BrightFocus Foundation

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-targe…

Alzheimer's research is moving faster than ever, but what does that actually mean for people with Alzheimer's disease and their families? In this episode of Let's Talk Alzheimer's, Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, a leading Alzheimer's researcher at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, breaks down where the science stands. 🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts: bit.ly/4eU47KT.

In this episode of Let's Talk Alzheimer's, behavioral neurologist Dr. Sharon Cohen unpacks the early signs of Alzheimer's, what can be mistaken for it, and how families can navigate the conversation with clarity and compassion. Full episode now streaming on Youtube at youtu.be/VZm6MysVmx4, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. 🧠 Staying informed is one of the most powerful ways we can make a difference. Check out the @_BrightFocus Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease packet to learn more: brightfocus.org/wp-content/upl… #AlzheimersAwareness

@JustinPerryPhD Thank you. It's researchers like you, and donors who believe in this work, that keep us moving closer to a cure.

With the sad news that actor Danny Glover is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, I am reminded of how important support from @_BrightFocus Foundation is to find cures for this awful disease. I am grateful for their support. brightfocus.org/news/donor-sup…

Dr. Armen J. Moughamian, of the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center at Sutter Health, joins the latest episode of Let's Talk Alzheimer's to discuss a shift happening in how Alzheimer's disease is understood and treated. The conversation centers on two FDA-approved treatments, Leqembi and Kisunla, that target amyloid, one of the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease. ▶️ Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/YojGjE3sugw. 🎧 Or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other streaming platforms. #Alzheimers #DementiaAwareness #PublicHealth #LetsTalkAlzheimers

For a long time, Alzheimer's has been a disease people didn't talk about, even with their own families. That's starting to change, partly because there's more to talk about. Three years ago, there were no FDA-approved treatments targeting the underlying causes of Alzheimer's, only medications that treated symptoms. Today, two therapies, Leqembi (lecanemab) and Kisunla (donanemab), are approved to clear amyloid protein from the brain. In this Let's Talk Alzheimer's podcast episode, Dr. Armen J. Moughamian, a neurologist and medical director of the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center at Sutter Health, discusses common questions about what these therapies can realistically do, including effectiveness, safety, eligibility, infusion logistics, cost, and access. ▶️ Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/YojGjE3sugw 🎧 Or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other streaming platforms. #Alzheimers #LetsTalkAlzheimers #Health

Alzheimer's affects 1 in 9 Americans over 65, and the disease begins in the brain long before symptoms are visible. Early detection gives people and families more options. If you or someone you love is experiencing memory changes that are becoming more frequent or severe, talk to a doctor. For our full guide, visit: bit.ly/4xHEJPE

We’re thrilled to partner with Alzheimer's Los Angeles to fund two new pilot projects that could reshape how we understand Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Yuyan Zhang and her team at @UCLA is collaborating with Dr. Jessica Rexach and Dr. Zhipeng Lu at @USC to hunt for rogue pieces of DNA that occasionally insert themselves into genes and may contribute to disease, then search for RNA-based therapies to counteract them. While Dr. Yuanyuan Wei’s team at UCLA is using an AI drug-design platform, paired with neuron models that better mimic Alzheimer's pathology, to discover therapies that block the buildup of toxic tau protein. Learn more: bit.ly/4v1nu9j

Agitation is a common and difficult symptom of Alzheimer's, affecting the entire family. Dr. Brent Forester joins us to explain what's behind it and how it can look different from person to person. Watch live tomorrow at 1 p.m. ⤵️ youtube.com/live/KpEKCc33O…

Summer begins today. For the millions of Americans caring for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia, the season brings more than longer days. Rising temperatures present serious health risks for people with cognitive decline. Certain medications prescribed to older adults can impair the body's ability to regulate heat, increasing the risk even on moderately warm days. Know the warning signs of heat stress and have a plan before temperatures peak. Here’s what you need to know this summer. brightfocus.org/resource/alzhe…

For families navigating Alzheimer's, agitation can be one of the most difficult symptoms to understand and manage. We will speak with Dr. Brent Forester of Tufts University School of Medicine about what drives it, how it shows up, and the latest strategies for care, including treatments that have only recently been approved. Register: brightfocus.org/alzheimers/res… ✨ Thanks to our sponsors: Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., Biogen, Eli Lilly and Company, and Genentech

What does a person with dementia experience when the television is on? Is it comfort? Or is it chaos? Allyson Schrier spent years studying that question and built a streaming service to address it. In this episode of Zoom In on Dementia & Alzheimer's, she shares what the science says about therapeutic TV, and how caregivers are putting it to use. Watch: bit.ly/4aubndC #Alzheimers #Dementia #Health

Having a parent or sibling with glaucoma puts you at 10X higher risk, and most people don't even know it. Glaucoma steals sight silently, before you notice any symptoms. Talk to your family. It could protect their sight. Watch the full episode: bit.ly/3QhZOQ0

What if the human body could repair itself, rebuilding what injury or disease has taken away? That possibility may be closer than we think, at least for one critical part of the eye. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the first structure macular degeneration destroys, and once it's gone, vision loss follows. Surprisingly, certain fish can grow an entirely new RPE from scratch. BrightFocus-funded researcher Lyndsay Leach, PhD, and her team have now identified the key to how it happens. brightfocus.org/news/lessons-f…

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

🎙️ 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.

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

📺 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

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