The National Brain Appeal

The National Brain Appeal is a charity that supports the one in six of us that is affected by a neurological condition. We fund many initiatives at The National Hospital of Neurology & Neurosurgery and The UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. One of these is Rare Dementia Support (RDS). This service offers specialist social, emotional and practical support services for people with, or at risk of, early-onset and genetic forms of dementia. RDS provides access to information, tailored guidance, and crucially - contact with others affected by a similar condition. We need to raise more money to help support the thousands of people in the UK who are affected.

Sophie Leggett is facing a genetic form of dementia called Familial Alzheimer’s Disease. She is 45 now and expects to start experiencing symptoms very soon. She’s going travelling in a converted American school bus around the UK to have adventures before her life changes for ever.

“The RDS group meetings changed my life,” says Sophie. “I cried tears of relief in my first one! As people talked about their experiences, and more importantly, their thoughts and feelings – I realised that what I was thinking and how I was feeling was normal.”

RDS is a lifeline for so many – like Sophie, these people are often still working, physically fit, with young children and commitments like a mortgage. The National Brain Appeal wants everyone who needs this tailored guidance to get the right support.