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Mr Pratchett, who was diagnosed with what he called his “embuggerance” last year and has since donated $1 million (about £500,000) to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, called on politicians to tackle the UK’s dementia crisis by funding more research before a “tsunami” of dementia-causing diseases strikes.

Terry Pratchett OBE said:

“I am appalled that research into Alzheimer’s and related diseases, which affect 700,000 people in the UK, currently receives just 3% of government medical research funding. Perhaps that is why, for example, I know three people who have successfully survived brain tumours but no-one who has beaten Alzheimer’s.”

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said:

“Terry Pratchett’s tenacity in standing up for those who live with dementia knows no bounds. We are tremendously grateful for his continued support. As Terry argues, research is the only long-term solution to the UK ’s dementia crisis.

“Dementia costs the UK economy £17 billion a year, but we spend less than £30 million on research into new preventions, treatments and cures. Politicians from all parties must recognise that the only socially just and financially prudent policy is to vastly increase funding for dementia research.”

Stephen O’Brien MP, Shadow Health Minister, said:

“I am very pleased that Terry has agreed to address the conference. He is uniquely placed to give us an insight into the terrible disease that dementia is, and I am in awe of the matter-of-fact way that he is tackling both his own experience, and that of the wider community of dementia sufferers”.

Terry Pratchett is politically non-aligned. He once said he’d like to “kick a politician in the teeth” over the treatment of dementia patients.