@brightfocus.bsky.social
BrightFocus funds groundbreaking research in an urgent effort to discover cures for Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma.
🧬 LIVE today at 1 p.m. ET: Dr. Eric M. Reiman joins us to discuss APOE4, genetic testing, and what it means for your Alzheimer's risk. We'll also discuss treatments, potential side effects, and clinical research opportunities. Your questions welcome! ↘️
https://www.youtube.com/live/XDRd-MRpDRY
Could we prevent Alzheimer's before memory loss begins?
Dr. Joshua Grill explains how researchers are exploring early treatment to slow or stop brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease in people at higher risk.
Learn more about this promising area of research ➡️ https://bit.ly/4k3QPMP.
Did you know? As many as 20 million U.S. adults aged 40 and older are living with some form of AMD.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, yet many people don't know they have it until irreversible vision loss occurs.
This #AMDAwarenessMonth, learn about the importance of regular eye exams, symptoms, risk factors & the latest research: https://bit.ly/4tzVDO1.
Image with text on a dark blue background. The text states: "FACT: Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 65 and older, causing irreversible damage that affects reading, driving, and recognizing faces."
Reading a text message, recognizing a grandchild's face, navigating a familiar route: these ordinary acts rely on central vision. For nearly 20 million Americans, age-related macular degeneration puts all of that at risk.
But early detection offers hope. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bD2WOG.
Breaking News: On Feb 3, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill providing critical federal funding for the NIH, protecting brain and eye research.
Read more. https://bit.ly/46qFBvV
You wouldn't skip your other wellness appointments—so why skip eye exams?
Cynthia reminds us that protecting our vision deserves the same priority we give to other aspects of self-care. Watch her story. ⬇️
Get the facts about glaucoma this #GlaucomaAwarenessMonth: www.stopglaucoma.org
Graphic for a Macular Chat titled: Can Retinal Implants Restore Vision?
TOMORROW: Learn how retinal prostheses are designed to restore vision—not just slow its loss. Join us Wed, Jan 28 at 1 pm ET to explore the PRIMA implant and other breakthrough technologies currently in production.
Watch live: https://bit.ly/4qJtjXX
This is an eye from a frog that was treated with CRISPR. Because CRISPR mutations that cause gene knockdown are random, we can sometimes get mosaicism, where some cells are healthy, and then the cells beside them are mutants. This is an excellent example of mosaicism, where some photoreceptors are healthy (left side), and others are mutants (right side).
CRISPR in action! The healthy cells (left) & disease-modified cells (right) create a 'mosaic' pattern, typical of gene editing.
Dr. Brittany Carr, BrightFocus Foundation Macular Degeneration Research grantee, is using this technique to build more precise disease models. https://bit.ly/3YKpMMC
For decades, Alzheimer's drugs only treated symptoms. That's changed. Two FDA-approved therapies now target amyloid protein in the brain. But what does that mean for people living with the disease?
Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/41AMx2fsdHM
Graphic for Zoom In on Dementia & Alzheimer's
Until recently, there were no Alzheimer's drugs that targeted the underlying causes of the disease. Now there are two.
On Jan 22, hear from a leading neurologist about Leqembi and Kisunla—how they work, who's eligible, and what you need to know.
Register: https://bit.ly/4qhsHsO
Glaucoma doesn’t just affect older adults. It can affect anyone at any age.
Hillary explains why everyone, not just individuals with known risk factors, can benefit from regular eye exams to spot the earliest signs of glaucoma and other eye diseases.
Learn more at: www.stopglaucoma.org
Join tomorrow's Glaucoma Chat with Dr. Mehul Nagarsheth, who will break down how early diagnosis opens the door to modern, less invasive treatment options.
🎧 Listen live tomorrow, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. ET: https://bit.ly/4qFdiBH
Too many people see multiple specialists before receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, losing precious time.
BrightFocus Foundation supports the Alzheimer’s Policy Working Group’s initiative to provide actionable policy guidance to accelerate diagnosis and improve care.
Read the report: alzpolicy.org
BrightFocus Foundation Alzheimer’s Disease Research grant recipient Joe Herdy, PhD
“I watched my grandfather’s sharp, witty mind fade away with dementia. That experience drives me to search for answers so other families don’t feel the same helplessness.”
— Joe Herdy, PhD, BrightFocus Foundation Alzheimer's Disease Research grant recipient.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4jAd4d1
Glaucoma treatment has come a long way. Register for our Jan. 14 Glaucoma Chat where Dr. Mehul Nagarsheth will break down how diagnosing glaucoma earlier gives you access to modern, less invasive treatments.
🔗 Register today and ask your questions live. https://bit.ly/3NyIYub
An individual holding a tennis racket smiles while playing tennis, with a promotional message 'Why Young Brains Stay Sharp With Age'
🧠 Why do some people stay sharp at 85 while others struggle at 76?
The answer is "cognitive reserve," your brain's built-in resilience that can be strengthened through lifelong learning, physical activity, social connections, and proactive health management.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/49nPMCf
whole mount merge iba1rbpms retina
The red cells are microglia—your eye's tiny defenders. 🛡️ These immune cells patrol the retina, protecting it from damage. Silvia Marinelli, PhD, a BrightFocus Foundation National Glaucoma Research grant recipient, is studying how we might harness them to fight vision loss.
🔬 https://bit.ly/4q6Ubkj
We're thrilled to announce that our Alzheimer's Fast Track 2025 workshop is being as the AARP Brain Health Action Collaborative Action of the Week!
By connecting early-career scientists with leading experts, we’re igniting new ideas to advance Alzheimer's research: https://bit.ly/3MOcThQ.
🌍 Smart science knows no borders!
BrightFocus Foundation is funding innovative research across 16 countries, supporting 186 projects that are advancing our understanding of Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Explore our 2025 research portfolios: https://bit.ly/4sa1OrC
Graphic featuring a close-up of a researcher's hand holding a blood sample in a lab, with racks of test tubes in the background.
🧠 Researchers have identified a promising new class of blood biomarkers known as circular RNAs (circRNAs) for early Alzheimer's detection.
Read more : https://bit.ly/3N7zR3m
Fluorescence microscopy images of two cells, the left stained prominently in blue and green, and the right featuring multicolored speckles predominantly in blue, green, and red.
BrightFocus Foundation Alzheimer’s Disease Research grant recipient Dr. Hongjun Fu grows “mini-brains” to study why certain neurons are vulnerable in Alzheimer’s & PSP.
These images show brain tissue at 60 days (left) and 120 days (right).
Read more about Dr. Fu’s project: https://bit.ly/4s29wnt
The EVOKE trials found that semaglutide, the GLP-1 drug behind several popular diabetes and weight loss medications, did not meaningfully slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Explore this research and more news from #CTAD2025. https://bit.ly/48KgAxG
Did you know some people maintain sharp thinking skills even with Alzheimer's-related brain changes?
Building cognitive reserve through lifelong learning, social connections, and healthy lifestyle choices may help protect your brain.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/3MmMgAo
New study results indicate that lifestyle changes can protect aging brains. The U.S. POINTER study tested whether a structured, healthy lifestyle program could protect cognitive function in at-risk older adults. The answer is YES.
Explore this news and more from #CTAD2025: https://bit.ly/4pTAgoa
🔬 $28.4 million.
🧠 111 projects.
🌍 13 countries.
BrightFocus Foundation’s is funding bold ideas and cutting-edge research that could lead to ways to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure Alzheimer’s for the 7+ million Americans living with it.
Explore the science: https://bit.ly/48HvKlM
Graphic for "Zoom In on Dementia & Alzheimer's: The AHEAD Study: Can Alzheimer's Be Prevented or Slowed Before Symptoms Begin?" scheduled for December 18 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Includes registration details, photo of speaker Joshua D. Grill, Director at UCI MIND, and sponsorship logos of BrightFocus Foundation, Biogen, Lilly, and Genentech.
Can Alzheimer's be stopped before it starts? The AHEAD Study is exploring that question. On Dec 18, Dr. Joshua Grill will explain how researchers are testing Leqembi in people at elevated risk for Alzheimer's—targeting brain changes years before symptoms emerge.
Register now: https://bit.ly/4oEVZzm
A scientist funded by BrightFocus Foundation found a link between macular degeneration & Parkinson’s—a finding that led to the development of a new supplement to help protect sight.
Now, he’s searching for new treatments that could benefit millions facing vision loss: https://bit.ly/4adXAsb.
The landscape of Alzheimer’s disease treatments is shifting.
Dr. Marwan Sabbagh will join us to discuss the emerging therapies now in development—including disease-modifying drugs that target the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s.
Join us TODAY at 1 pm ET: https://www.youtube.com/live/e_o2GsmiFTA
Lindsey A. Russ Georgetown University Medical Center
Arvie Rodriguez Abiero, PhD, The University of Sydney
Whitney Simon, Mayo Clinic
Frank Raven, The University of Michigan
🚀 Exciting news! BrightFocus Foundation sponsored travel for 39 early-career scientists to attend @sfn.org's annual meeting in San Diego, and for many, it was their first time at the conference!
📸: A few of BrightFocus Foundation's travel grantees at #SfN2025.
Graphic for Macular Chats event titled 'Supporting the Supporters: Care Partners in Vision Loss on November 19 at 1 pm EST, featuring speakers Robin Saunders and Emily Ladeau, presented by BrightFocus Foundation.
In recognition of #NationalCaregiversMonth, our Nov Macular Chat will explore the role of caring for an individual with vision loss.
Our guest experts will discuss the realities of caregiving, financial challenges, practical resources & support.
🎧 Tomorrow @ 1pm ET: BrightFocus.org/LiveChatMDR
