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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Learn what it’s like to care for someone and get caregiver tips.

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Which brain or eye disease would you like to explore?

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
New Diagnosis?

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

Take the first step
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

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

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

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

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

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
New Diagnosis?

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

Take the first step
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
Expert

Update on the AMD Drug Pipeline

Currently, many patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) require monthly injections into the eye to preserve their vision. Those with advanced dry AMD, also called geographic atrophy (GA), have no effective treatments available to them. Fortunately, AMD research and drug developments are advancing rapidly to bring patients better treatments.

August 31, 2018
By 202040 million
People will have visual impairments from advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
View Infographic

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

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
New Diagnosis?

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

Take the first step
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
Expert

Does Glaucoma Cause Headaches?

Since glaucoma does not have symptoms until late stages of the disease—as when central vision is affected—it is often called the “silent thief of sight.” However, there are certain forms of glaucoma that can cause headaches.

September 17, 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-funded Project Revolutionizes Alzheimer’s Research with New Animal Model

All mouse models used to represent Alzheimer’s disease are imperfect, and can only approximate how the disease develops in humans. However, a BrightFocus-funded research project is being hailed as a game-changer that could make results highly relevant to human disease.

Monday, January 7, 2019
BrightFocus-backed Alzheimer’s Bill Approved by Congress

BrightFocus, through our active involvement with the LEAD Coalition, joined other national organizations on letters to the House and Senate, endorsing the bill as a way to expand public education and awareness around Alzhiemer’s and related dementias.

Thursday, December 20, 2018
Alzheimer’s Fast Track: Shaping a New Generation of Alzheimer’s Researchers

BrightFocus’ 2018 Alzheimer’s Fast Track Workshop, held recently in San Diego, helped launch the careers of 65 new Alzheimer’s researchers located in the United States and internationally.

Monday, November 26, 2018