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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Sep 23
BIG NEWS! An anonymous donor will be matching every gift the American Brain Foundation receives, dollar-for-dollar, until December 31, 2026, up to an incredible $500,000. Make your support for brain research go twice as far! ow.ly/TtIy50ZQCvM
Your gift. Doubled. Every gift to the American Brain Foundation will be matched 1:1 through December 31st.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Nov 7
Researchers at @Stanford discovered that the brain is two separate organs that evolved independently. The #forebrain and the #hindbrain grow from genetically distinct stem cells. Our blog explains how this could help scientists study #ALS and #SMA ➡️ow.ly/euGn5104CpB
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Nov 5
Bacteria in the gut can create a compound called imidazole propionate (ImP), which can cause or speed up Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at @UWMadison confirmed this association between ImP and Alz risk—a potential basis for new prevention strategies.
Alzheimer's Research: A bacterial compound in the digestive tract may be associated with greater Alzheimer’s risk.Imidazole propionate (ImP), produced by certain bacteria in the gut, can enter the bloodstream and increase accumulation of beta amyloid and tau proteins in the brain, causing Alzheimer’s. Biological research with mice was compared with nearly 1,200 human blood samples and cognitive tests, showing that more ImP in the blood correlated with faster cognitive decline.
"ImP-producing bacteria are present in a large fraction of people, but they’re not very abundant in most people. ... But something we have learned over the years is that a microbe doesn’t have to be abundant to have an impact on the host" said Federico Rey, PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison.What's next? If an inhibitor can be found to reduce ImP in the bloodstream the way statins can lower cholesterol, that might have potential to reduce Alzheimer’s risk and slow cognitive decline.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Nov 4
Meet 2026 Next Gen. Researcher Mark Bowren, PhD. He’s using ultra-high frequency stimulation to improve brain mapping and reduce risks in epilepsy surgeries. Funded with @AmEpilepsySoc and @EpilepsyFdn. #NationalEpilepsyAwarenessMonth ow.ly/w0x65103Qp2
Researcher Feature: Mark Bowren, PhD, 2026 Susan S. Spencer, MD Next Generation Research Grant in Epilepsy. Dr. Bowren will work to improve brain mapping for patients with epilepsy to temporarily pause signaling between brain regions. This insight has the potential to help make brain surgery safer for patients and improve thier long-term quality of life. This research is co-funded by the American Epilepsy Society & the Epilepsy Foundation.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Nov 2
Why is it so hard to stop scrolling, even when the news makes you anxious?

Your brain is looking for reassurance, but #doomscrolling can actually keep your stress response activated.

The solution isn't to ignore the news. It's knowing when your brain needs a break. 🧠
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 31
This week’s blog discusses hallucinations, for example hearing nonexistent voices or seeing things that aren’t there. Hallucinations are symptoms of schizophrenia, and sometimes other brain conditions like dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease ➡️ ow.ly/swI25102FZW
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 29
Are you excited to celebrate Halloween this weekend? Liam Moore, ABF’s Director, Marketing & Communications, discusses the brain science that explains why we like to be scared. (T-shirt design by Leeya Rose Jackson, Minneapolis.) Read more ➡️ ow.ly/BHqt5102es8
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 28
Meet 2026 Cure One, Cure Many Award recipient Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD. She is developing blood tests to detect biomarkers of Lewy Body Dementia in living patients. Funded with the @alzassociation and @MichaelJFoxOrg. #LBDawarenessmonth
Cure One, Cure Many Researcher Feature: Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD. Dr. Chen-Plotkin received a 2026 Lewy body dementia award.Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Parkinson’s both develop because of the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) proteins, which ultimately destroy brain cells related to memory, motor control, behavior, cognition, mood, sleep, and more. To develop accessible methods to diagnose LBD in living patients, researchers must first identify the key biological signatures that correspond to different molecular processes and disease traits.
Dr. Chen-Plotkin’s team has developed two prototype tests for detecting elements of LBD. They will refine these two tests to develop usable blood biomarkers so that blood can be analyzed to diagnose Parkinson’s and LBD, differentiate them, and quantitatively determine the burden of disease based on measured levels of αSyn. We're grateful to everyone who has made this research possible. This $1 million award is funded in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and donors like you.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 27
A big thank you to @Ken_Rosenthal for helping put brain research in the spotlight! 💙🧠
Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
Oct 26
Tonight’s bow tie for Game 3 of the World Series, Brewers at Rays on Fox at 8e/7c/5p: American Brain Foundation (working to cure brain diseases and disorders). More: americanbrainfoundation.org @ABFbrain
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 26
#GammaTile can be implanted in the brain, during surgery, in the space left by a removed tumor. It emits radiation over time. In a phase 3 trial, it prevented tumor regrowth in 98.7% of cases, increasing survival by 2 years compared to standard radiation. #BrainTumor
Brain Tumor Research: A New Approach to Radiation May Help Prevent Brain Tumors From Returning. Placing a radiation-emitting implant in the cavity left over after removing a brain tumor has proven far more effective than traditional radiation treatments in terms of preventing tumors from returning.A phase 3 trial of GammaTile—a small radiation-emitting implant made from collagen that the body absorbs over time—proved 98.7% successful in preventing brain tumors from returning after removal. Patients lived nearly two years longer than those who had standard radiation.
"Standard-of-care treatment for this disease has always focused on controlling the tumor in the brain so patients can get back to fighting their primary cancer, and [GammaTile] does that more effectively than existing treatment options", said Jeffrey S. Weinberg, MD, University of Texas. What's next? GammaTile is already FDA-cleared an in use at more than 150 U.S. cancer centers, but not every hospital offers it, and not everyone is a candidate. More procedures with the implant over time will help determine how effective GammaTile is and how long the benefit lasts.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 24
Anxiety is a natural response to stress. But for many, worries and fears can become excessive and pervasive, which are signs of a possible anxiety disorder. #AnxietyDisorders have been added to “Brain Diseases from A to Z” on our website ➡️ ow.ly/je9Q5100E6n
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 21
Dr. Caghan Kizil, recipient of a 2025 Cure One, Cure Many Award, is quoted in a new article from @AARP on what millennials and generation Xers can do now to better protect their brain health as they age. Learn how to improve your cognitive resilience ⬇️ ow.ly/hcEL50ZZPnC
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 20
Michael Benatar, MD, PhD, a 2006 Next Gen. Researcher now at the @univmiami Miller School of Medicine, is leading a $26 million study to find early #biomarkers for genetic #ALS and #FTD. This would be a big step toward preventing these conditions. ow.ly/3c4X50ZZqA7
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 19
2025 Next Gen. Researcher Joe Viteri, PhD, at @Mizzou, has a new study on his work targeting senescent cells in #ALS. In mouse models, treatment with #senolytic drugs led to improved motor, neuromuscular, and cortical function.
ALS Research Discovery: Cellular senescence (when cells lose their ability to divide) may be an early and treatable feature of ALS.When they become senescent, “zombie” cells send inflammatory signals that damage surrounding tissue, impairing motor function in ALS. Using dasatinib and quercetin, drugs that target senescence, led to improved motor, neuromuscular, and cortical function in mouse models.
"These findings identify cellular senescence as an early, disease-relevant, and modifiable feature of ALS pathology", said Joe Viteri, PhD, University of Missouri - ColumbiaWhat's next? This research has not yet been tested in human trials, but it provides evidence that senolytic strategies could be a viable approach to treat ALS.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 16
Reminder: Thanks to a generous donor, all gifts to fund American Brain Foundation research grants will be matched through the end of the year! That means your contribution will go twice as far toward funding research.

💓 Double your impact ➡️ ow.ly/ZVu150ZYCnc
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 14
Meet 2026 Next Gen. Researcher Esteban Luna, MD, PhD. He’s researching the gene MPEG1 to see if it could be a target for treating conditions including Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies. Funded with the @alzassociation. #LBDawarenessmonth americanbrainfoundation.org/researchers/es…
Researcher Feature: Esteban Luna, MD, PhD. Dr. Luna is a 2026 Next Generation Researcher studying Lewy Body Dementia. He will explore if the decreased expression of the gene MPEG1 in the brain’s immune cells is associated with accumulations of the protein alpha-synuclein, which leads to conditions like LBD and Parkinson’s. If so, this could lead to new therapeutic approaches targeting MPEG1 to treat these conditions.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 12
Suma Babu, MBBS, MPH, and James Berry, MD, MPH, both past recipients of Next Generation Research Grants (in 2019 and 2013) are leading a #ClinicalTrial of the drug #foralumab to treat #ALS. The first three participants have received their first dose.
ALS Treatment: Clinical Trial Update. A Phase 2a "BANYAN" clinical trial of the ALS drug foralumab has begun. Three participants have already received their first dose. The clinical trial is being led by Suma Babu, MBBS, MPH, and James Berry, MD, MPH, both past recipients of American Brain Foundation Next Generation Research Grants (in 2019 and 2013).The drug is an intranasal monoclonal antibody that stimulates T regulatory cells to control neuroinflammation (the brain’s immune response), as associated with ALS. The trial, sponsored by biopharmaceutical company Tiziana, will include 44 people with early-onset ALS.
"The BANYAN trial is designed to answer important questions about foralumab, specifically, whether it has a biological effect on Treg pathway in ALS, as measured by biomarkers.", said Dr. Suma Babu, Mass General Brigham.What's next? If foralumab is found to be safe and effective for treating ALS, it could offer patients a convenient, noninvasive form of immunotherapy.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 11
What if the children being born today were the first generation to grow up free from the burden of brain conditions?

Executive Director Michelle Heritage shares why a $500,000 matching challenge brings us closer to that future.

Read her message ⬇️ ow.ly/CueP50ZWxfQ
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 10
Brain research is an investment that benefits everyone, and researchers need support. That’s why an anonymous donor is matching every gift the American Brain Foundation receives, through December 31, up to $500,000! 💓Make your gift go twice as far ow.ly/ch7i50ZWwzH 💫
A photograph of a community group standing together overlaid with the quote, "I am offering this $500,000 matching challenge because I believe deeply in the American Brain Foundation’s ability to accelerate discoveries that change lives. By matching every contribution, I hope to inspire others to join me and make their support go twice as far." from the anonymous matching donor.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 8
DAF Day 2026 is here. Today is a nationwide celebration of generosity through donor-advised funds. Make a DAF gift to the American Brain Foundation today to help fund brain research. Plus, all gifts to ABF are currently being matched! #DAFday ow.ly/mGWg50ZVZo1
October 8th is DAF day! With a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), you can give money—and accept a tax benefit—whenever you want. And when you are ready, you can direct a gift from your fund to the cause or organization of your choice.
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American Brain Foundation@ABFbrain
Oct 7
Congrats to @CaKizil and team on this recognition from Inc.! Their work is advancing our understanding of the earliest changes associated with Alzheimer’s and exploring new possibilities for prevention.

We’re proud to support this important research.
Inc.
@Inc
Oct 7
Columbia researchers found that excess fibronectin make brain blood vessels leak decades before symptoms of cognitive decline appear. It occurs in people with one particular gene. trib.al/oEZkJD5
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