As co-editors of Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy we would like to highlight several of the major translational research advances that have occurred over the last year, during which a tremendous amount of superb science relevant to the study of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been published. Our selection is, of course, influenced by our own biases, and selecting particular advances to highlight was challenging. Nevertheless, many major scientific questions relevant to developing better therapies and diagnostics for AD remain. The advances we have chosen to highlight represent evolving areas of research in AD that raise as many questions as they answer, but offer some promise that may help us to reach our shared goal of translating research advances into real advances that benefit patients.