Few individuals have propelled Alzheimer’s research forward like Bill Gates. As one of its most dedicated champions, he has invested more resources and effort into finding solutions than nearly anyone else. In his newly published essay, Gates delivers clear-eyed insights on both the challenges and the hope surrounding Alzheimer’s.

Below, you’ll find a compelling excerpt and video, followed by a link to the full essay—an opportunity to gain perspective from one of the world’s most visionary minds.

“Father’s Day without my dad never gets easier. Although he is on my mind every day, I always find myself thinking about him even more often this time of year.

My dad was a giant in every sense of the word. More than anyone else, he shaped the values of the Gates Foundation, and everything we have accomplished is a testament to his vision of a better world. Sadly, we lost my dad five years ago to Alzheimer’s disease. It was a brutal experience, watching my brilliant, loving father go downhill and disappear.

In the years since his passing, I’ve met far too many people who had similar experiences with their own loved ones. More than 7 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. That means about 1 out of every 9 people over the age of 65 have it. As life expectancies continue to go up, those numbers will only increase.

But here’s the good news: We are making massive progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.

See the full essay on Gates Notes.