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

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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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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
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

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

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

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

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
New Diagnosis?

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

Take the first step
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
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
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

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
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 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
Expert

Symptoms of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Learn about the symptoms of wet AMD, an eye disorder that can cause rapid vision loss.

October 29, 2018
By 202040 million
People will have visual impairments from advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
View Infographic

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
New Diagnosis?

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

Take the first step
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
Expert

Glaucoma and Eye Pressure

When people hear the word “glaucoma,” many of them connect the eye disease with elevated eye pressures. However, the relationship between glaucoma and eye pressure is complicated and has changed over time.

August 13, 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 Earns Seal of Excellence From Leading Nonprofit Group

BrightFocus Foundation, a Maryland-based nonprofit and a leading source of worldwide research funding on diseases of mind and sight, was recently awarded a Seal of Excellence from the Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence Institute. This is the organization’s third time receiving this distinction.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018
BrightFocus Grantee Seeks Closer Knowledge of Amyloid-Beta Plaques in Alzheimer’s Disease

Randall Bateman, MD, thinks we aren’t learning enough from current methods for detecting Alzheimer’s plaques. With a BrightFocus grant, he’s developing an entirely new technology.

Friday, October 19, 2018
Give.org – Giving Peace of Mind in Donations to Charities

We are pleased to say that BrightFocus Foundation is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, meaning it is a charitable organization worthy of your support. Learn more.

Thursday, October 18, 2018