OUR VISION AND MISSION
Life without brain disease
The American Brain Foundation was founded to bring researchers and donors together to cure brain diseases and disorders. For almost 30 years, we have funded research across a broad spectrum of brain and nervous system diseases and disorders in the pursuit of improved treatments, prevention, and cures. We focus on the full spectrum of brain diseases and disorders because we believe that when we cure one disease, we will cure many.
DRIVEN TO FIND A CURE
About the American Brain Foundation
We bring together the most respected researchers, brain disease organizations and individual donors to achieve our shared goals. Our founder and research partner is the American Academy of Neurology.
Cure One, Cure Many
Our whole-brain approach recognizes the interconnectedness of brain diseases and supports innovation through research by the best and brightest in the field of neurology. By examining the whole brain, we get the whole picture, and we know that when we cure one brain disease, we will cure many.
Brain Disease Affects 1 in 6 people
That’s over 1 billion people across the globe whose lives are impacted by brain diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, stroke, migraine, epilepsy, and more. Our goal is to bring that number to zero.
Funding Brain Disease Research
Through programs like our Next Generation Research Grants and the Cure One Cure Many research award, we are committed to funding the innovative research of early-career and established investigators, encouraging a passion for research and laying the groundwork for the cures of tomorrow.
Learn MoreGet Involved
Together, we can outsmart brain disease. Make your donation today to help make life without brain disease a reality.
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Orlena
Orlena was driving with her young daughter in the car when she suffered a stroke because of a rare brain vessel disorder called Moyamoya. After two brain surgeries and six months unable to care for her daughter, Orlena began to reclaim her independence and became a Moyamoya advocate.
Read More of Orlena’s Story
ABF Stories
Orlena
Zoe
At 15 years old, Zoe has been navigating her Tourette syndrome diagnosis for eight years. “I had to figure out at a young age how my emotions affect my tics, from good to awful ways. It has been frustrating to figure out on my own and learn to deal with. This was the first moment in my life where my parents couldn’t fix something for me.”
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ABF STORIES
Zoe
Sasha
Sasha was diagnosed with epilepsy after sustaining a soccer-related brain injury in high school. Since then, Sasha has worked to find both a treatment that controlled her seizures and a career that fulfilled her desire to care for others. “Life isn’t meant to be lived taking multiple medications and having seizures you can’t control.”
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ABF STORIES
Sasha
Ken Jr.
Before frontotemporal lobe dementia, sometimes called Pick’s disease, Ken Keene Sr. was a respected community member and a handyman who could fix anything. For his oldest son and namesake Ken Keene Jr., there was nothing his father couldn’t do: “To my family, he was just that super dad. Then all of a sudden he’s reaching out for help.”
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ABF STORIES
Ken Jr.
Morgan
It started with a twinge. After a simple surgery and some physical therapy, Morgan wasn’t getting better. It took two more surgeries before she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type II.
Read More of Morgan’s Story
ABF STORIES
Morgan
Cure One Cure Many Award
The American Brain Foundation’s Cure One, Cure Many Award supports breakthrough research in brain disease. The award provides large-scale, catalyst funding to the world’s top researchers who are pursuing the most innovative, cross-cutting approaches to finding diagnoses, treatments, and cures for brain disease. The award targets research topics that cut across multiple disease areas.
NEXT-GENERATION RESEARCHERS
Working to Find Cures
The Next Generation Research Grants program funds and supports innovative investigations by the best and brightest early-career researchers working today to find the cures of tomorrow. We support their research across a broad spectrum of the brain and nervous system as they tackle things like identifying and treating ALS, developing treatments for Parkinson’s disease, predicting outcomes for TBI patients, and more.
BRAIN DISEASES AND DISORDERS
Brain Diseases From A-Z
Brain disease comes in many different forms and goes by many different names. It affects the lives of one in six people worldwide, in addition to the lives of their family, friends, and caregivers. Learn more about the diseases and disorders that affect the brain and nervous system, including ALS, dementia, brain tumors, headache, stroke, and more.
ARTICLES AND NEWS
Brain & Life®
Brain & Life is a website and free magazine backed by the neurologists of the American Academy of Neurology. Visit to read compelling stories and get useful tips about brain health and living well with a neurologic disorder, and to subscribe to the magazine.
Support Brain Research
We need your help to continue to fund brain research projects and find cures. Stand with us in the fight against brain diseases and disorders.
Blog
News and Articles
Discover the latest news in brain disease research, hear stories from people affected by brain disease and their caregivers, read up on brain disease-specific information, and more.
What to Know About Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Living and Working With MS: A Story of Self-advocacy and Perseverance
Developing a Diagnostic Test for Alzheimer’s Disease
Brain Health Round-Up: Life-Changing Therapies Highlight the Power of Research
Brain Health Round-Up: Hope for People Affected by Brain Disease
Announcing the 2021 Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award Recipient: John Quinlan, MD
What to Know About Myasthenia Gravis
From Diagnosis to Advocacy: A Journey with a Rare Brain Disease
