Life Artists: How art auctions help fight childhood dementia

Tue., March 24, 2026, 18:21 CET

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Childhood dementia is a rare, incurable disease that turns the lives of children and their families upside down.

NCL, a disease affecting children and known as "childhood dementia," has been poorly researched. There is no cure for this metabolic disorder; it progresses relentlessly and leads to premature death.

The affected children gradually lose their sight, suffer from epileptic seizures, and their cognitive and motor skills decline continuously. In most cases, this ends with the death of the affected individuals before the age of 30.

Childhood dementia is a rare, incurable disease that turns the lives of children and their families upside down.
Image source: Freepik

But there is hope . The NCL Foundation is committed to supporting research projects both nationally and internationally. Its goal is to give new hope to children affected by this neurodegenerative disease by developing and advancing therapeutic and curative approaches

Art auctions can funds to support the treatment and care of children with childhood dementia. Since November 13, 2023, there has once again been an opportunity to purchase artwork online and thereby financially support research into the rare childhood dementia NCL.

The proceeds from the virtual auction – conducted by the NCL Foundation – will be directly invested in funding research projects. Bids can be submitted directly via the United Charity online portal

Virtual art auction on United Charity: Bid on special collector's items here to benefit the NCL Foundation and support the cure for childhood dementia!

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The importance of art auctions in the fight against childhood dementia

There are diseases that hit us particularly hard, and childhood dementia is one of them. This disease primarily affects young people and leads to a rapid deterioration of nerve cells in the brain.

A diagnosis doesn't just mean a life in care, but also the end of carefree days for the whole family. It's important that we as a society address this issue and find solutions to help affected children and their parents.

This is where the NCL Foundation and its annual fundraising campaigns – such as the art auctions with the Life Artists – come into play: They not only provide a platform for raising awareness of childhood dementia, but can also raise funds for research projects.

Many renowned artists are committed to offering their works at auctions to benefit the fight against childhood dementia. By purchasing artwork at auctions, people can actively contribute to combating the disease.

NCL Foundation Virtual Art Auction 2023 – For a future without childhood dementia

This year's virtual art auction by the NCL Foundation has begun and will be held for three weeks to raise awareness of the rare childhood dementia NCL.

As in previous years , renowned artists from Germany provided their works to support the foundation's research.

A total of 22 works of art on Europe's largest non-profit online portal, United Charity .

The collection is impressive and includes works of various styles as well as high-quality pieces that will make the hearts of art lovers beat faster.

In addition to Werner Pawlok, Alex Diamond, Jens-Christian Wittig, Ulrich Kresse, Ernst Fuchs, Constance Renken , and other renowned artists , Rita Starck, Josef Werner, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Hendrik Tuttlies, and Günter Grass , as well as other talented artists, are also part of this project. Its realization was made possible thanks to the dedicated support of the United Charity Team.

Photographer Maximilian Schwarzmann is donating his photograph “Bread (still warm)” from his series “How a photographic enlarger works”, in which he explores technical parallels between developing a picture and everyday work.

Artist Jörg Heikhaus, also known as Alex Diamond, has been supporting the NCL Foundation with his art for many years. This time, he is donating his artwork "I COUNT THE HOURS." His artistic focus lies on the social and cultural aspects of human coexistence. — Artist Jörg Heikhaus, also known as Alex Diamond, is donating his artwork
"I COUNT THE HOURS". His artistic focus is on the social and cultural aspects of human coexistence.

Ulrich Kresse is donating his five-part ink series "Hamburg from Above." The Hamburg-based artist is supporting the NCL Foundation with his expressionist works for the second time.

The previous charity art auctions have significantly contributed to bringing various NCL research projects close to the clinical trial phase . However, the next steps in development are very costly.

Therefore, it is urgently necessary that the NCL Foundation receives further support in order to offer affected children and their families new perspectives for previously unavailable therapy and cure options.

Save the Date: The next live art auction will take place on February 7, 2024, at Jensen's warehouse in Hamburg. Please mark your calendars.

Further information

For further information, please contact the NCL Foundation directly:

NCL Foundation

Holstenwall 10
D -20355 Hamburg

Tel. +49 (40) 69 666 74-0
Fax +49 (40) 69 666 74-69
Mobile +49 176 621 052 75
annemie.luethje@ncl-stiftung.de
www.ncl-stiftung.de; www.ncl-foundation.com

What is childhood dementia and what effects does it have on those affected?

Childhood dementia, also known as NCL (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis), is a rare and fatal disease of the nervous system. It primarily affects children between the ages of 5 and 8.

The disease manifests itself through symptoms such as epileptic seizures, vision and hearing loss, and motor impairments. The disease is incurable and in most cases leads to death within a few years of diagnosis.

For the affected families, this means an enormous burden, both emotionally and financially.

The care and treatment require a significant investment of time and money, which often leads to parents being overwhelmed.

In Germany, there are only a few specialized clinics that focus on the treatment of these rare diseases.

Therefore, it is important that those affected can quickly find contact with appropriate service centers to receive support with diagnosis and care.

How does childhood dementia manifest itself?

Childhood dementia is a degenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of brain cells. Symptoms can vary depending on the specific form of the disease, but they usually appear in early childhood.

A common sign is delayed development, both physical and mental. Other symptoms may include: speech loss, motor impairments, mood swings , and behavioral problems.

Later on, epileptic seizures occur, as well as a deterioration in speech and cognitive abilities.

Children with dementia can also have problems with memory and concentration. They may forget things or have difficulty retaining new information.

In later stages of the disease, there may be a deterioration in health, including a loss of the ability to speak or move independently.

Visual and hearing impairments may also occur.

Because childhood dementia is a rare disease and its symptoms can vary, early diagnosis can be difficult. However, a thorough examination by a specialist is important to initiate the correct treatment and slow the progression of the disease.

The causes of NCL are genetic, and there is currently no cure. However, early diagnosis is important to provide the best possible support for affected children and improve their quality of life.

Further information and contact points for those affected:

https://www.pflege.de/krankheiten/kinderdemenz/
https://www.patienten-information.de/kurzinformationen/ncl
https://www.ncl-stiftung.de/kinderdemenz-ncl/krankheit/

What are the causes of childhood dementia?

This disease usually affects children and adolescents and is caused by genetic mutations that lead to a deficiency of certain enzymes .

This, in turn, leads to a buildup of toxic substances in the brain, which can eventually cause nerve cells to die. There are different forms of childhood dementia, each caused by different genetic mutations.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for childhood dementia, and treatment options are limited. However, some medications can help alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. It is also important that patients with childhood dementia are cared for by an interdisciplinary team consisting of various specialists, such as neurologists, ophthalmologists, and physiotherapists.

Overall, childhood dementia is a serious illness with a poor prognosis. However, it is important to emphasize that this disease is very rare and that not all forms are genetically determined. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can, however, help to improve the quality of life of affected children.

The role of media and artists in raising awareness of childhood dementia

The media play a vital role in raising awareness about childhood dementia. Charity events organized by celebrities and art auctions featuring renowned artists also help to draw attention to the fight against this insidious disease.

Through reporting via traditional media and social media campaigns, more people can be made aware of the disease and actively participate in raising funds for research projects to combat it.

The media have a responsibility in raising awareness about childhood dementia — The media have a responsibility to raise awareness about childhood dementia.
Image source: jcomp, via Freepik

Renowned artists often dedicate themselves to charitable causes and make their works available to support auctions benefiting children's dementia organizations.

By purchasing artwork at auctions, we all actively contribute to raising more funds for the treatment and care of children with NCL.

The last LebensKünstler art auction took place on September 6, 2022, at Jensens Lagerhaus in Hamburg. The 20th anniversary of the NCL Foundation was also celebrated at this event.

Works by the following artists were auctioned:

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de