Alzheimer's Research UK

Terry Pratchett donates $1 million

Our Patron and popular author of the Discworld series donated the huge sum of $1million in 2008 and spoke of the vital importance of dementia research.

Sir Terry chose to commit the money to one of our Major research http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/projects/, lead by Dr Louise Serpell at the University of Sussex, investigating ways of slowing or halting Alzheimer’s disease. Sir Terry visited Dr Serpell and her team one year into their project for an update on their progress.

The team has been using cutting edge techniques to understand how toxic particles in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s form and begin to attack brain cells. Aiming to gain a detailed understanding of how Alzheimer’s develops, the scientists hope the full results of their study will be crucial in the development of new treatments that could combat the disease.

Sir Terry Pratchett, Patron of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

‘There’s only two ways it can go: researchers, with as much help as we can give them, may come up with something that reduces the effects of this dreadful, inhuman disease, or we will have to face the consequences of our failure to prevent the final years of many of us being a long bad dream. The strain on carers and their support is bad enough now; before very long the effects on the health service and society itself will be unbearable.’

Please contact our development team on 0300 111 5555 or email development@alzheimersresearchuk.org to discuss how your big gift could make a real impact.