Redditch brothers Jordan and Cian Adams, aged 30 and 25, face a devastating future after discovering they carry a rare faulty gene giving them a 99.9% chance of developing familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in their 40s. The same disease claimed their mother, Geraldine, at age 52, and 12 other relatives.
Personal Story
Jordan described their mother as a "life and soul character" who "left her presence in every room she was in" before the disease transformed her from an outgoing person to someone more socially withdrawn. The brothers say they might only have '15 or 20 healthy summers left' due to the genetic condition.
Fundraising Success
Through their FTD Brothers Foundation, the siblings have raised more than £400,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK. They recently completed the London Marathon together as part of their efforts. Jordan carried a fridge during the marathon to symbolise hidden burdens, then flew to Ireland to begin an extraordinary challenge of running 32 marathons in 32 days.
The brothers achieved their goal of running the length of the UK in 2024, raising over £250,000 that year alone. They have set a target of raising £1 million while they remain fit and healthy.
Their Mission
"To live with that knowledge is incredibly difficult, but I've tried to use it as a licence to live and to benefit those living with dementia or caring for someone with dementia," Jordan said. Their story highlights the urgent need for research into early-onset dementia and genetic testing.
