Samuel L Jackson wants to end the "cruel illness" that ravaged his family

Samuel L Jackson called for support to end Alzheimer's disease, the "cruel" illness that ravaged his family.

The Hollywood star, who supports a campaign to combat the misconception that dementia is a fatality of aging, has seen six members of her family live with the degenerative disease.

His mother, grandfather, aunts and uncles were diagnosed with the form of dementia, which made him a stranger.

Jackson is supporting Alzheimer's Research UK's #ShareTheOrange campaign, which aims to get people to think differently about dementia, challenging the widespread belief that it is a natural part of aging.

He said, "I have been surrounded by Alzheimer's almost all my life. My grandfather was my best friend in my childhood. It was so heartbreaking to see him not knowing who I was.

"The same thing happened with my mother shortly after the diagnosis. His mother had it, his brother had it, his sister had it, and my aunt on my father's side.

Damage to a brain with Alzheimer's can leave it weighing 140 grams less than a healthy brain – that's about the weight of an orange.

"It's so cruel to have someone who has fed you and taken care of you to such an extent that they do not even remember your name anymore."

Alzheimer's Research UK uses the symbol of an orange in its campaign to symbolize the weight of the material lost in the brain as the disease develops.

In a new short film produced by Aardman Animations, Jackson says, "Damage to a brain with Alzheimer's can weigh 140 grams less than a healthy brain. It's about the weight of an orange … it shows us that it's a physical illness.

Jackson and the charity hope to show the public that Alzheimer's disease is not an inevitable part of aging, but a disease that can be stopped and potentially healed.

Jackson said, "Through research, we know that diseases can be slowed, they can be stopped."

The star of Pulp Fiction and Unbreakable follows Bryan Cranston and Christopher Eccleston, who both supported the campaign launched by the charity in 2016.

Hilary Evans, Executive Director of Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Alzheimer's Research UK relies almost entirely on public donations to support its work, and the idea The persistent misconception that dementia is a fatality hinders our ability to recruit volunteers for research, to obtain funding and to lobby. additional government support for research.

"We call the public to #ShareTheOrange, turn fatalism into hope and make dementia the next big medical success."

– Press Association