Leading Expert on Baby Boomers and the Aging of America Joins BrightFocus Foundation Board of Directors
Acclaimed Author, Speaker and Expert Joins Fight to Save Mind and Sight
CLARKSBURG, MD—Maddy Dychtwald, a renowned expert on our nation's changing demographic trends and aging, has joined the BrightFocus Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Dychtwald is co-founder of Age Wave, the nation’s foremost thought-leader on population aging trends and their profound business, lifestyle and cultural implications. Her more than twenty-five year career has spanned work with industries from healthcare to financial services to consumer marketing. The company provides research, marketing, and consulting services to more than half of the Fortune 500.
"I am tremendously impressed with BrightFocus—both its support for some of the world's most innovative brain and eye research, as well as how they educate and advocate for families to better understand and manage Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and glaucoma," Dychtwald said. "I am excited to work with my fellow Board members to help BrightFocus achieve even greater success."
"Maddy Dychtwald will be a tremendous addition to BrightFocus,” said Grace Frisone, who chairs the foundation’s board. "She is a foremost expert on the vast changes facing our nation, and a strong, passionate advocate for how public and private sector leaders can work together to build a better, healthier tomorrow.”
BrightFocus recently announced $11 million in new research grants, a record amount for the non-profit in its efforts to cure diseases of mind and sight. The Foundation has funded nearly $38 million in science over the past five years.
As the Baby Boomers reach retirement, age-related diseases will take a growing toll on the nation. Five million Americans now have Alzheimer’s, which Forbes recently called, “the most expensive condition in the nation.” Macular degeneration, which hinders central vision, affects 11 million people in the U.S., while glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among Hispanics and African-Americans. BrightFocus recently launched a new PSA campaign, “Make a Plan Today; Get Your Eyes Checked,” to address the growing rates of these diseases.
BrightFocus Foundation is a nonprofit organization supporting research and public education to help eradicate brain and eye diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma. For more information, call 1-800-437-2423.