There is nothing for me to add to this story, the title alone speaks for itself. Bill Gates is becoming our number #1 champion against Alzheimer’s. On July 17th, he announced that he and Estée Lauder Cosmetics chairman emeritus Leonard Lauder and other philanthropists, including the Dolby family and the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, will award $30 million over three years to the Diagnostics Accelerator, a venture philanthropy vehicle.
Gates and Lauder provided seed money for the diagnostics collaboration through the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), which was founded by Lauder. The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) aims to accelerate bold new ideas for earlier and better diagnosis of the disease.
Why diagnosing Alzheimer’s today is so difficult—and how we can do better
By Bill Gates
When I announced that I was investing in Alzheimer’s research for the first time last fall, I thought I knew what to expect. I knew I would get to engage more deeply with the brilliant scientists and advocates working to stop Alzheimer’s—and I haven’t been disappointed. The things I’ve seen over the last seven months make me more hopeful than ever.
What I didn’t see coming was the amazing response I got from the Alzheimer’s community at large. Because my family didn’t talk publicly about my dad’s diagnosis before the announcement, I had yet to experience how remarkable the support community is. So many of you have shared your personal experiences with me, both in person and online (including here on TGN). It helps to hear from others who are going through the same thing.
Alzheimer’s research is a frontier where we can dramatically improve human life—both the lives of people who have the disease and their loved ones. I’m optimistic that we can substantially alter the course of Alzheimer’s if we make progress in several key areas. One of the biggest things we could do right now is develop a reliable, affordable, and accessible diagnostic.
Continue reading the full story here on Gatesnotes.
CONFESSIONS OF A MASTER CAREGIVER 