A Redditch man who quit his job for a heartbreaking reason is now on a mission to find a cure for a common illness.
Jordan Addams, 29, left his full-time job after discovering at the age of 23 that he carries a genetic mutation which means he will live with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) like his mum, who sadly passed away from the condition aged 52 in March 2016. FTD is a rare type of dementia that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
In a TikTok video, Jordan revealed that he will begin to experience symptoms in his 40s and start to ‘lose his life’ by the time he reaches 45. Tragically, his brother, Cian Adams, has also been diagnosed with the same gene mutation and Jordan’s wife had to terminate a pregnancy as their unborn baby was found to be a carrier of the genetic mutation too.
Following these devastating events, Jordan decided to leave his job and dedicate his life to “try and change the world of dementia” and find a cure for all types of dementia. He stated: “I firmly believe that I can be the person, alongside my family, to completely change what a dementia diagnosis means and since my diagnosis in 2018, I’ve done this largely through running challenges.”
Jordan has taken on an inspirational mission “to try to show people that no matter your circumstances, no matter the cards you’re dealt, you have a choice at how you play your hand.” The courageous marathon runner’s aim is to encourage people to “still be overwhelmingly positive” and “enjoy life”, even in the face of terminal illness.
He plans to ramp up his advocacy efforts: “Over the next few years I’m taking this mission of advocacy full time, got plans with my brother to run a marathon [in] every county in Ireland in 2026. The big dream is to run coast to coast in America for a cure and take this mission global but more than anything I wanna create a legacy that when my time comes and I leave this earth people remember the FTD Brothers and the foundation that we set up.”
Having become a community speaker, Jordan has been actively raising funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK through numerous running events. His challenge feats include completing a virtual marathon during lockdown, finishing the official London Marathon twice, and most notably running seven marathons in seven days – a route that took him from Redditch, along the Grand Union Canal, and culminated in the 2022 London Marathon.
Together with his family, they’ve raised a significant sum exceeding £30,000 over five years, according to information from the FTD Brothers’ website. Jordan wrapped up with an earnest call to his supporters: “If you wanna follow this journey I’d appreciate any follows, shares, likes.
“It’s took a community, very kind-hearted one to get me where I am right now, working with some of the best brands in the world being able to echo this message for a cure in all corners of the world truly is a dream and although financially I’m not in the greatest place right now and I hope that I can make this into something sustainable and give my family the best possible life I can. I truly feel like this is my calling and I appreciate any support that comes our way so if you wanna follow me and the FTD Brothers hit that follow button now, thank you.”
According to the NHS, the signs of FTD can manifest as changes in personality and behaviour such as acting inappropriately or impulsively, appearing selfish or unsympathetic, neglecting personal hygiene, overeating or experiencing a loss of motivation, as well as language problems and memory issues which typically arise later, differing from common dementia forms like Alzheimer’s disease. Jordan observed “subtle but significant changes” in his mum’s personality; she became less sociable, experienced a decline in mood, and suffered “numerous lapses in her memory.”
Over time, he noted, these symptoms intensified. A statement on the FTD Brothers website reveals that Jordan’s mum was initially misdiagnosed with depression and various mental health issues, including a silent stroke, before finally being diagnosed with early onset FTD on June 23, 2010. If you have any symptoms that concern you, we advise you to consult with a doctor for medical advice.