Bill Gates reveals his father is battling Alzheimer's disease

SEATTLE — Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates revealed that his father, Bill Gates Sr. is battling Alzheimer's.

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In an interview on TODAY, Gates told host Maria Shriver that his $100 million donation to finding a cure is just the beginning.

Gates said he wants to see more money spent on new, unconventional research. He also said he is "optimistic" that researchers will develop new drugs to help patients in the next 10 to 15 years.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. Symptoms include memory loss and other cognitive skills that are serious enough to interfere with everyday life.

According to national statistics, Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 5 million Americans living with it today. It kills more Americans than breast cancer and prostate cancer, combined.

Cox Media Group