Alzheimer's Advocate Terry Pratchett Awarded Knighthood

Terry Prachett suffers from posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a rare early-onset form of Alzheimer's disease. He has been on a mission to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and improve research into treatments. He has advocated on behalf of Alzheimer's sufferers in the U.K.  Mr. Pratchett, who says he has benefited from the use of Aricept, has been a critic of the National Institute for Health because they are denying Aricept to more than 400,000 sufferers of Alzheimer's in his country. Amazingly, the National Institute for Health does provide Viagra.

"My wife and PA both noticed real changes in me after two or three months on it (Aricept). I used to fumble with buttons and needed help with seat belts. Now, I get dressed normally and seat belts slide in first time. Mentally, it's the difference between a sunny day and an overcast day. Ye Gods, that's worth it!"

Terry Pratchett donated one million of his own funds for Alzheimer's research.

He has been his awarded a knighthood for services to literature. Pratchet sold more than 55 million books worldwide. He is best known for his Discworld comic fantasy novels.

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