Bill Gates announced this week that he’s ploughing $100m (£76m) into research to find a breakthrough for Alzheimer’s disease. The initial $50m will be invested in a venture capital fund called Dementia Discovery Fund, which finances new treatments for the condition. The other half will be invested in new startups working on the disease.

The key word for me in this story is “invested”. The US is streets ahead of the UK when it comes to splicing philanthropy with investment. You’ll commonly see, for instance, money invested in hospitals with R&D divisions. Research can be sold to big pharma who in turn will strike deals with the hospitals and improve the lives of patients.

Historically, people in the UK have not been keen on the idea that something can be for profit and for good. But the tide might now be turning. Take A Little Change, which is a good example of a sensible shift in mindset for delivering social good effectively.

Read the full article by Harriet Green about Alzheimer's disease from Medium