For five painful years, Henry Furniss has witnessed his father Valentine's slow decline. The 87-year-old retired London banker, once sharp and active, has been stripped of his memories, his speech, and his mobility by vascular dementia. He no longer recognises Henry as his son, struggles to form coherent sentences, and requires round-the-clock care for the most basic tasks at his home.
A Family Legacy of Heartbreak
This tragic scene is, devastatingly, not new to the Furniss family. Henry's grandfather, John, also died from dementia in his 80s. Even John's younger brother, a heroic Battle of Britain pilot, later developed the condition. With nearly one million people living with dementia across the UK and it standing as the nation's leading cause of death, the Furniss family story reflects a national crisis.
Henry, a 51-year-old from Surrey, could easily have resigned himself to a similar fate, believing the disease was an inescapable genetic inheritance. "Everyone thinks their risk of dementia is written on the cards from the day they're born," he says. "We're also hardwired into thinking it might never happen to us. But if you wait until then, it's too late."
Instead, the former personal trainer and father of two teenage girls has chosen a path of defiance. Inspired by a growing body of research—including findings part-funded by the Alzheimer's Society—which suggests up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing lifestyle factors, Henry is determined to break the chain.
Seizing Control in Middle Age
Henry's awakening came five years ago, coinciding with his father's diagnosis. He began to scrutinise his father's habits, which were once considered healthy. "We always considered Dad fit because he wasn't overweight and played tennis a couple of times a week," Henry recalls. "But he was what I'd call a sedentary athlete." Valentine spent weekdays desk-bound, rarely drank water, and consumed alcohol daily.
Henry, who now runs a bicycle manufacturing business, realised that his father's middle age—the 1960s and 70s—was a critical period. "We now know there's a time in your life, in middle-age, when you're defining your final chapters – you're sealing your fate," he explains. "For my dad that was... when we didn't have any concept of healthy lifestyles and how they could prevent disease."
He is now making different choices, not just for himself but for his family. "I want to make it not just selfishly, to prevent dementia, but to protect my family against the emotional distress this disease causes, and also the huge financial strain of paying for care," Henry states.
A Blueprint for Prevention
Henry has transformed his life into a proactive defence against dementia. An elite cyclist training 10-15 hours weekly, he has also overhauled his diet, avoiding processed and high-sugar foods in favour of cooking fresh produce from scratch. He prioritises quality sleep by eschewing screens in the evening and eating within a 12-hour window. Alcohol is rare, dental hygiene is meticulous, and he monitors his cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure closely.
His changes have had a ripple effect, inspiring his brother to overhaul his own habits. "There's enough evidence to suggest dementia is a lifestyle disease, like type 2 diabetes," Henry asserts, pointing to longevity hotspots like Japan and Sardinia where active, community-oriented living is the norm.
In a powerful act of commitment, last October Henry undertook a gruelling 24-hour cycling challenge around London's Regent's Park, riding 421.5 miles without sleep to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society and Laureus Sport For Good. His efforts have already garnered over £7,500, with a target of £10,000.
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer's Society, underscores Henry's mission: "Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing." He highlights The Lancet Commission's findings that around half of cases globally are linked to modifiable risk factors. "Quitting smoking, keeping physically active, eating a healthy balanced diet and drinking less alcohol can all help reduce the risk," Dr Oakley confirms.
While science continues to unravel dementia's complexities, Henry Furniss stands as a testament to the power of preventive action. His story is a clarion call, challenging the fatalism that often surrounds this disease and proving that our later years can, to a significant degree, be shaped by the choices we make today.
