International Brain Health Conference 2026
18–19 May 2026
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Edinburgh, UK
An international conference bringing together global leaders in neuroscience, clinical research, public health, and policy will take place in Edinburgh in May 2026, with a central focus on protecting brain health before dementia develops.
Hosted by Scottish Brain Sciences, the inaugural International Brain Health Conference 2026 (IBHC 2026) will examine the latest advances in early detection, personalised medicine, biomarkers, and service innovation aimed at delaying or preventing neurodegenerative disease.
The two-day conference will convene researchers, clinicians, life sciences and pharmaceutical partners, policymakers, and innovators to address one of the most pressing challenges facing ageing societies worldwide: how to translate advances in brain health research into earlier, more effective intervention.
‘Brain health has moved decisively upstream,’ said Professor Craig Ritchie, CEO and Founder of Scottish Brain Sciences and Professor of Brain Health and Neurodegenerative Medicine at the University of St Andrews.
‘We now have the scientific tools to identify risk and disease processes long before dementia presents clinically. The challenge is integrating this knowledge into services, policy, and real-world practice. IBHC 2026 is designed to address exactly that.’
International faculty and interdisciplinary programme
IBHC 2026 will feature an international faculty including:
- Professor Jeff Cummings (University of Nevada)
- Professor Vanessa Raymont (University of Oxford)
- Professor Allan Young (Imperial College London)
- Dr Francesca Farina (University of Chicago), among others.
Conference themes will span:
- Early detection and imaging and fluid biomarkers
- Women’s health and brain health, including menopause and sex-specific risk
- Brain health services and health economics
- Nutrition, sleep, and mental health
- Comorbidities and infectious disease
- Global and population-level approaches to prevention.
The programme is designed to bridge discovery science with health system implementation, reflecting growing recognition that brain health is both a clinical and public health priority.
Growing urgency for early intervention
With dementia prevalence rising globally and healthcare systems under increasing pressure, attention is shifting toward identifying modifiable risk factors and intervening earlier in the disease course. IBHC 2026 aims to provide a forum for rigorous scientific exchange and cross-sector collaboration at this critical juncture.
Professor Jeffrey Cummings will open the conference with a talk on the advancement of therapeutics. He said:’Therapeutic advances in Alzheimer’s disease are accelerating rapidly, giving us new tools to target the earliest stages of illness. But progress doesn’t stop with treatment—we must also prioritise high-quality prevention trials. At IBHC 2026, I look forward to highlighting how innovation in both therapeutics and prevention can change the future of brain health.’
Event details
International Brain Health Conference 2026
18–19 May 2026
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Edinburgh, UK
For further information, registration, and programme updates, visit:
International Brain Health Conference 2026 – Scottish Brain Sciences
