‘We can do more’: Bill Gates unveils next step in tackling Alzheimer’s
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Alzheimer’s disease is a word that strikes fear into the hearts of many Australians, especially those over 60. It’s a condition that doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed—it ripples through families, friendships, and entire communities.
So when someone like Bill Gates, one of the world’s most influential philanthropists, shares a deeply personal story and a hopeful update on the fight against Alzheimer’s, it’s worth paying attention.
This week, Bill Gates opened up on his blog about the pain of spending another Father’s Day without his dad, Bill Gates Sr., who passed away in 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Gates described the experience as ‘brutal,’ watching his ‘brilliant, loving father go downhill and disappear.’
But Gates isn’t just sharing his grief—he’s using it as fuel for change. As chair of the Gates Foundation, he’s now more committed than ever to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, a disease that currently affects more than seven million Americans and more than 400,000 Australians.
Writing on his blog, Gates shared his optimism about the ‘massive progress’ currently underway in the battle against Alzheimer’s and other related dementias. Last year, Gates shared that he travelled to Indiana University’s School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he toured the laboratories focused on researching biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s.
‘I also got the opportunity to look under the hood of new automated machines that will soon be running diagnostics around the world,’ he shared. ‘It’s an exciting time in a challenging space.’
A New Era in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
One of the most exciting developments Gates highlighted is the arrival of blood-based diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s.
Traditionally, diagnosing Alzheimer’s has involved expensive and invasive procedures like PET scans or spinal taps—tests that are often only done once symptoms have already appeared.
But as Gates points out, the disease can begin 15 to 20 years before any signs show up.
‘A simple, accurate and easy-to-run blood test might one day make routine screening possible, identifying patients long before they experience cognitive decline,’ Gates stated.
Also read: Bill Gates opens up about the ‘mistake’ that changed his life forever
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first blood-based test for people aged 55 and over. These tests work by detecting amyloid plaques—clumps of protein in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
Gates is optimistic that these tests will be a 'game-changer,' making routine screening possible and giving people a fighting chance to slow or even prevent the disease’s progression.
Why Get Diagnosed Early?
A question Gates says he hears often is, 'What’s the point of getting diagnosed if there’s nothing I can do about it?' It’s a fair question, especially since, for many years, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis felt like a death sentence.
But that’s starting to change. Two new drugs—Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Donanemab (Kisunla)—have recently gained FDA approval.
Also read: This tech giant founder wants to give his fortune away! Will you receive some of his fortune soon?
While they don’t cure Alzheimer’s, they have been shown to modestly slow its progression, especially when treatment starts early. Gates is particularly excited about the potential of these drugs when paired with early diagnosis from blood tests.
Early diagnosis also means more people can participate in clinical trials, speeding up the development of even better treatments. Gates also expressed hope that blood tests will help accelerate the process of enrolling patients in clinical trials for new Alzheimer’s treatments.
The Push for More Research
Despite these breakthroughs, Gates is clear that the fight is far from over. He’s calling for increased funding for Alzheimer’s research, noting that this is the moment to ‘spend more money on research, not less.’
‘There is still a huge amount of work to be done—like deepening our understanding of the disease’s pathology and developing even better diagnostics,’ Gates added.
Source: Bill Gates / Youtube.
Reflecting on his father’s experience with Alzheimer’s, Gates remarked that it was once seen as a ‘death sentence,’ but noted that this perception is beginning to shift.
‘I am blown away by how much we have learned about Alzheimer’s over the last couple of years,’ he wrote. ‘I cannot help but be filled with a sense of hope when I think of all the progress being made on Alzheimer’s, even with so many challenges happening around the world. We are closer than ever before to a world where no one has to watch someone they love suffer from this awful disease.’
In Australia, organisations like Dementia Australia are also pushing for more research and better support for families. If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimer’s, you’re not alone—and there’s more hope on the horizon than ever before.
Try this: Take this 60-second writing challenge—it could reveal early signs of this disease
Have you or someone you know been affected by Alzheimer’s? What are your thoughts on these new blood tests and treatments? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below!
So when someone like Bill Gates, one of the world’s most influential philanthropists, shares a deeply personal story and a hopeful update on the fight against Alzheimer’s, it’s worth paying attention.
This week, Bill Gates opened up on his blog about the pain of spending another Father’s Day without his dad, Bill Gates Sr., who passed away in 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Gates described the experience as ‘brutal,’ watching his ‘brilliant, loving father go downhill and disappear.’
But Gates isn’t just sharing his grief—he’s using it as fuel for change. As chair of the Gates Foundation, he’s now more committed than ever to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, a disease that currently affects more than seven million Americans and more than 400,000 Australians.
Writing on his blog, Gates shared his optimism about the ‘massive progress’ currently underway in the battle against Alzheimer’s and other related dementias. Last year, Gates shared that he travelled to Indiana University’s School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he toured the laboratories focused on researching biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s.
Bill Gates reflected on his late father’s battle with Alzheimer’s and shared his ongoing commitment to finding a cure, inspired by personal experience. Image source: TODAY / Youtube.
‘I also got the opportunity to look under the hood of new automated machines that will soon be running diagnostics around the world,’ he shared. ‘It’s an exciting time in a challenging space.’
A New Era in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
One of the most exciting developments Gates highlighted is the arrival of blood-based diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s.
Traditionally, diagnosing Alzheimer’s has involved expensive and invasive procedures like PET scans or spinal taps—tests that are often only done once symptoms have already appeared.
But as Gates points out, the disease can begin 15 to 20 years before any signs show up.
‘A simple, accurate and easy-to-run blood test might one day make routine screening possible, identifying patients long before they experience cognitive decline,’ Gates stated.
Also read: Bill Gates opens up about the ‘mistake’ that changed his life forever
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first blood-based test for people aged 55 and over. These tests work by detecting amyloid plaques—clumps of protein in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
Gates is optimistic that these tests will be a 'game-changer,' making routine screening possible and giving people a fighting chance to slow or even prevent the disease’s progression.
Why Get Diagnosed Early?
A question Gates says he hears often is, 'What’s the point of getting diagnosed if there’s nothing I can do about it?' It’s a fair question, especially since, for many years, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis felt like a death sentence.
But that’s starting to change. Two new drugs—Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Donanemab (Kisunla)—have recently gained FDA approval.
Also read: This tech giant founder wants to give his fortune away! Will you receive some of his fortune soon?
While they don’t cure Alzheimer’s, they have been shown to modestly slow its progression, especially when treatment starts early. Gates is particularly excited about the potential of these drugs when paired with early diagnosis from blood tests.
Early diagnosis also means more people can participate in clinical trials, speeding up the development of even better treatments. Gates also expressed hope that blood tests will help accelerate the process of enrolling patients in clinical trials for new Alzheimer’s treatments.
The Push for More Research
Despite these breakthroughs, Gates is clear that the fight is far from over. He’s calling for increased funding for Alzheimer’s research, noting that this is the moment to ‘spend more money on research, not less.’
‘There is still a huge amount of work to be done—like deepening our understanding of the disease’s pathology and developing even better diagnostics,’ Gates added.
Source: Bill Gates / Youtube.
Reflecting on his father’s experience with Alzheimer’s, Gates remarked that it was once seen as a ‘death sentence,’ but noted that this perception is beginning to shift.
‘I am blown away by how much we have learned about Alzheimer’s over the last couple of years,’ he wrote. ‘I cannot help but be filled with a sense of hope when I think of all the progress being made on Alzheimer’s, even with so many challenges happening around the world. We are closer than ever before to a world where no one has to watch someone they love suffer from this awful disease.’
In Australia, organisations like Dementia Australia are also pushing for more research and better support for families. If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimer’s, you’re not alone—and there’s more hope on the horizon than ever before.
Try this: Take this 60-second writing challenge—it could reveal early signs of this disease
Have you or someone you know been affected by Alzheimer’s? What are your thoughts on these new blood tests and treatments? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below!
