Fantasy writer and Alzheimer's sufferer Sir Terry Pratchett

THE inner campaigner inside multi-million selling fantasy writer Sir Terry Pratchett emerged following a much-dreaded diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in 2007.

Like mental health, the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s – the most common form of dementia – are still spoken about in hushed tones.

But with a million people in the UK expected to suffer from dementia in the next decade, Sir Terry has grabbed the bull by the horns and vowed to change the course of the devastating disease.

Immediately after his diagnosis at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, he donated $1 million to Alzheimer’s Research UK based in Great Shelford.

This was before handing over a 20,000-signature petition to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, appealing for him to boost funds for the study of the disease.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Sir Terry Pratchett’s support of Alzheimer’s research knows no bounds.

“As well as speaking out about his own diagnosis and the need to invest in research now, Sir Terry has also put his money where his mouth is.”

But, arguably more importantly, Sir Terry – now patron of Alzheimer’s Research UK - has got people talking about Alzheimer’s, which has to be a huge stride when it comes to tackling the disease.

Sir Terry, who turns 63 in April and lives in Salisbury, observed: “Before you can slay the dragon you have to say its name.

“Once upon a time nobody talked about cancer and it was almost if you say the word it will turn up.

“But when I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and ‘came out’, it did not occur to me for one moment that I’d done anything wrong.”

Sir Terry said he feared a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s as soon as he experienced early tell-tale symptoms.

He said: “I recall typing was getting very difficult and similar things were getting in the way.

“I went to see my GP who was very hospitable about the whole thing and he sent me to Addenbrooke’s to meet with specialist Peter Nestor.

“He put me through a whole array of tests, reading tests, the whole lot.

“Then he came and sat down in that companionable way doctors do when they are about to tell you something dreadful.

“After I was diagnosed I handed in my driving licence and my assistant Rob was driving me.

“He asked me who we were going to tell and I said ‘everybody’.

“I knew about Alzheimer’s Research UK and when it comes to Alzheimer’s I think that we have to try to turn off the tap before cleaning up the mess.”

Sir Terry is still working and the 39th novel in the Discworld series will be published later in the year.

He said: “One of the quickest ways to describe it is it ages you quite fast and the way you have to think about things makes you more doddery.

“It seems to me I have had Alzheimer’s forever.

“I might have had it for 20 years before it crept up on me.

“You think yesterday was normal and today is like yesterday so everything’s OK.

“But what we don’t realise it’s this little change each day which is sufficiently big enough to make things change.

“It’s a very slow gentle slide and every now and again you notice you have slid a little bit further.”