Latest news with #Alzheimer'sDiseaseResearch
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
BrightFocus Foundation Awards Nearly $13M to 50 Scientists for Alzheimer's, Macular Degeneration, and Glaucoma Research
CLARKSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Private research nonprofit BrightFocus Foundation today announced nearly $13 million in grants to support early investigative research into Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. This includes $7.3 million to its Alzheimer's Disease Research program, $3.8 million to its Macular Degeneration Research program, and $1.8 million to its National Glaucoma Research program. 'With recent major cuts to federal research funding, private foundations like BrightFocus are more essential than ever—stepping up to keep promising research alive, nurture early-career scientists, and accelerate breakthroughs.' Share Guided by scientific advisory committees of world-renowned researchers in the field, BrightFocus invests in highly innovative, experimental research and creative ideas with the most promise to foster a better understanding of disease onset, improve early detection and diagnosis, develop new treatments, and—ultimately—lead to cures. This year's grants were awarded to scientists in 10 countries including the U.S. 'This year's grant awards represent some of the boldest, most cutting-edge ideas in vision and brain health research,' said BrightFocus President and CEO Stacy Pagos Haller. 'With recent major cuts to federal research funding, private foundations like BrightFocus are more essential than ever—stepping up to keep promising research alive, nurture early-career scientists, and accelerate breakthroughs.' BrightFocus Foundation's research programs are supported entirely by private donor contributions from the public and corporate and foundation grants; BrightFocus receives no government funding. Learn more about how to support our work. A complete list of the new research projects will be available this summer on BrightFocus' website, with additional details forthcoming upon the completion of individual agreements with the partnering institutions and scientists. Alzheimer's Disease Research Over 7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive, terminal brain disorder that has no known cause or cure. Unless scientists can unlock the secrets of this disease, the number of cases is expected to triple by the year 2050. Grant recipients are studying a range of approaches spanning different areas of the brain and body to better understand the disease's onset and progression. Alzheimer's Disease Research grant recipients: Katerina Akassoglou, PhD The J. David Gladstone Institutes Federica Anastasi, PhD Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (Spain) Isabelle Aubert, PhD Sunnybrook Research Institute (Canada) Daniel Bos, MD, PhD Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (Netherlands) Todd J. Cohen, PhD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Joshua Emmerson, PhD Washington University in St. Louis Ghazaleh Eskandari-Sedighi, PhD University of California, Irvine Anllely Fernandez, PhD Indiana University Hongjun Fu, PhD The Ohio State University Laura Fumagalli, PhD Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (Belgium) John Hardy, PhD, FRS University College London (U.K.) Joseph Herdy, PhD The Salk Institute for Biological Studies Sarah Elise Heuer, PhD Brigham and Women's Hospital Jack Humphrey, PhD Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Ksenia Kastanenka, PhD Massachusetts General Hospital Jr-Jiun Liou, PhD University of Pittsburgh Jae-eun Miller, PhD Columbia University Miguel Moutinho, PharmD, PhD Indiana University Carolina Ochoa-Rosales, PhD Adolfo Ibáñez University (Chile) Omar Peña-Ramos, PhD Baylor College of Medicine Cyril Pottier, PhD Washington University in St. Louis Marcos Schaan Profes, PhD Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Nader Saffari, PhD, MSc, BSc University College London (U.K.) Monica Santisteban, PhD Vanderbilt University Medical Center Feng Tian, PhD Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Rebecca Wallings, DPhil Indiana University Justyna Dobrowolska Zakaria, PhD Northwestern University - Chicago Campus Damian Zuloaga, PhD University at Albany Macular Degeneration Research Twenty million U.S. adults have macular degeneration—the leading cause of vision loss in Americans aged 65 and older. Early detection and treatment are crucial to slowing the disease progression and preventing permanent vision loss. Grant recipients are exploring a wide range of innovative scientific approaches, from exploring ways to regenerate damaged cells to determining the influence of early-life events and lifestyle factors on disease risk. Macular Degeneration Research grant recipients: Mohajeet Balveer Bhuckory, PhD Stanford University School of Medicine Ana J. Chucair-Elliott, PhD University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Charles DeBoer, MD, PhD Stanford University School of Medicine Ashley Farre, PhD University of Idaho Valencia Fernandes, PhD University of California, San Francisco Masayuki Hata, MD, PhD Kyoto University (Japan) Ruchi Sharma, PhD National Eye Institute, NIH Nobuhiko Shiraki, PhD Duke University School of Medicine Daisy Yao Shu, PhD University of New South Wales (Australia) Jerzy Szablowski, PhD William Marsh Rice University Amir Mani Varnoosfaderani, PhD University of Chicago Joëlle Elise Vergroesen, PhD Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (Netherlands) National Glaucoma Research Around 4 million U.S. adults have glaucoma—a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. caused by damage to the optic nerve. Because there are often no early symptoms, as many as half of those affected may not even know they have it until irreversible vision loss has occurred. Although there is no cure, early detection and treatments can help slow the disease's progression. Grant recipients are investigating a wide range of scientific approaches, including novel treatments, early detection methods, and efforts to protect and regenerate retinal ganglion cells that could preserve or restore vision. National Glaucoma Research grant recipients: Brad Fortune, OD, PhD Legacy Research Institute Tatjana Jakobs, MD Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear Colleen McDowell, PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison Rob Nickells, PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison Gavin Roddy, MD, PhD Mayo Clinic, Rochester Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD University of California, Irvine Dan Stamer, PhD Duke University Karl Wahlin, PhD University of California, San Diego – Health Sciences Pete Williams, PhD Karolinska Institute (Sweden) Benjamin Xu, MD, PhD University of Southern California BrightFocus encourages researchers with groundbreaking ideas to apply for a 2026 grant. Application information is available at About BrightFocus Foundation BrightFocus Foundation is a premier global nonprofit funder of research to defeat Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Through its flagship research programs — Alzheimer's Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research— the Foundation has awarded over $300 million in groundbreaking research funding since its inception in 1973 and shares the latest research findings, expert information, and resources to empower the millions impacted by these devastating diseases. Learn more at
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
BrightFocus Foundation Awards Nearly $13M to 50 Scientists for Alzheimer's, Macular Degeneration, and Glaucoma Research
New grant funding supports cutting-edge scientific ideas across risk reduction, earlier detection, and new treatments for diseases of mind and sight. CLARKSBURG, Md., May 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Private research nonprofit BrightFocus Foundation today announced nearly $13 million in grants to support early investigative research into Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. This includes $7.3 million to its Alzheimer's Disease Research program, $3.8 million to its Macular Degeneration Research program, and $1.8 million to its National Glaucoma Research program. Guided by scientific advisory committees of world-renowned researchers in the field, BrightFocus invests in highly innovative, experimental research and creative ideas with the most promise to foster a better understanding of disease onset, improve early detection and diagnosis, develop new treatments, and—ultimately—lead to cures. This year's grants were awarded to scientists in 10 countries including the U.S. "This year's grant awards represent some of the boldest, most cutting-edge ideas in vision and brain health research," said BrightFocus President and CEO Stacy Pagos Haller. "With recent major cuts to federal research funding, private foundations like BrightFocus are more essential than ever—stepping up to keep promising research alive, nurture early-career scientists, and accelerate breakthroughs." BrightFocus Foundation's research programs are supported entirely by private donor contributions from the public and corporate and foundation grants; BrightFocus receives no government funding. Learn more about how to support our work. A complete list of the new research projects will be available this summer on BrightFocus' website, with additional details forthcoming upon the completion of individual agreements with the partnering institutions and scientists. Alzheimer's Disease Research Over 7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive, terminal brain disorder that has no known cause or cure. Unless scientists can unlock the secrets of this disease, the number of cases is expected to triple by the year 2050. Grant recipients are studying a range of approaches spanning different areas of the brain and body to better understand the disease's onset and progression. Alzheimer's Disease Research grant recipients: Katerina Akassoglou, PhDThe J. David Gladstone Institutes Federica Anastasi, PhDBarcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (Spain) Isabelle Aubert, PhDSunnybrook Research Institute (Canada) Daniel Bos, MD, PhDErasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (Netherlands) Todd J. Cohen, PhDUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Joshua Emmerson, PhDWashington University in St. Louis Ghazaleh Eskandari-Sedighi, PhDUniversity of California, Irvine Anllely Fernandez, PhDIndiana University Hongjun Fu, PhDThe Ohio State University Laura Fumagalli, PhDFlanders Institute for Biotechnology (Belgium) John Hardy, PhD, FRSUniversity College London (U.K.) Joseph Herdy, PhDThe Salk Institute for Biological Studies Sarah Elise Heuer, PhDBrigham and Women's Hospital Jack Humphrey, PhDIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Ksenia Kastanenka, PhDMassachusetts General Hospital Jr-Jiun Liou, PhDUniversity of Pittsburgh Jae-eun Miller, PhDColumbia University Miguel Moutinho, PharmD, PhDIndiana University Carolina Ochoa-Rosales, PhDAdolfo Ibáñez University (Chile) Omar Peña-Ramos, PhDBaylor College of Medicine Cyril Pottier, PhDWashington University in St. Louis Marcos Schaan Profes, PhDIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Nader Saffari, PhD, MSc, BScUniversity College London (U.K.) Monica Santisteban, PhDVanderbilt University Medical Center Feng Tian, PhDBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Rebecca Wallings, DPhilIndiana University Justyna Dobrowolska Zakaria, PhDNorthwestern University - Chicago Campus Damian Zuloaga, PhDUniversity at Albany Macular Degeneration Research Twenty million U.S. adults have macular degeneration—the leading cause of vision loss in Americans aged 65 and older. Early detection and treatment are crucial to slowing the disease progression and preventing permanent vision loss. Grant recipients are exploring a wide range of innovative scientific approaches, from exploring ways to regenerate damaged cells to determining the influence of early-life events and lifestyle factors on disease risk. Macular Degeneration Research grant recipients: Mohajeet Balveer Bhuckory, PhDStanford University School of Medicine Ana J. Chucair-Elliott, PhDUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Charles DeBoer, MD, PhDStanford University School of Medicine Ashley Farre, PhDUniversity of Idaho Valencia Fernandes, PhDUniversity of California, San Francisco Masayuki Hata, MD, PhDKyoto University (Japan) Ruchi Sharma, PhDNational Eye Institute, NIH Nobuhiko Shiraki, PhDDuke University School of Medicine Daisy Yao Shu, PhDUniversity of New South Wales (Australia) Jerzy Szablowski, PhDWilliam Marsh Rice University Amir Mani Varnoosfaderani, PhDUniversity of Chicago Joëlle Elise Vergroesen, PhDErasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (Netherlands) National Glaucoma Research Around 4 million U.S. adults have glaucoma—a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. caused by damage to the optic nerve. Because there are often no early symptoms, as many as half of those affected may not even know they have it until irreversible vision loss has occurred. Although there is no cure, early detection and treatments can help slow the disease's progression. Grant recipients are investigating a wide range of scientific approaches, including novel treatments, early detection methods, and efforts to protect and regenerate retinal ganglion cells that could preserve or restore vision. National Glaucoma Research grant recipients: Brad Fortune, OD, PhDLegacy Research Institute Tatjana Jakobs, MDSchepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear Colleen McDowell, PhDUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Rob Nickells, PhDUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Gavin Roddy, MD, PhDMayo Clinic, Rochester Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhDUniversity of California, Irvine Dan Stamer, PhDDuke University Karl Wahlin, PhDUniversity of California, San Diego – Health Sciences Pete Williams, PhDKarolinska Institute (Sweden) Benjamin Xu, MD, PhDUniversity of Southern California BrightFocus encourages researchers with groundbreaking ideas to apply for a 2026 grant. Application information is available at About BrightFocus Foundation BrightFocus Foundation is a premier global nonprofit funder of research to defeat Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Through its flagship research programs — Alzheimer's Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research— the Foundation has awarded over $300 million in groundbreaking research funding since its inception in 1973 and shares the latest research findings, expert information, and resources to empower the millions impacted by these devastating diseases. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Julia S. RothSr. Director, Integrated Marketing and Communications, BrightFocus Foundation(301) 556-9382jroth@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Flying Solo May Protect Your Brain, New Research Finds
In an era where marriage has long been lauded as a linchpin of mental and emotional well-being, emerging research is disrupting the narrative. A comprehensive new study from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) suggests that remaining unmarried—whether by choice or by circumstance—may actually protect against dementia, contradicting decades of assumptions in medical and social science circles. The findings, recently published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, tracked over 24,000 older adults for up to 18 years, exploring how marital status intersected with the risk of developing cognitive impairments like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). The result? Those who were widowed, divorced, or had never married exhibited significantly lower dementia risk compared to married peers. Among the most striking statistics: These associations remained robust even after controlling for a wide swath of variables, including demographics, clinical histories, behavioral health, and even genetic predispositions. Contrary to long-held assumptions about the protective power of marriage, the data reveals a subtler truth: marriage is not a universal cognitive safeguard, and in some cases, it may even pose a risk. Historically, the 'marital resource model' posits that spouses provide mutual emotional, financial, and social support, contributing to better health and longevity. But as society evolves—along with its definitions of intimacy, companionship, and independence—so too must our interpretation of how relationships impact health. The study's authors note a critical pivot: while marriage may offer certain structural benefits, the psychological toll of caregiving, spousal illness, or enduring toxic dynamics can erode cognitive resilience. Divorced individuals, for example, may experience a psychological renaissance—greater life satisfaction and personal autonomy—that acts as a buffer against neurodegeneration. Interestingly, divorced and never-married individuals not only had a lower risk of Alzheimer's and LBD but also showed reduced progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to full-blown dementia. This finding raises provocative questions: could autonomy and diversified social engagement among the unmarried actually nurture cognitive health? One caveat emerges: could married individuals receive earlier diagnoses due to a partner's observation? Married people are more likely to undergo routine checkups and have symptoms flagged early by concerned spouses. Unmarried individuals—particularly those living alone—may not seek medical help until symptoms are more advanced, possibly skewing diagnosis timelines. However, the study accounted for referral source (professional vs. self/relative) and reason for visiting the Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (clinical vs. research)—and still found persistent, statistically significant associations. This suggests the findings are more than mere artifacts of healthcare-seeking behavior. The protective effect of being unmarried was slightly more pronounced in men, younger participants, and those referred professionally. However, stratified analyses indicated that marital status impacted dementia risk consistently, regardless of a person's education, depression level, or genetic risk factors (e.g., APOE-e4 status). This democratization of findings across subgroups underscores the robustness of the data—and the importance of moving beyond one-size-fits-all assumptions about marriage and cognitive health. We are, perhaps, in the midst of a cultural neuro-reckoning. With marriage rates declining and the number of never-married older adults rising, the dominant societal narrative that equates matrimony with wellness is increasingly untenable. This research doesn't villainize marriage—it contextualizes it. In some cases, marriage is cognitively nourishing. In others, mainly when marred by stress or constrained autonomy, it may be mentally depleting. As divorce becomes more normalized and singlehood more empowered, we must reframe cognitive resilience as a function not of marital status but of social richness, psychological safety, and agency. The researchers behind this study call for more nuanced investigations into relationship quality, not just marital labels. Future work must explore how companionship, chosen family, social stimulation, and lifestyle habits mediate brain health—both inside and outside traditional marital frameworks. In the meantime, the takeaway is clear: unmarried does not mean unwell. For many, it may mean cognitively liberated.
