‘We have to find a cure’: Race Against Dementia founder Sir Jackie Stewart on working together with F1 to ‘solve problems’

Sir Jackie Stewart has won three Formula 1 championships, notched 27 race victories and 43 podium finishes during an incredible career in the sport, but now he is championing an even greater cause tackling one of the world’s most devastating diseases. During Dementia Action Week (15-21 May), Sir Jackie tells us about his charity, Race Against Dementia (RAD), and why Formula 1’s support means so much to the cause.

In 2023, 50 years since Sir Jackie won his last F1 World Championship, F1 announced that it would support Race Against Dementia. The charity, established by Sir Jackie, will use F1’s global platform to raise awareness of dementia treatment and prevention research and encourage fans, drivers and sponsors to donate and fund research.

The Scotsman used his voice to campaign for the safety of F1 drivers in the 1970s in what was an undeniably dangerous era for motorsport. At all times, his wife Helen was by his side. But in 2015 he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.

“The reason Race Against Dementia was created was because of Helen,” says Sir Jackie.

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“Unfortunately, Helen has dementia and I didn’t really know anything about dementia before that. Currently, more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide and there is no cure for it. So when I found out all that, I said we had to do something about it. My involvement in making auto racing safer caused a lot of problems at the time because there were a lot of people who didn’t want to hear about it.

“The same thing started to happen with dementia. Now it’s totally acceptable, it’s never been more recognized than it is today, it’s totally global now. The latest statistics tell us that unless something is done, of all those born today, 1 in 3 will die with dementia.”

Through PhD fellowships, the RAD is now funding 16 researchers around the world, in the UK, USA, Australia, the Netherlands, South Africa and Switzerland, as they work in different areas of dementia research. At the Miami Grand Prix, Mayo Clinic intern Dr. Ellen Dicks joined RAD to explain to fans and Paddock Club guests how RAD interns use F1 experience to advance their careers. own investigations.

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“The rate of change in Formula 1 is incredible,” he said. “The cars are a platform that evolves remarkably from the first race to the last. Disruptive design concepts honed through incremental changes, reaching race pace as the season progresses. Dementia research is just as precise and relentless.”

Sir Jackie added: “We started RAD with Formula 1 in mind. Problem solving in Formula 1 is faster than any other activity I know of, including aerospace. You know, when something goes wrong in a Formula 1 team, in any Grand Prix, it can be just a week later, maximum two weeks later, it’s fixed. So we’ve done a lot with Red Bull and McLaren by showing the RAD Fellows how Formula 1 solves problems faster than anyone else.”

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Sir Jackie was keen to point out how many ways there are to join Race Against Dementia, whether it be donating funds or taking part in RAD Day every year on Lady Stewart’s birthday on 21st January, and that only through global cooperation, With the financial backing of the most talented researchers and a detailed approach derived from Formula 1, it will be possible to find ways to prevent, treat and even cure dementia.

“Thank you to Formula 1 for supporting us and everything you are doing,” says the three-time F1 champion. “I know they live a faster life than anyone in any other business, but they get things done. Stefano [Domenicali] and her team have said, ‘Jackie, we’re with you,’ and that’s a fantastic commitment to us and everyone we serve.

“It has to change; we have to find a cure.”