In the news - Terry Pratchett has early-onset Alzheimer's Disease

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22917625-2,00.html

Author Terry Pratchett has Alzheimer's
By Alison Godfrey

December 13, 2007 10:51am

BEST-selling British author Terry Pratchett has a rare form of Alzheimer's.

The 59-year-old writer, who has sold 55million books worldwide made the announcement on Discworld illustrator Paul Kidby's official website.

Prachett told Britain's Mail on Sunday a month ago that he had been struggling with his hand-eye co-ordination and dexterity due to a a series of strokes.

But further tests had since revealed the famous fantasy author has early onset Alzheimer's.

Prachett said he decided to disclose the news because it would be unfair to hide it from his fans and colleagues.

"I have been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, which lay behind this year's phantom 'stroke', he said in a statement on the website.

"We are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism. For now work is continuing on the completion of Nation and the basic notes are already being laid down for Unseen Academicals.

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. Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet :o)

"PS. I would just like to draw attention to everyone reading the above that this should be interpreted as 'I am not dead'. I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else. For me, this maybe 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."

AN UPDATE

Folks,

My good friend Sandra Kidby of PJSM Prints
http://www.pjsmprints.co.uk is allowing me to use her website because I am proverbially too busy to run one of my own. We have hardly the time even to read the thousands of messages that have come in here, let alone reply to them, but thank you all.

Could I make a small comment, however? Lots of people are sending me plot ideas. Please, I have a lot of ideas. There is no shortage of ideas and ideas sent to me, even with the very best of intentions, are carefully filleted out of the correspondence before they even get to me. I know they are sent in an effort to help, and I appreciate this, but I advise you not to waste your time.

I am also getting a lot of requests for interviews. I am not giving any because everything I have got to say or that can be said is in the bulletin below. There is no point in saying it again, but in a different order.

Can I remind everybody that I still aten’t dead, even today.

Thanks again for all your good wishes.

Just wanted to post this link; it's a radio interview T. Pratchett gave to the BBC where he discusses his diagnosis.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7210000/newsid_7215400/7215410.stm?bw=bb...