One of the FTD Brothers has opened up about the difficult decision to leave his job and the emotional weight he has been carrying.
Jordan and Cian Adams, known as The FTD Brothers, lost their mother to frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2016. Later, they discovered they both carry the genetic mutation that causes the disease.
In a video posted on March 9, Jordan shared: “I’m 29 years old, and I recently quit my full-time job. But it wasn’t to escape the corporate world or search for a new purpose—my purpose comes from heartbreak.”
Jordan said his life changed forever when his mom was diagnosed with a rare form of FTD at 47 in June 2010.
FTD is a less common type of dementia that usually affects people at a younger age. It gained more attention when actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with it. Jordan continued, “Since that day, life has thrown more and more challenges at me.”
At just 15 years old, Jordan became his mom’s primary caregiver, along with his two siblings and dad.
“We cared for her at home for six years until she passed away in March 2016 at the age of 52,” he said.
After his mother’s passing, Jordan found out he carries the same genetic mutation, meaning he will also develop FTD.
“I’ll start experiencing symptoms in my forties and lose my life by 45,” he explained. “That’s an incredibly tough burden to carry. It’s the reason I decided to leave my job at 29 and dedicate my time to making a difference in the world of dementia.”
Since his diagnosis in 2018, Jordan has taken on running challenges, starting with a marathon, to turn something negative into something meaningful. He hopes to help find a cure for dementia.
However, after completing his first challenge, his brother was also diagnosed with the same gene mutation.
Jordan and his wife also made the heartbreaking decision to end a pregnancy after learning their child would inherit the mutation.
Despite the struggles, Jordan wants to show others that no matter what life throws at you, you can choose how to respond.
“I want people to see that you can still be positive, enjoy life, and make the most of every moment. It’s a privilege to be here.”
Now, Jordan has fully committed to advocacy. He and his brother plan to run a marathon in every county in Ireland in 2026.
“The big goal is to run across America for a cure and take this mission global. More than anything, I want to leave a legacy, so when I’m gone, people remember The FTD Brothers and the foundation we built.”