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American Brain Foundation

@americanbrainfoundation

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We bring researchers and donors together to cure brain disease. #CureOneCureMany

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I’m incredibly proud to have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the @americanbrainfoundation. I’m grateful for the trust and excited to contribute to a mission I strongly believe in.

Brain health is something that affects all of us, whether we realize it or not.

As a former professional football player, I’ve had my own experiences with concussions, which have made me more aware of the importance of brain health. But what motivates me most is the opportunity to support research that can improve the lives of millions of people, from those living with neurological conditions to the families supporting them.

One of the things that drew me to the @americanbrainfoundation is their #CureOneCureMany approach: the idea that progress in understanding and treating one brain disease can help advance research into others.

Whether it’s Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, or other neurological conditions, millions of people and families are affected by these diseases.   And what I find so powerful about this approach is that a discovery in one area of brain research could help us better understand and potentially treat others.
There’s still so much we don’t know about the brain, and that’s why supporting this kind of research matters so much.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to meet incredible people and build relationships through football. I believe those connections, and the platform sports have given me, can also be used to support causes that matter.

And if anyone in my network has a personal connection to brain health or neurological conditions, I’d love to hear from you. I’d be happy to connect you with the Foundation and explore how we might be able to help.

#AmericanBrainFoundation #BrainHealth #BrainResearch

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What if the next breakthrough in treating brain disease begins with a conversation? At the American Brain Foundation Gala, guests had the opportunity to meet 14 researchers working to advance our understanding and treatment of neurological diseases and disorders.

Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Nashville, the “Brilliance and Breakthroughs” celebration brought together scientists, philanthropists and advocates, including actress Selma Blair, for an evening dedicated to the foundation's mission of “Cure One, Cure Many.” Guests also enjoyed a memorable performance by Tony Award-winning Leslie Odom Jr.

But the evening offered more than a beautiful celebration. Discover the remarkable people and research behind the mission, see who attended and explore Kristen Drum's photographs from the gala at the link in bio.

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👁️ “It’s like half the world has disappeared.”

Imagine walking through a doorway and repeatedly bumping into one side.

Missing words when reading.

Leaving food untouched on half your plate.

Or not noticing someone approaching until they speak.

After stroke, these experiences may be caused by visual field loss — often called hemianopia.

And here’s what many people don’t realise:

Your eyes may be healthy, but your brain may no longer process part of what you see. 🧠

In Part 2 of The Visual Brain After Stroke, we explore:

✅ Why stroke can cause loss of one side of the visual field

✅ Why missing vision doesn’t always appear as darkness

✅ How visual field loss affects reading, mobility, safety & confidence

✅ Why scanning strategies can help people adapt

✅ When specialist visual assessment and rehabilitation may be needed

Visual field loss can make everyday environments feel unpredictable.

And constantly scanning to compensate can be exhausting.

But recovery isn’t always about restoring what was lost.

Sometimes, it’s about developing new ways to navigate the world safely and confidently. 💙

Instead of asking:

“Why do I keep missing things?”

Consider:

“Am I receiving all the visual information I need to navigate safely?”

Because you’re not necessarily being careless.

Your brain may be working with an incomplete visual picture.

Understanding that difference can change how you approach recovery. 🌿

Next week, we’ll explore visual neglect — a different neurological problem that is often confused with visual field loss.

🔗 Read the full article free via the link in bio — no paid subscription or pledge required.

#BeStrokeWize #StrokeRecovery #Hemianopia #NeuroRehabilitation #StrokeAwareness

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🎙️ Episode 18 is here: Invisible Stroke: The Symptoms People Don’t Always See

Not all stroke recovery challenges are visible.

Someone may look fine on the outside while still dealing with fatigue, cognitive changes, visual or sensory difficulties, mood changes, confidence loss, identity shifts, and the emotional weight of recovery.

In this episode, we explore the hidden symptoms people do not always see — and why being told “you look fine” can feel so difficult when recovery still feels hard.

This is an important conversation about understanding the invisible side of stroke, validating lived experience, and supporting recovery with more compassion and clarity.

If you are a stroke survivor, family member, carer, or professional, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen for free
🔗 Link in bio

#BeStrokeWize #StrokeRecovery #StrokeAwareness #LifeAfterStroke #StrokeSupport

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Knowledge is one of the most powerful forms of support.

A Lewy Body Dementia diagnosis can leave families with more questions than answers. What is LBD? What should we expect? Where can we turn for help? And how do we care for someone we love while navigating a disease that can be so unpredictable?

Here are several dedicated LBD resources to help bring information, support, and connection to those walking this journey.

As an LBD advocate and author, I believe families deserve more than a diagnosis—they deserve understanding, guidance, compassion, and hope.

📌 Save this post for when you need it.
💜 Share it with someone caring for a loved one with LBD.
Remember, you are not alone.

Together, we can raise awareness, empower caregivers, and give Lewy Body Dementia the attention it deserves.

#LewyBodyDementia #LBD #LewyBodyDementiaAwareness #DementiaAwareness #DementiaCare LBDCaregiver CaregiverSupport DementiaResources LBDAdvocacy DementiaAdvocate LewyBody Caregiving

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👁️ “My eyes are fine… so why does the world still feel different?”

After stroke, you might bump into doorframes.

Miss food on one side of your plate.

Find reading suddenly exhausting.

Feel overwhelmed in crowded places.

Or have people seemingly appear from nowhere.

Yet an eye examination may tell you that your eyes themselves are healthy.

That’s because vision doesn’t just happen in the eyes. It happens in the brain. 🧠

In Part 1 of our new series, The Visual Brain After Stroke, we explore:

✅ Why stroke can affect vision even when the eyes are healthy
✅ Visual field loss, neglect & double vision
✅ Changes in eye movements and depth perception
✅ Why visual processing can become slower or overwhelming
✅ Why different visual problems need different approaches to recovery

There isn’t one single “stroke vision problem.”

Where the stroke occurs in the brain can influence how someone experiences the visual world.

And understanding what has changed is often the first step towards learning how to navigate it.

If the world looks or feels different after your stroke, you’re not imagining it.

Your eyes may be seeing.
But your brain is still learning how to interpret what it sees. 💙

Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore visual field loss, visual neglect, visual overload, practical rehabilitation strategies, and when specialist support may help.

🔗 Read the full article free via the link in bio — no paid subscription or pledge required.

#BeStrokeWize #StrokeRecovery #StrokeVision #NeuroRehabilitation #StrokeAwareness

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🗣️ “Maybe I’m overreacting.”
“Maybe this is just normal.”
“Maybe I should just cope.”

When pain, stiffness, or strange sensations persist after stroke — but scans look stable and progress appears good — it can be easy to start doubting your own experience.

You deserve clarity, not minimisation.

In the final part of Pain, Stiffness, and the Misunderstood Body, we explore:

✅ Why post-stroke pain can sometimes be difficult to measure
✅ How to describe symptoms clearly to healthcare professionals
✅ Why noticing patterns in pain, stiffness & fatigue matters
✅ When it is reasonable to ask for reassessment or specialist support
✅ How self-advocacy can restore confidence and agency

Your lived experience is data.

You don’t need to diagnose yourself.

But you can explain what you feel, what makes it worse, what helps, and how it affects your sleep, movement, confidence and daily life.

Instead of simply saying:

“It hurts.”

Try describing the impact:

“This pain is affecting my sleep and limiting what I can do during the day.”

Being clear isn’t being difficult.

Asking questions isn’t complaining.

And seeking further support isn’t failing at recovery. 💙

Across this five-part series, we’ve explored pain, spasticity and stiffness, sensory changes, the fatigue–pain cycle, and finally, advocacy.

Because stroke recovery isn’t only about surviving.

It’s about understanding your changed body — and having the confidence and voice to ask for the support you need. 🌿

🔗 Read the full article free via the link in bio — no paid subscription or pledge required.

#BeStrokeWize #StrokeRecovery #PostStrokePain #PatientAdvocacy #StrokeAwareness

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💙 Does pain leave you exhausted — and exhaustion make your pain feel worse?

After stroke, pain and fatigue can become caught in a frustrating cycle.

Pain demands attention and drains energy. Fatigue can make discomfort harder to manage. And the harder you push, the more overwhelming everything can feel.

But understanding this cycle can help you respond differently. 🧠

In Part 4 of Pain, Stiffness, and the Misunderstood Body, we explore:

✅ Why persistent pain can drain your mental and physical energy

✅ How fatigue can amplify pain and sensory sensitivity

✅ Why pushing through exhaustion can sometimes backfire

✅ How pacing and intentional rest can help manage the cycle

✅ When persistent pain and fatigue deserve professional support

Rest is not a reward for reaching exhaustion.

It is part of how you protect your energy and make room for the activities that matter.

Instead of asking:

“How much more can I push myself today?”

Try asking:

“What can I do now to protect my energy for tomorrow?”

Pacing isn’t giving up on recovery.

It’s learning how to make recovery more sustainable. 🌿

🔗 Read the full article free via the link in bio — no paid subscription or pledge required.

#BeStrokeWize #StrokeRecovery #PostStrokeFatigue #PostStrokePain #StrokeAwareness

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This year at the American Brain Foundation Gala, I had the honor of presenting Chris Johnson with the 2026 Champion Award. While Chris could not be there, his brothers and family accepted the award on his behalf.

I have not stopped thinking about them. The way they stood up for him. The way love can fill a room even when the person being honored is not in it. Not as an idea. Right there, in the faces of the people who carry him.

Chris, your courage, your grace, and your humanity have made other people feel less alone. There is nothing small about it.

Thank you to the American Brain Foundation for the research and advocacy you do, and for standing with every family whose life has been changed by brain disease.

Chris, this honor is so deeply deserved. 🤍

Dress: @stellamccartney
Shoes: @ysl
Jewels: @davidwebbjewels
Hair color: @auracolorist
Haircut: @paulnortonhair
Hair & Makeup: @mrs_nashville asst. @madebymaggierose

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🖐️ “It doesn’t hurt exactly… it just feels different.”

After stroke, some of the hardest symptoms to explain are the ones nobody else can see.

Clothes suddenly feel irritating.
Light touch feels painful.
Warm water feels too hot.
A limb feels heavy, distant or numb — yet somehow tingling or painful at the same time.

Sometimes your body simply feels… off.

In Part 3 of Pain, Stiffness, and the Misunderstood Body, we explore:

✅ Why sensation can change after stroke
✅ How ordinary touch can become uncomfortable or overwhelming
✅ Why numbness and pain can sometimes exist together
✅ Why symptoms may fluctuate with fatigue, stress & environment
✅ When sensory changes deserve further professional support

These sensations aren’t imaginary.

After stroke, the signals reaching the brain — and the way the brain interprets them — can change. 🧠

Instead of asking:

“Why does this feel so strange?”

Try asking:

“How is my brain interpreting this signal right now?”

Because something can look completely normal from the outside while feeling profoundly different on the inside.

Your experience is real.

And understanding what your nervous system is doing can be an important part of learning to trust your body again. 💙

🔗 Read the full article free via the link in bio — no paid subscription or pledge required.

#BeStrokeWize #StrokeRecovery #SensoryChanges #NeuroRehabilitation #StrokeAwareness

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🧠 “My arm won’t loosen.”
“My leg feels locked.”
“It feels like my body just won’t let go.”

Stiffness after stroke is common.

But here’s something many people don’t realise:

Not all stiffness is spasticity.

What feels like “tightness” could involve increased muscle tone, spasticity, structural shortening such as contracture, or other changes in how the nervous system controls movement.

And understanding the difference matters. 💙

In Part 2 of Pain, Stiffness, and the Misunderstood Body, we explore:

✅ What muscle tone actually means
✅ What makes spasticity different from other forms of stiffness
✅ Why fatigue, stress, pain & even infection can make stiffness worse
✅ Why forcing a tight muscle isn’t always the answer
✅ When stiffness deserves further professional assessment

Your body isn’t being stubborn.

Your nervous system is responding differently after injury.

Instead of only asking:

“Why won’t my muscle relax?”

Try asking:

“What kind of stiffness is this — and what is my nervous system responding to?”

Because understanding what the body is doing is often the first step towards knowing how best to support it. 🌿

🔗 Read the full article free via the link in bio — no paid subscription or pledge required.

#BeStrokeWize #StrokeRecovery #Spasticity #NeuroRehabilitation #StrokeAwareness

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