Pratchett Funds Alzheimer's Study

Fantasy author and Alzheimer's patient, Terry Pratchett, is donating $1 million to fund Alzheimer's research.

Pratchett is the creator and author of the famous Discworld series and was diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's sometime back. "I intend to scream and harangue while there is time," the best-selling author said.

Pratchett's form of Alzheimer's is known as posterior cortical atrophy: areas in the back of his brain are shriveling. Early-onset Alzheimer's sufferers are all under 65 - the youngest on-record was 29; it usually strikes between 40 and 50 years of age. Just under 10% of all Alzheimer's cases are thought to be early on-set cases and the majority of those afflicted are in their 50s.

"Personally, I'd eat the arse out of a dead mole if it offered a fighting chance," said Pratchett, "It is a shock to find out that funding for Alzheimer's research is just 3% of that to find cancer cures."

The Alzheimer's Research Trust estimates that just over $20 is spent on research, per patient, annually - compared to over $500 for cancer patients. The Trust has to turn down two out of every three research projects due to lack of funding.

Terry Pratchett is 59.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008