AD/PD™ 2026 highlights

Parkinson Canada recently attended the AD/PD 2026 conference to stay closely connected to the global Parkinson’s research community and better understand where the science is heading. AD/PD is one of the leading international conferences focused on neurodegenerative diseases, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to share new findings, exchange ideas, and discuss what they mean for people living with Parkinson’s, both now and in the future.

This year through our travel award program, we were able to support the next generation of Parkinson’s researchers—our PhD students—to attend AD/PD, present their work, and make meaningful connections with other researchers. Several awardees spoke about the importance of finding community and reassurance in a highly specialized field. As one recipient, Cyril Helbing, shared, “This was my first conference where researchers working on the same assays as me were also attending.” For trainees, this created space for constructive technical discussions, helping them feel less isolated in their work and identify ways to strengthen their work.

“It’s one thing to read about breakthroughs in Parkinson’s research, but it’s another to see the newest ideas and techniques presented by the people developing them”

Awardees also highlighted how energizing it was to experience innovative ideas firsthand. “It’s one thing to read about breakthroughs in Parkinson’s research, but it’s another to see the newest ideas and techniques presented by the people developing them,” said Marie Filiatrault. Many described AD/PD as a “field compass,” helping them see where Parkinson’s research is moving and how emerging tools or approaches might be applied in their own labs. Networking across career stages and sectors stood out as particularly valuable. As Filiatrault noted, “We need to bridge the gap between academia and industry to understand how our findings eventually translate into the ‘real world.’”

Parkinson Canada was also proud to see the research it supports featured in the conference program, with Canadian researchers making significant contributions. Marie Filiatrault (Université de Montréal) presented work exploring early brain and biological changes in people with isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder, a condition that can precede Parkinson’s. Her research helps clarify why some people go on to develop Parkinson’s while others develop related conditions, supporting efforts to identify risk earlier and design more targeted future studies. Michael Schlossmacher (The Ottawa Hospital) shared advances for a practical, home‑based Parkinson’s predication tool designed to help identify people at higher risk.

Across the conference, updates from clinical studies painted a cautiously hopeful picture. Many early‑phase trials showed that experimental treatments can successfully reach the brain and affect disease‑related biology, an important milestone, even when changes in symptoms are not yet expected. Researchers shared growing insight into why some trials succeed while others do not, reinforcing that Parkinson’s is not a single disease and that future progress will rely on better matching treatments to specific biological features. Promising discussions also highlighted emerging approaches, including therapies that support brain cells under stress and cell‑based strategies aimed at replacing lost dopamine‑producing neurons. Together, these conversations reflect a field that is steadily expanding the possibilities for future treatments.

Parkinson Canada’s engagement at AD/PD reflects an ongoing commitment to supporting research, staying informed on advances across the field, and keeping people living with Parkinson’s at the centre of these efforts.