Researchers at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have created one of the largest reference models ever developed for the human brain, using diffusion MRI scans from more than 54,000 people to chart how the brain’s communication pathways develop, mature, and decline across the lifespan, as reported in Nature Communications.

The study, led by the Institute for Neurosciences CSIC-UMH and EPFL (Switzerland), shows that the molecule OLE helps microglia enclose and contain beta-amyloid plaques, reducing their size and toxicity.

The research, published in the journal Cell Death and Disease, could pave the way for a new strategy to combat Alzheimer’s disease by restoring the protective function of the brain’s immune system.

This year’s recipient of the Sobrato Prize in Neuroscience is Andrew Yang, PhD, whose research has reshaped scientific understanding of the blood-brain barrier and its role in brain health and disease. Yang is an investigator at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease and an assistant professor of neurology and anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco. Launched in 2024, the Sobrato Prize in Neuroscience seeks to bridge the gap between discovery and the clinic, accelerating life-changing brain science with high potential for patient impact. It is awarded to scientists at Gladstone Institutes whose research has a particularly high potential to lead to new therapies for major brain diseases.

Dr. Owen Carmichael has been awarded the James W. and Neil Ann Parks Professorship for Dementia Research, Prevention and Treatment. James and Neil Ann Parks are longtime supporters of Pennington Biomedical. They intend for this professorship to be part of their legacy in understanding, preventing and treating dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and other diseases of the brain, and believe that through this work, new diagnostics and treatments will be developed until a cure is found. Endowed professorships are among the highest academic honors bestowed upon a faculty member and recognize excellence in research, scholarship and leadership.

A specific pattern of brain metabolism visualized with PET imaging can predict which patients are most likely to benefit from Alzheimer's disease therapy. In a retrospective study of patients who received Alzheimer's treatments, those with the identified pattern experienced stabilized cognitive performance, while patients with other patterns had significant cognitive decline. This study was presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2026 Annual Meeting, where it received top recognition as the Abstract of the Year.