Brain Research Foundation

When was the last time you considered your brain health? Not your diet or your workout routine — your brain.

• Have you reflected on how the quality of your sleep influences your ability to focus?
• Do you know whether your family history places you at higher risk for neurological disease?
• Have you challenged yourself recently to learn something new — a language, an instrument, or a skill outside your comfort zone?

If these questions give you pause, it may be a sign that your brain health deserves more attention. The choices you make today shape not only your current wellbeing, but also your future independence.

🧠 Share one step you plan to take this week to prioritize your brain health. Your commitment can inspire others to do the same.

Batten disease is a rare, fatal neurological disorder that primarily affects children.

It begins with vision loss, then progresses to seizures, motor decline, and cognitive deterioration. Families face challenges most of us can’t imagine, yet their courage and love remain constant.

Show your support for Batten Disease Awareness by tying a knot and joining the global movement. Together, we can ensure these children and families are never forgotten 💜

Communication is at the heart of being human. Aphasia takes that away — making it hard to speak, understand, read, or write. And it's more common than you may realize:

🧠 1 in 3 stroke survivors experience aphasia.
🧠 Nearly 180,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
🧠 𝟮+ 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 are currently suffering with aphasia.

Aphasia can be frustrating and isolating, but with speech therapy, technology, and family support, many regain skills and discover new ways to connect.

Communication is the bond that holds families together. Protect it by supporting research at thebrf.org.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 55 million people worldwide. Every 3 seconds, someone develops dementia — meaning nearly everyone will know a parent, grandparent, or friend touched by this condition.

Alzheimer’s challenges memory and thinking, but it also reveals the strength of families, caregivers, and communities who rise to meet it. Their resilience inspires hope and fuels the search for solutions.

Discover more about Alzheimer’s, explore resources, and support research at thebrf.org.

Together, we can move toward a future defined not by loss, but by progress and compassion 💜

Williams Syndrome affects about 1 in 10,000 people worldwide. While that may be rare, every family deserves understanding and support.

From cardiovascular care to educational resources, awareness drives action. It ensures that children and adults with Williams Syndrome get the medical attention and opportunities they need.

Together, we can build a world where rare doesn’t mean forgotten.

🔗 explore ways to help at www.thebrf.org

Many people have never heard of Guillain-Barré Syndrome — yet it can change lives overnight. GBS occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves, disrupting signals between brain and muscles.

It often begins with tingling in the feet or hands, spreading upward to cause weakness or even paralysis. In severe cases, breathing muscles can be affected, making it a medical emergency.

For families navigating recovery, our 2025 article remains a trusted guide. Even now, it offers reassurance and practical knowledge for those supporting someone with GBS.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4d4iEmb

You’ve probably seen ALS in your news feed, but how much do you really know about it?

ALS, or 𝐚𝐦𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬, is a progressive disease that attacks motor neurons — the nerve cells that control voluntary movement.

As these neurons die, muscles weaken and shrink. Over time, everyday actions like walking, speaking, swallowing, and even breathing become difficult. Most cases are sporadic, though about 10% are inherited.

Recent advances, like targeted genetic therapies and new medications, are showing promise in slowing progression. Each discovery brings hope that ALS will one day be a treatable condition rather than a terminal diagnosis.

A stroke can feel like a lightning strike in the brain — sudden, powerful, and life-changing. But recognizing the signs early can mean the difference between recovery and lasting damage.

At BRF, we fund research into prevention and rehabilitation, helping patients reclaim independence and dignity. Science is showing us new ways to protect the brain’s delicate wiring.

Every second matters. By spreading awareness, we can turn urgency into hope and save countless futures.

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we are looking beyond the green ribbons and into the laboratory. To support mental health is to support the study of the brain’s incredible capacity for change and recovery.

Central to this is 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆—the brain’s ability to reorganize itself. Through 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 (the birth of new synapses), the brain can heal from the physical impacts of stress and trauma. Research into 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 is teaching us how to trigger this natural repair process.

This biological adaptability makes scientific innovation the true roadmap to a cure. This May, Brain Research Foundation celebrates the researchers mapping the brain’s architecture to foster resilience for everyone. Awareness builds empathy; research builds the future 🧠