In a powerful reflection on decades of progress, Professor Gordon Wilcock has declared that a world where dementia no longer devastates lives is "finally within reach." The professor, a founding figure of what is now Alzheimer's Society, shared his journey from humble beginnings in 1979 to today's era of disease-modifying therapies.
From Kitchen Table Conversations to National Movement
The story begins in 1979 when Professor Wilcock met two extraordinary women: Cora Phillips and Morella Fisher. Both were former carers for husbands with young onset dementia, and together they shared a bold ambition to create a world without the disease. Their catalyst was Professor Alan Davison, a neuroscientist at The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London, with whom Professor Wilcock was collaborating on Alzheimer's research.
"Professor Davison and I had been discussing establishing an organisation to promote Alzheimer's research when Cora contacted him after hearing him speak on the radio," Professor Wilcock recalls. "She asked Professor Davison to support forming a society to improve care for people affected by dementia."
The Formation of Alzheimer's Society
This led to a meeting at Cora's home in Hindhead, where they were joined by her late husband's neurologist, Anne Hunter. They agreed to establish a steering committee that met in people's homes across Surrey, putting together a constitution for what was then called the "Alzheimer's Disease Society."
Unknown to them, Morella Fisher had established a similar organisation that featured in The Observer that December. The two groups merged in early 1980, creating a formidable driving force with remarkable energy and enthusiasm.
"Back then, we didn't even use the word dementia in polite conversation," Professor Wilcock notes. "Families whispered about 'senility' or simply didn't speak about it at all. There were few memory clinics, no specialist nurses, no helplines to call. These families were invisible, and so was the condition destroying their lives."
Breaking the Silence and Building Support
As a Geriatrician, Professor Wilcock saw firsthand how little was understood about dementia and how desperately families needed support. Their radical vision was clear: to break the silence, provide help and hope to everyone affected, and drive research toward effective treatments.
Professor Davison secured the venue for their first AGM at the National Hospital in September 1980, attended by nearly 100 people from a total membership of 370. Fundraising came from 20 local groups, their newsletter, and grants, including one from the DHSS that enabled them to establish their first office in Fulham in 1981.
Two years later, they were awarded their first research grants. Now, 45 years on, the transformation is extraordinary. Alzheimer's Society has reached hundreds of thousands of people through services, changed the national conversation on dementia, invested over £120 million into research, and campaigned relentlessly for proper support.
The 2026 Metro Lifeline Challenge
This year, Metro.co.uk is proudly supporting Alzheimer's Society through the 2026 Lifeline campaign. On Saturday 13 June 2026, readers are invited to take on an incredible challenge: an epic hike through the stunning Cotswolds countryside to help support people living with dementia.
Participants can choose their distance: 25km, 50km, or 100km. With registration starting at just £15, and fundraising targets of £150 (25km), £225 (50km), or £330 (100km), individuals can push themselves as far as they want while helping fund vital support and research.
Whether signing up solo or with friends, participants will be part of Team Lifeline, receiving plenty of guidance, encouragement, and support along the way. Every mile walked and every pound raised will help make a real difference for people facing the daily realities of dementia.
From Obscurity to Leading Research
Dementia is now the UK's biggest killer, and Alzheimer's Society has grown into the UK's leading dementia charity. Since its launch, countless research breakthroughs have greatly improved understanding of this devastating disease, helping to bring it out of the shadows and driving better care across healthcare.
"When we started, we barely understood what caused Alzheimer's disease," Professor Wilcock explains. "Now research suggests we can identify biological changes in the brain decades before symptoms appear. Memory clinics exist in every major hospital, specialist dementia nurses support families through diagnosis, and research programmes across the country are uncovering new insights every day."
He expresses particular pride that Alzheimer's Society funded research 30 years ago that revealed early detection was possible. "Those findings paved the way for the breakthroughs we're seeing today," he adds.
Personal Contributions to Treatment Development
Professor Wilcock's own research career has contributed significantly to developing treatments that millions now benefit from. He led some of the first European clinical trials of cholinesterase inhibitors – the drugs that remain the main treatment option for Alzheimer's disease today.
"Seeing those early trials progress from laboratory research to treatments that genuinely help people has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my work," he reflects.
The Tipping Point in Dementia Treatment
But now, Professor Wilcock believes we are at a crucial tipping point. "For the first time, we have disease-modifying therapies that may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. They're not cures, but they represent a fundamental shift. We're no longer just managing symptoms; we're intervening in the disease process itself."
When they started this journey in 1979, they envisioned a world where dementia was understood, where families weren't left to struggle alone, and where science might one day offer real hope. "We're closer than I ever imagined," Professor Wilcock states.
Ending the Devastation Together
Dementia devastates lives, but it's not an inevitable part of ageing. Professor Wilcock believes this generation could end the devastation caused by dementia, but only if we work together.
This is why Alzheimer's Society has partnered with Metro's Lifeline campaign this year. "Metro is, and has been, a staunch advocate for the dementia community, having helped to place a shining light on the condition in recent years, championing the voices of those directly affected," he says. "Their desire to bring an end to dementia's devastation and invoke change on a national scale is exactly the fundamental change we dreamt of almost 50 years ago."
If there's one lesson from those early days spent around kitchen tables, it's that change is possible when people unite with determination. The vision they had then – of a world where dementia no longer devastates lives – is, according to Professor Gordon Wilcock, finally within reach.
