Terry Pratchett is a creative genius with few peers. Prolific writer of the Discworld series, among several other works, he is internationally reverred as among the most influential authors of the last 40 years. A year ago he publicly announced that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Since then, he has made substantial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, the group he addressed in the video below (in two parts). He discusses having the disease and the effect on his writing among other topics.
He also has a new book, Nation. Here’s a blurb from Bookmarks Magazine:
Critics praised Nation as a hybrid, deeply philosophical book aimed at young adults, but one likely to appeal to adults as well, much like Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy or J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. With echoes of William Defoe and William Golding, Nation takes the
form of a “classic Robinsonade,” notes the Washington Post—that is, a book in which characters on a desert island recreate civilization. As his characters grapple with questions of leadership, humanity, and survival, Pratchett explores fundamental ideas about religion and culture. This might all sound rather heavy, but there is plenty of originality and humor—and cannibals, spirits, and secret treasures—to go around. In the end, Pratchett offers a vision of a deeply humane world. “In some part of the multiverse there is probably a civilisation based on the thinking of Terry Pratchett,” writes the Guardian, “and what a civilised civilisation that will be.”
David DiSalvo is a freelance writer and research wonk who has written and lectured on topics involving public health, air and water quality, branding, education, energy efficiency, healthcare and social marketing. More info 
4 Comments
July 7, 2009 at 3:41 am
Just saw a report that 2 strong cups of coffee a day can reverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Not appropriate for those with heart troubles. Sounds too good to be true, but maybe worth passing a note to Terry and following up through Google etc??
July 14, 2009 at 5:36 am
I wish nothing but the very best for Mr. Pratchett. There can be no more eerie experience than something that actually skews your thoughts. Hang in there!
October 1, 2009 at 7:53 pm
If you choose to prevent Alzheimer, you can per day consume two cups of strong black coffee.
http://alzheimers-diseaseblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/coffee-prevents-alzheimer-disease.html
October 11, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Dear Terry,
We love your work! We met a couple from London the other night and they told us your problem.
I studied with Kathryn Picoulin, a nurse who brought her father from 5th (final) stage Alzheimer’s to No Alzheimer’s. She wrote her Doctorate on how she accomplished this. Her father could only say “Hello” when she saw him in the hospital. After her rigorous work (that took maybe a year) he was driving and playing golf.
She has been given a clinic because of her good work. Her program consists of eating organic and taking supplements and homeopathics which remove Aluminum and other heavy metals from the body.
Here is a search I did on her which turned up a lot of information on contacting her and on her work.
http://www.google.com/search?q=kathryn+picoulin&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
I am a Kinesiologist so what I do well is test the body for what helps it and how much is optimum.
I surely would like to know that you received this email. I would like to be of service to you.
Jacqueline Wurn