One of the wealthiest people in the world’s giving $50-million to help tackle Alzheimer’s.

(Reuters / Anthony Bolante)

Bill Gates says the donation to the Dementia Discovery Fund is personal and not through is charitable foundation.

The London-based fund’s backed by government, charities and drug companies seeking new treatments for the neurological disease.

In a statement, the Microsoft co-founder says men in his family have suffered form Alzheimer’s and that he’s hopeful in time it could be a condition treatable with medication.

Alzheimer’s Society Canada says as of last year, an estimated 564,000 Canadians live with dementia with about 25,000 new cases each year.

By 2031, that number’s expected to top 930,000 – a jump of 66 percent.