BrightFocus funds groundbreaking research to discover cures for Alzheimer's, macular degeneration and glaucoma. Also posting on Bluesky.
Joined February 2009
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Alzheimer’s disease has long been linked to toxic brain proteins, but growing evidence suggests a certain immune cell may also play an important role.
BrightFocus Alzheimer’s Disease Research grant recipient Dr. Joshua Emmerson is studying how immune T cells may worsen brain damage — and whether blocking them could help protect neurons.
Learn more. ↘️ brightfocus.org/news/can-tar…
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Did you know your daily habits could be protecting your eyes without you even realizing it?
Dr. Joshua Dunaief breaks down exactly what to eat, actions to take, and what to avoid.
Watch more: bit.ly/4vPIGQM
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🎙️ Introducing Let’s Talk Alzheimer’s—a new podcast from BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research program.
From the latest research breakthroughs to practical insights on risk reduction, diagnosis, and treatment, Let’s Talk Alzheimer’s brings leading scientists directly to you in clear, accessible conversations.
Listen to our first episodes and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: bit.ly/3PSMzoM.
Thanks to the sponsors of Let’s Talk Alzheimer’s for making this program free and accessible to all: Lilly, Biogen, Eisai, and Genentech.
ALT Graphic featuring text 'Let's Talk Alzheimer's with Nancy Keach', featuring a person smiling in the lower right corner. The background includes words 'Research', 'Diagnosis', 'Answers', along with the logos for BrightFocus Foundation and Alzheimer’s Disease Research."
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We're excited to introduce a new way to stay connected with expert insights in Alzheimer's research, treatments & risk reduction.
🎧 Let's Talk Alzheimer's is our new podcast that makes the latest science easy to understand, bringing you conversations with leading researchers & clinicians.
The first three episodes drop June 11, with new episodes available bimonthly.
Watch the trailer & subscribe on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Learn more: bit.ly/4v9W9mB
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📺 Not all TV is created equal, especially for someone living with Alzheimer's disease.
Research suggests that slower-paced, music-set content can reduce agitation, build routine, and even open up conversation.
Hear from Zinnia TV co-founder Allyson Schrier on what makes therapeutic TV different.
Watch the full episode: bit.ly/4o2O0gQ
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Have you ever considered participating in a clinical trial for macular degeneration or geographic atrophy?
Join us tomorrow, May 27, as Mathew MacCumber, MD, PhD, breaks down how trials work, the potential benefits and challenges of participation, and what studies like the GALLOP trial could mean for the future of vision health.
Listen live. ↘️ BrightFocus.org/LiveChatMDR
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💤 For years, troubled sleep was seen as a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. New research suggests it could also be a cause.
A new study led by BrightFocus Alzheimer’s Disease Research grant recipient, Ksenia Kastanenka found that restoring healthy sleep in animal models could offer a possible new approach to slowing Alzheimer’s.
Explore the research: bit.ly/3RnV37x
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What does gum disease have to do with Alzheimer's? More than you might think.
Dr. Michael Detke breaks down the science behind the SPRING trial — a new clinical trial investigating whether targeting a common oral bacteria could slow Alzheimer's progression.
Full episode at: bit.ly/4ePWci2
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👁️ Did you know your eyes have their own drainage system?
It's called the trabecular meshwork, and when it stops working properly, pressure builds up inside the eye, leading to glaucoma and potential vision loss.
Learn how this tiny structure plays an enormous role in your eye health. ↘️ bit.ly/3R7RhiF
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May is #HealthyVisionMonth, and your eyes will thank you for this dish.
Kale, tomatoes, and eggs are all packed with lutein, lycopene, and nutrients linked to eye health. Together in one pan, they make a convincing case that healthy eating doesn't have to be boring.
It's simple, savory, and on the table in under 30 minutes.
For the full recipe, visit: bit.ly/4dorWrU
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"We are so much better at paying attention to milder, earlier, more subtle changes… at the time where people are still doing fairly well." — Dr. Sharon Cohen, Behavioral Neurologist
If you've been noticing small changes in yourself or someone you love, this is worth watching. Dr. Cohen breaks down the early signs of Alzheimer's, what can mimic it, and how to start the conversation with your doctor.
Full episode → BrightFocus.org/ADZoom
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Many people diagnosed with wet AMD arrive at their first appointment without understanding their diagnosis, their treatment, or why consistency matters.
Dr. Manuel Amador addresses that gap directly in our latest Macular Chat, covering today's treatment options, early detection, key risk factors, and the real consequences of delayed or missed injections for visual prognosis.
🎧 Full episode at: brightfocus.org/resource/tak…
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In recognition of Healthy Vision Month, Amy D. Zhang, MD, of the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center joins our Glaucoma Chat to discuss what scientists are learning about nutrients, caffeine, alcohol, and eye health.
Live at 1 pm ET: BrightFocus.org/livechatNGR
ALT Flyer for a Glaucoma Chats event titled 'Eating Right for Glaucoma: Everyday Choices That Matter.' Hosted by BrightFocus Foundation and the American Glaucoma Society. The event is on Wednesday, May 13, at 1 pm Eastern. Features Amy D. Zhang, MD, Associate Clinical Professor and Director at University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center. Includes a portrait of Dr. Zhang.
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A simple sleeping pill could potentially stave off Alzheimer’s disease.
BrightFocus Alzheimer’s Disease Research grant recipient Dr. Ksenia Kastanenka is studying how improving sleep could protect the brain and open new paths for treatment.
Learn more. 🔗 ↘️ brightfocus.org/news/can-bet…
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Join tomorrow’s episode of Zoom In on Dementia & Alzheimer’s to hear Dr. Jason Hinman explain how disrupted blood flow to the brain can lead to cognitive decline, how vascular dementia differs from (and often overlaps with) Alzheimer’s disease, and what the latest research means for prevention and treatment.
Watch live at 1 p.m. ET ⤵️ youtube.com/live/-96mmaVqJz8
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This just in: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a combination of two repurposed drugs to help treat Alzheimer’s-associated agitation.
In clinical trials, Auvelity helped reduce agitation without worsening cognition—a key concern with many existing treatments.
What this means for families: bit.ly/4w79mgM
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Where does Alzheimer's research stand today, and what does the road ahead look like?
Dr. Jeffrey Cummings breaks it down, covering:
🔬 How biomarkers are improving the tools we use to run clinical trials
📋 Prevention trials in progress, with some results potentially expected this year
💊 Questions being studied around treating people before symptoms appear
📉 What the field is learning from negative trials, including a recent, well-conducted Ozempic study
Watch the full episode for an inside look at where Alzheimer's treatment development stands today: bit.ly/3QALYYN
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👁️ We’re celebrating 5 exceptional vision scientists whose proposals were ranked among the most promising and selected to receive BrightFocus Foundation’s top vision research awards.
> Celia Bisbach, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
> David Veysset, PhD, Mass General Brigham
> Lily (Wenjing) Wu, PhD, University of Oklahoma Health Campus
> Jeremy Sivak, PhD, University Health Network
> Tyson Kim, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
These investigators are advancing bold, innovative ideas that hold real promise for improving prevention, treatments, and ultimately cures for macular degeneration and glaucoma—two leading causes of vision loss worldwide.
🔬 💪 We’re also thrilled to recognize all of our newly awarded vision grantees, whose groundbreaking work is strengthening the future of vision research.
We look forward to honoring this remarkable group next week at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting.
Read more: bit.ly/3OPHLQo
ALT Recipients of the 2026 BrightFocus Vision Awards (clockwise from top left): Celia Bisbach, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison; David Veysset, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital; Lily (Wenjing) Wu, PhD, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Tyson Kim, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco; and Jeremy Sivak, PhD, University Health Network.
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Tomorrow's Macular Chat will stream live at 1:00 p.m. ET! Kapil Bharti, PhD, will join us to explore whether cell therapy could one day repair or replace damaged retinal cells in macular degeneration and what the science looks like right now.
Listen live. ↘️ BrightFocus.org/livechatMDR
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Grown from stem cells, these retinal ganglion cells—with their striking blue “wires”—are the eye’s messengers, carrying information from the retina to the brain so we can see! Glaucoma damages these cells, leading to vision loss.
📸 Dr. Shruti Patil, a BrightFocus Foundation National Glaucoma Research grant recipient. She is growing these cells to better understand how to protect them and preserve sight.
By recreating these cells in the lab, researchers can test potential treatments and better understand the disease mechanisms at play, bringing us closer to effective interventions.
Discover more: bit.ly/3ZECih5
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Can TV be genuinely supportive for someone living with dementia?
On April 23, Allyson Schrier joins us to share how research following her experience caring for her husband with dementia led her to create Zinnia TV, a streaming service designed to engage people living with memory loss.
Register ↘️
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