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Microsoft founder Gates commits $100 million for fund, start-ups, to fight Alzheimer's
Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is to invest $50 million in the Dementia Discovery Fund, a venture capital fund that brings together industry and government to seek treatments for the brain-wasting disease. The investment is not part of Gates' philanthropic Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will be followed with another $50 million in a number of start-up ventures working in Alzheimer's research, Gates said.
With rapidly rising numbers of people suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, the disease is taking a growing emotional and financial toll as people live longer, Gates told Reuters in an interview. "It's a huge problem, a growing problem, and the scale of the tragedy - even for the people who stay alive - is very high," he said.
Despite decades of scientific research, there is no treatment that can slow the progression of Alzheimer's. Current drugs can do no more than ease some of the symptoms. Gates said, however, that with focused and well-funded innovation, he's "optimistic" treatments can be found, even if they might be more than a decade away.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 14 2017, @09:35PM (5 children)
Sorry to bother, can someone please remind me who is Bill Gates?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 14 2017, @09:49PM
I think he's known for Oracle Databases or so...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 14 2017, @10:08PM (3 children)
He is the Gate Keeper, he seeks the Key Master so that he can set up access to the back door. Soon Dozer will reap all humanity that falls below \/$.iq/\pol^ and destroy the pitiful clones of the B.S.D
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 14 2017, @10:45PM (1 child)
Nah, the whats-its-name, eye... eyePricklypear or whatever has more money stashed away than that Oracle guy.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 14 2017, @10:51PM
No no, it isn't about money. Do you even mythologize?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 14 2017, @11:58PM
Wasn't Dozer the Brother of Tank, who served on the Nebuchadnezzar under Morpheus? Why would he reap? Sounds just like the thinking of a machine, to me.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 14 2017, @11:02PM (5 children)
The fucker realized he's going senile. Motherfucker.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Wednesday November 15 2017, @12:16AM (4 children)
more likely his dad has been diagnosed, and since Alzheimers is hereditary Bill is hoping to avoid his fathers fate.
As much as I would have liked to believe that BG's motives are altruistic I just can't. I've head too many verified stories about what Gates has done over the years, some from even before he founded Microsoft, to ever believe there isn't some angle he is playing to benefit himself.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday November 15 2017, @12:37AM
Basically what I think.
Guy. Is. A. Douche.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Grishnakh on Wednesday November 15 2017, @04:45AM (2 children)
The guy is definitely a selfish asshole, but this is one place where ultra-rich assholes really can help humanity, because they're subject to the same biological weaknesses that the rest of us are. Notice that other silicon-valley billionaires are pouring money into other anti-aging research, because they want to be immortal. If it works out and age-related diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc.) have excellent new treatment devised or they're even cured, or human lifespan is really extended to some degree, that'll benefit all of us, not just the billionaire assholes.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 15 2017, @12:00PM
The anti-aging whims of the 50 year old silicon valley billionaire are great for 20 year olds.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 16 2017, @08:05AM
Except the treatments will be highly proprietary and completely secret and cost $17 million per shot...