Merko Tigelaar, the founder of the Brain4ward Foundation, shares his story and vision:
I’m a husband, father, and grandfather. I officially retired a few years ago, after a professional career of more than 35 years in business, whereby I was an independent management consultant and executive interim manager for the last 15 years. From time to time, I’m still active in supervisory roles and as a business coach for start-ups and small- and medium enterprises.
In 2020, after a search of more than ten years concerning a variety of symptoms, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. By that time, it did not come as a very big surprise, but rather as a kind of relief. Since then, I have regularly asked myself what could have been done, analysed, or researched to allow an earlier diagnosis.
I have read every website and book I could find on the subject, listened to interviews, watched videos, and attended several (online) meetings for Parkinson patients. In doing so, I realized that a lot of the current research is focused on finding new ways of treatment, mostly through medication whether it’s Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or one of the other neurodegenerative diseases. This is extremely important, but I also believe there is space for further research into the prevention and early diagnosis of these diseases. Therefore, in 2021 I founded The Brain4ward Foundation.
I am convinced that one of the main purposes of the human brain is to make us curious. Curiosity leads to questions and questions lead to answers, so “Improve Life, Ask Questions” is our Foundations motto.
If some of these questions lead to new scientific research projects, which in turn will lead to better care and, hopefully in the near future, to prevention and effective cures, then the foundation will have fulfilled its purpose. The focus of the research funded by the Brain4ward Foundation will therefore be on early diagnosis, slowing down of the progression, and, ultimately, prevention.