Gary W Small, MD

Dr. Gary Small is an internationally renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist with expertise in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia prevention. He is the Director of Behavioral Health Breakthrough Therapies at Hackensack Meridian Health and a Professor of Psychiatry at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

A leading innovator in his field, Dr. Small was part of the scientific team that discovered APOE-4, the major known genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. He was also a co-inventor of the first brain scanning method to image the Alzheimer’s amyloid and tau proteins in living people—a groundbreaking technology that has transformed research and diagnosis.

Beyond his foundational research, Dr. Small is dedicated to practical solutions for brain health. He has developed innovative lifestyle and memory training programs that are available throughout the U.S., empowering individuals to take an active role in their cognitive wellness.

Prior to joining Hackensack Meridian Health, Dr. Small had a distinguished, decades-long career at UCLA, where he was a professor of psychiatry and the founding director of the UCLA Longevity Center. 

A prolific author, Dr. Small has written over 500 scholarly articles and 15 popular books, including the international bestseller, The Memory Bible. His work has been featured in prestigious publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and on major news programs such as Good Morning America and The Today Show. 

In recognition of his contributions, Scientific American magazine named him one of the world’s top innovators in science and technology.