FORMER soldier Chris Graham tries to live a normal life with his family.

But the 39-year-old has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease after inheriting a rare form of the condition from his father, who died at 42.

Mr Graham’s brother Tony, who is 43, is also affected and now needs care around the clock.

Father-of-three Mr Graham found out in 2010 that he carries the same faulty gene that claimed the lives of his father John, his aunt, cousin and his grandfather, when all were in their forties.

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To raise awareness of dementia and funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK, Mr Graham will set off on a 16,000-mile cycle ride around Canada and North America next month.

Like his brother, Mr Graham carries a faulty version of the PSEN- 1 gene, which affects about 400 families worldwide. Mr Graham, who lives with wife Vicky and sixweek- old son Dexter in Carterton, was medically discharged from the Army as a postal courier with the Royal Logistic Corps in January, after serving for 23 years. He is experiencing mild memory loss.

He said: “My friends didn’t believe me when I told them I had Alzheimer’s. At the age of 39 it just doesn’t make sense to people. I’m fighting fit – how can I have something like that?

“We still think of Alzheimer’s as a bit of forgetfulness as we get older – the truth is far worse.”

His two sisters avoided inheriting the gene, but he and his brother Tony did not. He added: “Tony is 43 now, having been diagnosed in 2006. He’s in an old folk’s home, he can’t move and has to be fed through a tube.”

Mr Graham is taking part in research at University College London’s Institute of Neurology, to help scientists search for new treatments.

He is undertaking his cycle challenge on behalf of Alzheimer’s Research UK and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. He added: “A cure may come too late for me, but it will help my kids.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK director Hilary Evans said: “Chris embodies everything that goes against the dementia stereotype – he’s young and fit and his zest for life in the face of adversity is inspiring.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said Alzheimer’s was one of the key health challenges of this generation and said Mr Graham had his “absolute backing”.