LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging will host its 18th annual Mind Matters Health Summit on Monday, May 18, bringing cutting-edge Alzheimer's research and clinical expertise directly to the community in a distinctly Kentucky setting.

The free event, held at Fasig-Tipton, a historic Thoroughbred auction facility in Lexington, will feature more than 20 interactive booths, health screenings, and one-on-one opportunities with experts. The summit's "Saddle Up for Brain Health" theme blends Kentucky's equestrian culture with the latest advances in healthy aging for adults 55 and older.

The summit represents the latest extension of Sanders-Brown's four-decade mission to translate complex neuroscience into practical knowledge for patients and families. One of the nation's leading centers on aging, Sanders-Brown has helped shape global understanding of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias through groundbreaking discoveries and leading clinical trials.

"There's a glimmer of hope in our Alzheimer's patients" for the first time, said Greg Jicha, M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical trials at Sanders-Brown, referencing recent FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments. These advances include medications like Leqembi and Kisunla, which slow cognitive decline in early-stage Alzheimer's by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain.

The summit will feature educational sessions on healthy aging from T. Shawn Caudill, M.D., and Brooke Beech, Ph.D., along with an "Ask the Doc" session with Jicha and Pete Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of neuropathology at Sanders-Brown. For Nelson, the work carries both professional and personal significance in the effort to free people from the disease.

Sanders-Brown has achieved international recognition for its contributions to dementia research. The center was among the first 10 NIH-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers when the program launched in 1985, and it remains one of only 36 such centers nationwide. Researchers there have helped debunk early misconceptions about Alzheimer's, identified new forms of dementia like LATE, and pioneered early detection methods using blood-based biomarkers and advanced imaging.

The summit runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18, with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. Attendees can enjoy complimentary lunch, a photobooth, and an art station while exploring ways to support lifelong brain health. Free registration is available online.