Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

In honor of Alzheimer's Awareness Month, we’re exploring the science and stories surrounding Alzheimer’s disease. 

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Jun-2026 15:15 ET (22-Jun-2026 19:15 GMT/UTC)

13-Feb-2026

 

How the human exposome will unlock better health and medicine:

Exposome Moonshot
Meeting Announcement

A high-level scientific panel moderated by the Financial Times titled: “How the human exposome will unlock better health and medicine”, gathers three leaders of the Global Exposome Forum from the United States and Europe, to brief delegates from the global scientific community on progress made since its launch in Washington D.C. in May, 2025.

Meeting

2026 AAAS Annual Meeting

12-Feb-2026

 

FAMU-FSU Engineering joins Mayo Clinic to research Alzheimer’s disease treatments

Florida State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from Mayo Clinic Florida, Florida State University and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering are collaborating to develop innovative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. 

In research published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, they developed a more accurate cellular model for brain disease research, a tool that could help scientists create better treatments for patients.

Journal

Advanced Healthcare Materials

12-Feb-2026

 

Researchers identify promising Alzheimer’s disease drug target

Indiana University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists found that removing an enzyme from neurons in the brain substantially reduces amyloid plaques — a hallmark characteristic of the disease — and may provide further resilience against disease progression.

Journal

Journal of Fluid Mechanics

12-Feb-2026

UT Health San Antonio announces $5 million gift to the Biggs Institute from longtime supporters Bill and Rebecca Reed

The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center
Grant and Award Announcement

The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio received a $5 million gift from longtime supporters Bill and Rebecca Reed, and re-established an existing dementia precision therapy center in their name.

12-Feb-2026

Cumulative lead exposure linked to increased Alzheimer’s and dementia risk, University of Michigan study finds

University of Michigan School of Public Health
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New University of Michigan research reveals older adults with high cumulative lead exposure face nearly triple the Alzheimer's risk. The study suggests reducing population lead levels could prevent thousands of dementia cases annually.

Journal

Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Funder

National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

12-Feb-2026

UC Irvine-led team creates first cell type-specific gene regulatory maps for Alzheimer’s disease

University of California - Irvine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers led by Min Zhang and Dabao Zhang of the University of California, Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health have created the most detailed maps to date showing how genes causally regulate one another across different types of brain cells affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Journal

Alzheimer s & Dementia

Funder

National Institute on Aging, National Cancer Institute