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Terry Pratchett - early alzheimers.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:45 pm
by Phantasm
Pratchett has Alzheimer's disease
The writer said he would continue to work on his latest book
Author Terry Pratchett is suffering from a rare form of early Alzheimer's disease, it has been revealed.
He said in a statement that with forthcoming conventions and the need to inform his publishers it would have been "unfair to withhold the news".
Discworld author Pratchett has sold more than 55 million books worldwide.
The writer, 59, who gave the news on the website of Discworld artist Paul Kidby, said the condition was behind a "phantom stroke" earlier this year.
'Mild optimism'
He said: "I would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while, but because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed, it seems to me unfair to withhold the news.
"I have been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, which lay behind this year's 'phantom stroke'."
He added: "We are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism.
The author said work was continuing on his latest book, Unseen Academicals.
'More books'
"All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible, future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers," he said.
"Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet."
He told fans the statement should be interpreted as "I am not dead".
"I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else," he said.
"For me, this may be further off than you think. It's too soon to tell.
"I know it's a very human thing to say 'is there anything I can do', but in this case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry."
Pratchett was made an OBE in 1998 for services to British literature.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7141458.stm
Hope he finds some help from a "very high-end expert in brain chemistry"
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:48 am
by Cagliostro
Wow...that's really too bad. Another forum I go to, which is the Douglas Adams Continuum, had him as a guest. I wonder if answering our questions is what brought on the stroke.
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:07 am
by matrixman
I hate Alzheimer's disease with a passion. It destroys our most basic dignity, our deepest sense of our own identity.
But good to see Pratchett's fine wit taking it in stride.
Maybe genetic research will solve Alzheimer's eventually.
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:31 am
by sgt.null
i pray that research goes fullbore and we can cure this. my father suffered from dementia at the end. MM is right, it is horrible to realize that someone doesn't recognize themselves.
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:57 am
by emotional leper
First the inventor of GatorAde dies, now this?!
There is no kind or loving god.
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:50 pm
by Avatar
Damn, that's bad news. Good luck to him.
--A
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:02 pm
by The na-Mhoram
Who knows, maybe Alzheimers will make his writing even better?
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:38 am
by matrixman
Heh, that's either a very clever remark or a joke in very poor taste...
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:41 am
by Cagliostro
That's funny, I couldn't tell which way to take that comment either.
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:07 am
by emotional leper
Well, then we'll have to wait to see what happens to his writing to interpret it, right?
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:48 am
by matrixman
Hmm...since he's the na-Mhoram, he must have been Raving.
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:54 pm
by CovenantJr
sgt.null wrote:i pray that research goes fullbore and we can cure this. my father suffered from dementia at the end. MM is right, it is horrible to realize that someone doesn't recognize themselves.
Agreed. My grandfather suffered it with it for his final couple of years. It was heartbreaking. I feel for Mr Pratchett and his family.
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:02 pm
by iQuestor
My Mom has dementia now.
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:59 pm
by DukkhaWaynhim
My grandmother passed away last year, after a little over a year of alzheimer's-related dementia. Sometimes she would recognize me instantly, and other times I could tell that she was bluffing. The brain really is a mystery - and it is surreal, and a sad, terrible shame to not be recognized by someone you have known your entire life.
dw