McCance Center Brain Fitness Quarterly

FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK

Greetings!

The “Dog Days of Summer” have not slowed down the team at the Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health. We have been productive and on the move!

Our research team members have had 65 papers published so far this year. You can find many on our website, here. Additionally, our faculty have been busy sharing and expanding their knowledge at various conferences and seminars.

Speaking of seminars, the McCance Center lecture series has highlighted some outstanding research this summer. We have many more presenters lined up through the end of the year. Learn more about that below.

We are thrilled to share exciting news about a fundraising match for our Pre-AD Initiative in this issue! Scroll down for the details.

As always, we are grateful for those who support our work.

Best Wishes,

Rudy Tanzi, PhD, Director

Fundraising Challenge Helps Launch Pre-AD Platform Trial

We are excited to announce that an anonymous donor has generously established a $20 million philanthropic challenge to support our Pre-AD platform trials. Every gift will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $20 million – unlocking a potential $40 million toward our goal of $50 million.

The Prediction and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (Pre-AD) Initiative will execute platform trials testing novel combinations of natural compounds and FDA-approved drugs to gauge whether they can slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

A platform trial is a type of study that tests several treatments at the same time, using one shared structure. New treatments can be added, and less promising ones can be removed, based on set rules. This approach has already been used in cancer and ALS research, where it has proven to be faster and less expensive than traditional trials.

To learn more about the fundraising challenge, please contact Michael Johnson, Director of Development at mjohnson107@mgh.harvard.edu.

Seminar Series Now Offering

Continuing Education Credit

Beginning next month, the McCance Center Seminar Series will offer Continuing Education credit for physicians and nurses. Launched in 2021, this series brings together scientists and clinicians from across Mass General Brigham to share and explore groundbreaking advances in brain health.

For the 2025-2026 academic year the series is focused on the following key themes:

Genetics of brain aging, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders
Clinical trial methods and design
Lifestyle approaches to brain health (including nutrition, metabolic, and mind-body)
Hormesis
Other emerging topics of interest identified by the McCance Center leadership

Visit the McCance Events page to see our exciting fall lineup!

Science Highlights

Check out these recent and upcoming highlights from the McCance Center:

CNN coverage of the first randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine if intensive lifestyle changes may improve brain health. McCance Center Director, Dr. Rudy Tanzi, is a co-senior author.

The World Medical Innovation Forum next month will feature McCance Center-related research updates:

Dr. Rudy Tanzi will present on two topics: From Biomarkers to Breakthroughs: Advancing Alzheimer’s Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Including Inflammation and GLP-1 Pathways, and Emerging Treatments: Alzheimer’s Disease

Jonathan Rosand, MD, will present “McCance Brain Care Score – preventing dementia, stroke, depression.”

Did You Know?

Long-term stress can damage the brain and increase the risk for conditions like dementia, depression, and stroke. It’s important to handle your stress with breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, and/or other methods.

For more brain health tips, check out the SHIELD Method developed by McCance Center Director, Dr. Rudy Tanzi, here.

on our clinical programs and research initiatives.

If you would like to learn more about how you can support

the McCance Center for Brain Health, please contact Michael Johnson

at mjohnson107@mgh.harvard.edu or 617-643-9989.