BrightFocus Foundation

Our urgent goal — saving mind and sight through research

We drive innovative research worldwide and support awareness to end Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

About BrightFocus Foundation

BrightFocus: Investing in Science to Save Mind and Sight

We're here to help.

Explore our tools, tips, and expert advice to help you understand, manage, and live with Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

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Understand your diagnosis and get support with making decisions.
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Get useful information to help you manage your disease and care
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Learn what it’s like to care for someone and get caregiver tips.

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Expert

How Long Does it Take to Go Blind from Glaucoma?

How quickly blindness can occur when someone has glaucoma is determined by many factors, including ones that you can control. Learn three important steps that can reduce your risk of going blind from this eye disease.

February 19, 2019
Expert

The Top Five Questions My Patients Ask Me About Alzheimer’s Disease

A doctor answers questions that he gets from patients and families regarding Alzheimer’s disease.

August 6, 2018
New Diagnosis?

Managing a mind and sight disease is a journey. And you’re not alone. We can help.

Take the first step
Expert

Age and Glaucoma

Learn why age is one of the major risk factors for both primary open-angle glaucoma and primary angle-closure glaucoma.

January 14, 2019
Expert

Dementia and Depression

Learn about the relationship between depression and dementia, and about potential treatment options for depression.

January 7, 2019
Expert

The Microbiome and Age-related Macular Degeneration

Recent studies suggest that the types of bacteria that live in our intestines can influence susceptibility to certain diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

December 31, 2018

Expert

Dementia and Depression

Learn about the relationship between depression and dementia, and about potential treatment options for depression.

January 7, 2019
Expert

Alzheimer’s Disease in Women

Learn about the roles that one’s sex (determined by genes and chromosomes), and gender (social role and preferred orientation) play in the risk for developing Alzheimer’s in women. We examine how they may impact the course of the disease.

November 5, 2018
New Diagnosis?

Managing a mind and sight disease is a journey. And you’re not alone. We can help.

Take the first step
Expert

Alzheimer’s Disease in Men

Learn about the roles that one’s sex (determined by genes and chromosomes), and gender (social role and preferred orientation) play in the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in men. We examine how they may impact the course of the disease.

September 4, 2018
Expert

Treatment of Vascular Dementia

Learn about the treatment options for vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) a term that includes the spectrum from mild cognitive changes to severe dementia.

September 10, 2018
What happens to your brain duringAlzheimer's Disease?
Track how nerve cells and the brain change from healthy to affected by mild and then severe Alzheimer's disease.
View Infographic

Expert

Protect Your Eyes from Bright Lights, Including Blue

There’s evidence suggesting that exposure to bright light, including blue light, may contribute to retinal diseases. What, if anything, can be done to protect the eyes?

February 4, 2019
Expert

The Microbiome and Age-related Macular Degeneration

Recent studies suggest that the types of bacteria that live in our intestines can influence susceptibility to certain diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

December 31, 2018
New Diagnosis?

Managing a mind and sight disease is a journey. And you’re not alone. We can help.

Take the first step
Expert

Symptoms of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Learn about the early and advanced symptoms of dry AMD, and a simple home test for monitoring changes in your vision.

October 9, 2018
Expert

Sugar and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Learn why sugar has been linked to an increased risk of developing a number of diseases, including age-related macular degeneration.

October 1, 2018
By 202040 million
People will have visual impairments from advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
View Infographic

Expert

How Long Does it Take to Go Blind from Glaucoma?

How quickly blindness can occur when someone has glaucoma is determined by many factors, including ones that you can control. Learn three important steps that can reduce your risk of going blind from this eye disease.

February 19, 2019
Expert

Age and Glaucoma

Learn why age is one of the major risk factors for both primary open-angle glaucoma and primary angle-closure glaucoma.

January 14, 2019
New Diagnosis?

Managing a mind and sight disease is a journey. And you’re not alone. We can help.

Take the first step
Expert

Update on The CyPass® Micro-Stent

In 2018, the manufacturers of the CyPass micro-stent decided to voluntarily remove it from the market. Learn why they took this step, and what you should do if you have already had the CyPass micro-stent procedure.

November 9, 2018
Expert

Side Effects of Laser Iridotomy

This article discusses some of the potential short-term and longer-lasting side effects of a glaucoma treatment called laser iridotomy.

October 15, 2018
More than3 million
Americans aged 40 and older have glaucoma. It is estimated that the number will double to 6 million people by 2050.
View Infographic

Stories & Thanks

World War II veteran Gonzalo wrote a book about caring for his wife, Dolores.
Add Your Story
Thank you to everyone who is working on Alzheimer's research! This is a terrible disease that not only affects the person, but their whole family and loved ones. God bless and guide you as you work to eradicate this horrible disease!
Brenda from Florida
Thank a Researcher

Our Impact

We have one, important goal: to end brain and eye diseases in our lifetime.

Learn more

We support innovative science through our three programs:

Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Macular Degeneration Research
National Glaucoma Research

Learn more about our grants

Promising Science

Can We Clear Toxic Proteins from the Brain? An Encouraging Breakthrough
Research by BrightFocus grantee Matthew Campbell, PhD, of Trinity College Dublin, suggests a unique way to help clear the brain of toxic amyloid beta protein, which contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s.
Scientists Uncover New Clues About How Macular Degeneration Forms
An international research team has uncovered some clues to how age-related macular degeneration (AMD) begins, and their findings could lead to new avenues of research and early diagnosis.
Treating Alzheimer’s Before It Becomes Alzheimer’s
Up until now, the best method scientists have had to fight Alzheimer’s has been using drugs to treat the symptoms of the disease after they start to show. But new research offers them new hopes for treatments to attack the disease sooner.

BrightFocus Updates

BrightFocus Foundation Launches Alzheimer’s PSA Campaign

BrightFocus Foundation announces a new national public service campaign to increase awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Can You Catch Alzheimer’s? An Update

A recent study focused attention on whether Alzheimer’s disease can spread from one human to another. The risk remains small as long as standard precautions are followed during surgery and other procedures.

Friday, February 8, 2019
BrightFocus-funded Alzheimer’s Test Gets Encouraging Sign from FDA

A new blood-based Alzheimer’s screening test, created with a grant from BrightFocus, received a “Breakthrough Device” designation by the FDA. This speeds up its timeline for possible approval and public use.

Thursday, January 31, 2019