SEATTLE — Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates revealed that his father, Bill Gates Sr. is battling Alzheimer's.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- She kept seeing her ex around Gig Harbor. Then she found a GPS tracker on her car.
- Deputy shoots man in leg at 'problem house' near Bonney Lake
- Beer inspires Chris Pratt to star in his first commercial
- 'Stupid mistake' foils pizza robbery
- Two Washington cities make National Geographic's 'Best Cities' list
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.