2026 Summer Newsletter
In This Issue:
- 2026 Alzheimer's Association Facts and Figures on Brain Health in America
- People Powering Progress
- Dr. Flavin: Advancing Brain Health Through Sports Neurology and Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Neurodegeneration Research
- Dr. Patel: Following the Brain's waste clearance Pathways to Better Dementia Care
- Clinical Trials
- Upcoming Events
The Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care at UCLA has very active teams working on basic research, drug discovery, biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical activity including clinical trials, cognitive testing, and patient care.
Brain Health in America: Key Insights from the 2026 Alzheimer's Facts and Figures Report
By: Monica Moore, MSG, Community Health Program Manager
The 2026 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures Report was released earlier this year and once again highlights the impact of this disease on our communities and country. The report provides an overview of the prevalence, impact, cost, and care of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States.
According to the report, an estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. Unless major scientific breakthroughs in treatment occur, that number is projected to nearly double to 13.8 million by 2060. As the U.S. population continues to age—driven by increased life expectancy, low birth rates, and the aging Baby Boomer generation—the number of people affected by Alzheimer's is expected to rise significantly. Alzheimer's disease is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death among older adults in California.
The report emphasizes the importance of early detection, effective treatment, quality care, and brain health education to help reduce individual risk and improve personalized care.
In recent years, scientists have identified that the changes in the brain associated with AD begin on average 20 years before clinical symptoms appear. This knowledge has influenced risk reduction research and encouraged the discussion of brain-healthy lifestyles. Many Americans state that maintaining brain health is important as they age, but most do not know what steps to take to do so. The Facts and Figures Report included a Special Report: Brain Health in America: Understanding and Supporting Lifelong Cognitive Health. This report discusses the perceptions of brain health among US adults. Some of the key findings are:
- Nearly nine in 10 U.S. adults (88%) say maintaining brain health as they age is very important, and 99% say it is at least as important as physical health.
- Yet only 9% say they know a lot about how to maintain their brain health.
Most believe lifestyle behaviors such as diet, physical activity, and sleep play an important role in maintaining brain health, but fewer connect these behaviors with reducing dementia risk:
When asked about specific habits that support brain health, they most often cite:
- Protecting against head injury (82%)
- Not smoking (72%)
- Managing stress (71%)
- Treating depression (71%)
Adults are very interested in programs designed to support brain health, but barriers remain:
Nearly three-quarters of adults (73%) say they would be interested in participating in programs designed to support brain health.
They are most likely to participate in:
- Cognitive exercises (57%)
- Health monitoring (46%)
- Nutrition (36%)
- Physical activity (26%)
While people are interested in brain health programs, the overwhelming number of people interviewed do not participate in a program or know where to start. Much of the current research about brain health comes from the Alzheimer’s Association U.S. POINTER study. U.S. POINTER is a randomized controlled clinical trial in the United States with the aim of demonstrating that realistic and sustainable healthy lifestyle interventions can protect cognitive function. Following a structured program of the POINTER study, participants showed improved cognition and cognitive scores equivalent to those of people who were up to two years younger.
Communities need to begin to prioritize the message of brain health and allow this phrase and action steps to become part of the conversation. Brain health and dementia risk are modifiable, and the special report highlights the importance of building better brain health habits. Research sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association at UCLA and other academic institutions around the country will help to move forward the path of risk reduction, which could hopefully lead to a decrease in AD cases.
To read the full 2026 Facts and Figures Report, please visit: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures.
To contribute or learn more about supporting the Easton Center, please contact Jessica Vrazilek, Director of Development at (310) 869-8611 or jvrazilek@mednet.ucla.edu.
People Powering Progress
By: Jason Hinman, MD, PhD, Center Director and Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
As the echos from Silicon Valley abound and the realization of AI penetrating into so many areas of daily life as well as scientific endeavors, this summer's Easton Center Newsletter is a reminder that people will always be the true drivers of change. No matter how large the compute capacity of the world grows to, motivated individuals with a passion for and understanding of human suffering will be the ones that bring new advancements. Among many reasons that mark the excellence of UCLA, people are and will always be its greatest asset. While many might believe that it is the sunshine and ocean that attract people to study and work at UCLA, I firmly believe that it is the talented and motivated collection of people that generates its momentum and continued success.
This past year, we welcomed two new junior faculty to the Easton Center that exemplify this trait. Drs. William Flavin and Tirth Patel are both physician-scientists with clinical and research expertise in neurodegenerative disease including Alzheimer’s disease. I have come know both over many years during their training and they each bring a unique and valuable new perspective to the clinical care and scientific endeavors of the Easton Center.
Dr. Flavin is interested in how repetitive traumatic brain injury damages the brain and may trigger late life neurodegenerative disease. His clinical practice focuses on this type of patient with early and mid-life brain trauma who may be at risk for late life cognitive decline. As he talks about in his biography, in part this interest is selfish as he played several years of college football at Notre Dame before pursuing his medical and scientific career. His scientific work in the lab focuses on identifying the pathways that might facilitate protein aggregates triggered by trauma to persist and accumulate in later life. This merging of his life experience with his professional pursuits gives him a unique perspective that informs his work and makes me proud to call him a colleague.
Dr. Tirth Patel has been thinking about Alzheimer’s disease since he first landed at UCLA as an undergraduate. His pioneering work as a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Dave Holtzman at WashU seeded fundamental concepts about how tau is cleared from the brain that he remains motivated to understand some 10 years later. His clinical practice focused on individuals with age-related neurodegenerative diseases and his scientific work is focused on identifying the mechanisms of passive lymphatic clearance of tau from the brain. He cares deeply about his patients while his drive and compassion for seeking an end to Alzheimer’s disease are palpable.
As these talented new faculty illustrate, the Easton Center is a special place that is more than the sum of its parts. It is a swarm of agents for change powered not by faceless chips in a data center but by the faces of people working every day to bring new diagnostics, treatments, and solutions for those struggling with dementia.
Thank you for your support in our shared mission.
Dr. Flavin: Advancing Brain Health Through Sports Neurology and Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Neurodegeneration Research
Dr. William Flavin's path to becoming a physician-scientist began on the football field. A former collegiate football player at the University of Notre Dame, he developed a passion for science and medicine alongside his athletic pursuits from a young age. He earned a degree in Biochemistry before completing MD/PhD training at Loyola University Chicago, where his research focused on protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disease. After residency training in adult neurology and fellowship training in sports neurology at UCLA, he joined the faculty in 2025. Today, he combines a clinical practice in sports neurology with a research program focused on traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Dr. Flavin cares for patients with acute concussion occurring across the spectrum from youth to adults, amateur to current or retired professional athletes, civilian to active duty or veteran military servicemembers. His clinical work focuses on helping patients recover from acute and persisting symptoms after concussion and protecting long-term brain health in patients with a substantial history of concussion or repetitive head impacts who may experience cognitive, behavioral, or mood symptoms later in life. These experiences directly inform his research, which focuses on uncovering mechanisms of disease in TBI-related neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and CTE, and promoting resilience factors to support long-term brain health after TBI.
A central focus of Dr. Flavin's laboratory is the protein tau, whose abnormal accumulation is a hallmark of both Alzheimer's disease and CTE. By studying how tau aggregates form, spread, and are cleared, his team aims to uncover the biological mechanisms linking brain injury to neurodegeneration and identify new opportunities for therapeutic intervention to reduce the risk of these diseases for TBI-affected patients.
One recent project, conducted in collaboration with his laboratory mentor Dr. Chao Peng, led to the development of a novel cellular biosensor that allows researchers to study tau aggregation using brain-derived tissue from patients with Alzheimer's disease and CTE. The platform enables investigators to observe how pathological tau acts as a "seed" that promotes further protein aggregation, providing new insights into the amplification and clearance of disease-associated tau. This innovative approach offers a powerful new tool for understanding disease progression and exploring future treatment strategies, made possible through the legacy of brain donation from patients and families.
“My goal is to promote and protect brain health for athletes of all kinds, and to partner with patients and families along their care journey to improve quality of life and drive progress in the field through our shared work.”
A Personal Connection to the Mission
Dr. Flavin's career reflects the intersection of his lifelong interests in athletics, neuroscience, and patient care. As a former athlete, he recognized a unique opportunity to support individuals affected by brain injury while advancing research that could improve outcomes for future generations. He is particularly inspired by patients and families who participate in research and contribute to a deeper understanding of brain health and neurodegenerative disease.
He is also proud to be part of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care. For Dr. Flavin, the Center's emphasis on both research and care reflects a commitment to advancing scientific discovery while supporting patients and families facing Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. He is especially inspired by the Center's unique connection to athletics and innovation through the legacy of the Easton family, aligning closely with his own professional journey.
Outside of work, Dr. Flavin credits his family as his greatest source of inspiration. He is grateful for the support of his wife, Ashley, and their four children, who bring joy, perspective, and motivation to his daily life. He also acknowledges the influence of his father, Michael Flavin, a scientist whose example first sparked his interest in biomedical research. As he continues to build his research program, Dr. Flavin remains committed to advancing understanding of TBI-related neurodegeneration and improving brain health for patients and families alike.
Dr. Patel: Following the Brain's Waste Clearance Pathways to Better Dementia Care
Dr. Tirth Patel has built his career around understanding how the brain maintains its health by clearing away harmful proteins and waste products. A UCLA alumnus, he earned his undergraduate degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics before completing MD and PhD training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in the laboratory of Dr. David Holtzman. His doctoral research focused on tau protein and its role in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. He later returned to UCLA for neurology residency training, followed by fellowship training at the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care and NIH-funded research in the laboratory of Dr. Jason Hinman. Today, he joins the Easton Center and UCLA Department of Neurology as an Assistant Professor, where he is establishing a research program focused on the brain's clearance systems and their role in neurodegenerative disease.
Dr. Patel's research centers on the meningeal lymphatic system, a network of vessels that helps remove fluid and waste products from the brain. Growing evidence suggests that dysfunction in these pathways may contribute to the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. By studying how the brain's natural clearance systems operate and respond to disease, his work aims to identify new approaches for preserving brain health and slowing neurodegeneration.
A major focus of his research has been the study of lymphatic endothelial cells, the specialized cells that line lymphatic vessels. During his fellowship in Dr. Jason Hinman's laboratory, he discovered that these cells can adapt their behavior in response to the buildup of toxic tau protein, potentially enhancing its removal from the brain into the bloodstream. These findings have expanded understanding of the brain's natural defense mechanisms and suggest new opportunities for therapies that support the body's own clearance pathways. While the work remains in its early stages, Dr. Patel is encouraged by the possibility that strengthening these systems could one day help slow disease progression and preserve cognitive function.
As a physician-scientist, Dr. Patel values the close connection between patient care and scientific discovery. His experiences in the clinic help shape the questions he pursues in the laboratory, while advances in research inform his approach to caring for patients and families affected by dementia. This exchange between medicine and science continues to guide his work and future goals.
“We are at an inflection point in the field of dementia, with new diagnostic tools and treatments and more on the horizon. As a physician-scientist I feel privileged that I can apply lessons from my patients in clinic to my work in the lab.”
A Personal Connection to the Mission
Dr. Patel often describes himself as a "plumber of the brain," a reflection of his fascination with the systems responsible for keeping the brain healthy. His curiosity about how the brain clears harmful proteins has shaped his scientific journey and continues to drive the development of his research program.
He is especially energized by the rapid progress occurring across the dementia field. With advances in blood-based diagnostics, imaging technologies, and emerging treatments, Dr. Patel believes researchers are entering a transformative era in Alzheimer's disease research. He feels privileged to contribute to this momentum and views the collaborative environment of the Easton Center as an ideal place to launch his career as an independent investigator.
Clinical Research Opportunities
If you are interested in advancing Alzheimer’s disease research, we invite you to consider participating in a study through the ADRC Potential Participant Pool. Below is a list of currently recruiting trials. For a complete list of enrolling studies, please visit our Clinical Studies page.
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES:
- ARTFL-LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ALLFTD) Study
- Alzheimer's Association Study of Latino Brain Health and Cognition Study
- BrightFocus Neuroimaging in Aging Study
- Dementia Research Focus Group
- Family History and Genetics Risk Factors for Dementia Focus Group
- Generating Induced Plurpotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) to Study Dementia and Genetic Risk (iPSC Study)
- Resilience/Resistance Against Alzheimer's Disease in Centenarians and Offspring (RADCO) Study
INTERVENTIONAL STUDIES:
- Brain Recovery and Individualized Neuromodulation (BRAIN Trial)
- Microbiota Mediated Flavonoid Metabolites for Cognitive Health (MAEVE) Study
- Novartis Study
- Protocol for Maintaining and Improving Mental Status in Alzheimer’s Disease (PROMIS-AD) Study
Upcoming Events
For more information on our upcoming lectures and events, please visit the Easton Center Community Calendar.
Update on Alzheimer's Treatment
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (PDT)
Location: Santa Clarita Senior Center, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351
Monica Moore, MSG will discuss the latest in treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. She will discuss the FDA approved anti-amyloid immunotherapies. She will also discuss current research focused on diagnosis, treatment and care.
RSVP: Diana Sevanian dsevanian@scv-seniorcenter.org
Update on Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (PDT)
Location: Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South Street, Cerritos, CA 90703
Hear from researchers about the latest findings related to the symptoms and causes of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Learn about the latest treatments available and what research is being currently conducted to find a cure for this devastating disease.
No RSVP required.
Alzheimer’s Los Angeles presents Advances in Alzheimer’s Research
For the Spanish Speaking Community (Presentado en español)
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM (PDT)
Location: Embassy Suites Downey, 8425 Firestone Boulevard, Downey, CA 90241
Please join Alzheimer’s Los Angeles for Advances in Alzheimer’s Research (AAR) – a series of free one-day conferences designed to provide our communities of color with the latest information on Alzheimer’s and dementia care, treatment, and research. UCLA Easton Center will be at both events.
*Live headset translations in English will be available at this event.
For more information and to RSVP: https://www.alzheimersla.org/for-communities/alzheimers-and-dementia-research/advances-in-alzheimers-research/
UCLA Easton Center, Alzheimer’s Association and CMS present: The Empowered Caregiver Series - Exploring Care and Support Services
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PDT)
Virtual Platform
Caring for someone living with dementia can be challenging, but you don't have to doit alone. There are resources and support for every stage of the disease to help you feel empowered as a caregiver.
Topic in this program include:
- Planning for care changes
- Types of respite, long-term and residential care
- End of life care options
- Moving care setting
This presentation is offered in collaboration with the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care at UCLA, the Alzheimer's Association and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).
RSVP: https://uclahs.zoom.us/meeting/register/BwaIh6WQQmaS3tm5YstP3g
Alzheimer’s Los Angeles presents Advances in Alzheimer’s Research
For the Black/African American Community (Presented in English)
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM (PDT)
Location: Hilton Los Angeles Culver City, 6161 West Centinela Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230
Please join Alzheimer’s Los Angeles for Advances in Alzheimer’s Research (AAR) – a series of free one-day conferences designed to provide our communities of color with the latest information on Alzheimer’s and dementia care, treatment, and research. UCLA Easton Center will be at both events.
For more information and to RSVP: https://www.alzheimersla.org/for-communities/alzheimers-and-dementia-research/advances-in-alzheimers-research/
Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's
2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's - San Fernando Valley, CA
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM (PDT)
Location: LA Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Santa Monica, CA
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PST)
Location: Crescent Bay Park, 2000 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Join UCLA Easton Center
2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Downtown LA, CA
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM (PST)
Location: Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Join UCLA Easton Center
UCLA Health is a presenting sponsor for three Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Help us keep the momentum going in your community at the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, the world’s largest fundraiser to fight the disease.
To register or learn more about any of the walks above please visit: https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=walk_homepage
Newsletter Editorial Team:
Mary S. Easton Center Director: Jason Hinman, MD, PhD
California Alzheimer’s Disease Center (CADC) Director: Timothy Chang, MD, PhD
Co-Directors of Training and Education Activities: Monica Moore, MSG, Mirella Díaz-Santos, PhD, and Jennifer Adrissi, MD, MS
Newsletter Editor: Nancy Osuch
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