[geographomics]

> If people donate nothing towards ameliorating diseases of ageing[0], then what's to be expected?

The unfortunate chap lauded in the OP has been afflicted with a cancer of the cerebellum, not specifically a disease of aging. Cancer research has an immense amount of funding, certainly in comparison to many other widely prevalent diseases.

[Multics]

Diseases of ageing include cancers. Healthy ageing == dramatically reduced incidences of cancer.

[geographomics]

Depends how strictly you classify it. Although age is an important risk factor for most types of cancer, there are many childhood cancers as well. Whereas dementias are almost always seen in adulthood, and especially prevalent in old age.

Certainly, dementia research receives considerably less funding then cancer research, so I agree with you that these prominent diseases of ageing are underfunded in terms of figuring out a cure.