FORMULA 1 hero Sir Jackie Stewart has spoken about his family’s battle against dementia as his charity awards £1.5 million to beat the condition.
Stewart, a three-time world champion, founded Race Against Dementia after his wife Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
The organisation has now granted significant awards to three “outstanding” researchers working to find new ways to tackle the condition. Dr Claire Durrant of Edinburgh University and Dr Cara Croft and Dr Christy Hung, both from University College London, have been named Race Against Dementia Fellows and it is hoped that the funding will “radically accelerate” their work, with mentoring support from the Red Bull and McLaren F1 teams.
Confirming the award, Stewart, who was raised in Milton, West Dunbartonshire, said: “When my wife Helen was diagnosed with dementia I knew that our lives wouldn’t be the same again.
“I’m fortunate to be in a position to provide Helen with the best possible care and that I’m part of a close-knit family that has been a crucial source of support throughout this difficult time. I know the situation is very different for many others affected by dementia.
“We urgently need to see new ways to treat or prevent dementia and the only way to do this is through research. The Race Against Dementia Fellowships are taking a lead from my world of professional motorsport.
“I’m passionate about imparting the can-do mindset and the spirit of relentless innovation that sees successful Formula 1 teams problem-solving faster than any other endeavour in my experience.”
Lady Helen’s diagnosis was made in 2014 and her husband has described her condition as “the biggest thing I’ve taken on”.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, around 850,000 people across the UK have the condition.
Race Against Dementia was launched in July and Croft’s fellowship will see her explore how genetic risk factors contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s, Durrant will look at proteins and synapses, and Hung will examine whether boosting the cellular “garbage disposal” process of autophagy could present a new approach for treating the disease.
Dr Carol Routledge, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “With one in three people born today set to develop dementia in their lifetime, we need to act now to create a better future for people who develop this devastating condition. These new projects will allow some of the brightest young talent to explore some of the most promising areas of research with the goal of ending the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia.”
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