Anybody catch the documentary last night on bbc 2 about Terry Pratchett and Alzheimers? For anybody that doesnt know the multi-million best selling author of the Discworld series was diagnosed with Alzheimers a year ago, this documentary essentially follows him from just after his diagnosis.

I was pleased to see Terry in such good spirits and the documentary team respected his privacy well in my opinion. It's still though a harsh reminder of the horrid nature of this disease when a seemingly articulate man like Terry struggles with the spelling of words such as the name Mike - at a book signing he queried the spelling of it with an "e" when asked to dedicate a copy of his book to someone's husband.

It's good to see an alzheimers sufferer not represented as the stereotype that most people would have of crazy old people, urinating in their clothes and unable to speak their own name. Alzheimers doesn't just affect memory, as in Mr Pratchett's case it affects his vision (PNC is the particular variant of Alzheimers that he has). In effect what is happening is the disease is altering the way his brain can process the information taken in by his eyes, therefore reading and writing is already impaired.

Terry is forunate in that he has been diagnosed early and has funding (he's already donated a million dollars to research into a cure for the disease) and there is now reasonable hope that a cure can be found within 5 to 10 years. I have worked with people who have alzheimers, and it's nothing short of heartbreaking for the families who have to watch a loved one deteriorate into a complete stranger over time. It's a horrible afliction but sadly one that many people will come in to contact with during their lifetime. Fingers crossed for Terry and all other sufferers out there.

Part 2 of the programme airs next Wednesday on BBC2 AT 9PM.

I watched this the other night, very moving, and Terry seems to maintain and upbeat attitude towards this terrible affliction.

I watched this, he's one of my favorite authors (thanks to HQ and AB recommending him to me years ago ), and i really was touched by it. I'm running a half marathon in september, then a full london marathon in spring for the Alzheimers UK charity for terry.

one of the best authors in a long time i have his books in hardback and also on ebook, it is a shame about his condition but my hope is that it forwards knowledge and research into this disease. my grandma had it and also a family friend who is but 57.