health, an in-person public event that brought the initiative to life. Attendees heard directly from Salk President Gerald Joyce, MD, PhD, circadian rhythm expert Satchin Panda, PhD, immunologist Jamie Blum, PhD, and neuroscientist Kay Tye, PhD. Through the panel discussion and audience Q&A, attendees learned:
- How our circadian rhythms influence sleep and metabolic health, and how aligning daily behaviors with our internal clock supports lifelong brain function, memory, and resilience against age-related cognitive decline
- How diet can influence inflammation and, in turn, our brain health as we age
- How our social connections shape our emotions and cognition, and play a critical role in maintaining a healthy brain throughout our lives
This event emphasized Salk’s unique strengths: foundational science powered by collaboration, curiosity, and a long-term vision for health.
