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.

“I was recently diagnosed.”
Understand your diagnosis and get support with making decisions.
“I am living with a disease.”
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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Which brain or eye disease would you like to explore?

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
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

Gene Therapy for Eye Disease

Learn about a recent gene therapy breakthrough and how that may open the door for new treatments for retinal diseases, including macular degeneration.

July 27, 2018
Expert

Open-Angle Glaucoma: Are There Symptoms?

Learn why open-angle glaucoma, often called the “silent thief of sight,” rarely causes symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

July 16, 2018
Expert

Is Alzheimer’s a Genetic Disease?

Learn the role that genes play in the risk of developing the early- and late-onset forms of Alzheimer’s disease.

July 3, 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
Expert

Is Alzheimer’s a Genetic Disease?

Learn the role that genes play in the risk of developing the early- and late-onset forms of Alzheimer’s disease.

July 3, 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

How to Find a Memory Care Unit

Learn some helpful tips for how to find a memory care facility and how to evaluate the quality of care being provided.

June 25, 2018
Expert

The History of Alzheimer’s Disease

Learn about how Alzheimer’s disease was discovered, the search for the cause of this brain disease, and the future of Alzheimer’s treatment.

June 8, 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

Gene Therapy for Eye Disease

Learn about a recent gene therapy breakthrough and how that may open the door for new treatments for retinal diseases, including macular degeneration.

July 27, 2018
Expert

Should You Receive Genetic Testing for AMD?

Learn about genes that are closely associated with age-related macular degeneration, and whether genetic testing is currently recommended.

June 29, 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

Eye Diseases that Can Cause Legal Blindness

What is legal blindness? This article defines the term and discusses several eye diseases that can lead to this condition.

June 4, 2018
Expert

The Top Five Questions My Patients Ask About Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) raises a number of concerns. Here’s a list of the top five questions my patients ask me.

April 30, 2018
By 202040 million
People will have visual impairments from advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
View Infographic

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
Expert

Open-Angle Glaucoma: Are There Symptoms?

Learn why open-angle glaucoma, often called the “silent thief of sight,” rarely causes symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

July 16, 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

Six Questions to Ask Before Starting Glaucoma Treatment

When evaluating treatment options for glaucoma, it is wise to come prepared to your eye doctor’s appointment with questions that will help you make an informed decision.

June 18, 2018
Expert

Eye Diseases that Can Cause Legal Blindness

What is legal blindness? This article defines the term and discusses several eye diseases that can lead to this condition.

June 4, 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.
Newly Discovered Genetic Findings Give Glaucoma Researchers Hope
BrightFocus is proud to have been a direct sponsor on two of three new glaucoma research studies.

BrightFocus Updates

Macular Degeneration Research News: Summer 2018

Learn about research that is focused on stopping signals that trigger blood vessel growth in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), how lifestyle can impact AMD, find helpful information on clinical trials, and more in the summer 2018 edition of Macular Degeneration Research News.

Monday, July 9, 2018
Alzheimer's Disease Research Review: Summer 2018

Advanced imaging that could lead to a screening test for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), circadian rhythms and their relationship to AD, the importance of clinical trials for developing new AD treatments, and part one of a three-part series on the challenging behaviors associated with AD are among the articles that you will find in the summer 2018 edition of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Review.

Monday, July 9, 2018
Leading Scientists and Advocates Recognized by BrightFocus Foundation

BrightFocus Foundation hosted an awards dinner on June 6 at Washington National Cathedral, to honor leading researchers and advocates working to help end diseases of mind and sight.

Thursday, June 7, 2018