American Brain Foundation

“Scary Mommy” founder Jill Smokler and bestselling author Sophie Kinsella recently shared they have been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma and other brain cancer research has seen little progress in recent years. Research is desperately needed so people like Jill and Sophie have hope for better treatments and eventually we find a cure for all types of brain cancer. Learn more about glioblastoma in our new blog: https://lnkd.in/g9XSiRsw

Do you ever wonder why some images stay in your mind while others fade? A team of MIT researchers have been studying this very phenomenon for nearly a decade. After testing a new combination of brain activity measuring methods, they uncovered a major finding with potential applications for diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s and other memory-related disorders. Research found that more brain regions are involved in memorization than once thought, and more memorable images make this process stronger and more sustained. Swipe to learn some fast facts about the study!

Actor Ed Begley Jr., best known for shows like Young Sheldon and Better Call Saul, experienced symptoms of Parkinson’s disease 12 years before his diagnosis. He assumed his symptoms were due to aging, a common reason for delayed diagnosis. Learn about Ed’s journey with Parkinson’s, early signs to watch for, and new diagnostic tools on the horizon via Brain and Life Magazine: https://lnkd.in/g3jK7bug

Feeling stressed lately? Stress is a part of life, but over time, chronic stress can impact brain function. In this month’s free webinar on July 9, Dr. Teshamae Monteith and Dr. Jeff Iliff will share tips for stress management and help us understand its importance in mental wellness. Register for the webinar now: https://lnkd.in/gw9qyCrM

A donor who believes so strongly in our mission is matching every gift we receive, but only if we can raise $500,000 by December 31st. Please take this chance to double your gift today at https://lnkd.in/gcS3-wjR! This is an extra half million dollars that will go to promoting and funding research for brain diseases like migraine and headache, Parkinson’s and LBD, ALS and FTD, stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and so many more. But only if we can raise $500,000 by the end of the year. 43.1% of the global population is living with brain disease—3.4 billion people. But we know that brain disease doesn’t just affect people directly, it affects everyone. Double your impact with a gift today to fund research to develop treatments, improve diagnoses, and discover cures for brain diseases, disorders, and injuries.

Over 1 in 3 people live with a neurological condition, now the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide. New findings on the global impact of brain disease make it painfully clear that the work we are doing to support as many brain disease research projects as possible is incredibly critical. Investing in brain disease research is the only way we will find cures, and when we find a cure for one disease, we will find cures for many more. Learn more in our new blog: https://lnkd.in/gBPKy_9k

Did you know sleep plays an important role in brain function? There’s a reason we spend ⅓ of our lives on the pillow – sleep allows our brains to do things like store memories, concentrate, and so much more. It may even reduce our risk of brain disease: New studies suggest that during sleep, the brain removes disease-associated toxins that build up when we are awake. This important finding is just the tip of the iceberg. More research is needed to help scientists understand the link between sleep, brain function, and disease. Learn more about the brain disease research we are funding: https://lnkd.in/ginjXeRX

Have you heard about our $10 million 2025 Cure One, Cure Many Award? It’s a large-scale research initiative that leverages cross-industry collaboration to support the study of neuroinflammation and its role in nearly all brain diseases. Learn more about this award and why neuroinflammation research is so important: https://lnkd.in/gidsxsdg

One of the best gifts you can give a serious or terminally ill loved one is compassion and comfort. Palliative care offers both, as it aims to optimize quality of life for those with serious or terminal illnesses. In last month’s webinar, Dr. Maisha Robinson shared how this holistic caregiving approach works and what support can look like from a family standpoint. Learn more in our recap: https://lnkd.in/gX6Sf-wM

Goodbyes can be hard for anyone – apparently, even our brain cells! A new Dartmouth study found old brain cells - specifically, mature oligodendrocytes, which are the cells that make and maintain myelin - exposed to trauma hung around for a whopping 45 days before dying. This never-before-seen pathway to cell death raises exciting questions about its potential part in preventing or reversing brain cell damage that diseases like MS cause. Swipe for fast facts about this research discovery!