When memories fade……
“Can’t remember anything even after thinking for a long time”, the moments when one curses himself, “Oh! I forget it”. Very often, such memories are regained. Yet, some times, a person’s mind can’t cross that boundary level and begins to wander around searching something missing. Sometimes, such searchings never happen. Can you imagine a state of mind when one person can’t even remember his name, his friends, relatives and even his daily habits? What a miserable situation to live this way! The state of brain which can’t remember from its memory is termed as Alzheimer’s disease in the memory of German neuropathologist and psychiatrist Aloysius Alzheimer who identified the first case of Presenile Dementia in the year 1906. The saddest part of this disease is that this neurological disorder is incurable and matters will only worse as time pass by resulting in the death of the person. It’s a common form of Dementia - a progressive deterioration of the ability to process thoughts. September 21st is known as World Alzheimer’s day, to create awareness among youngsters about this fast spreading disease. This year it’s a bit different. The whole September month is marked as Alzheimer’s month by Alzheimer’s disease International (ADI) and its theme is Dementia – Living together.
Once Japan Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone came to America for some political affairs. He had to participate in an official function of American President Ronald Reagan. Reagen gave a shake hand to Yasuhiro Nakasone and with a smiling face addressed him as, “Hello! Mr.Bush”. Yasuhiro assumed it to be a joke. But throughout the function when Reagen addressed him as Mr.Bush, whole ministers and officials were shocked. They began to look face to face. Yet, Reagen didn’t stop his speech. Yes, Reagen was a victim of this serious disease, Alzheimer! But the condition of this most talented politician was never discussed during his Presidential rule. But his last days were really worse which made everyone’s heart melt. Though he openly declared that he was diagnosed with this disease, he left the world only 10 years later in 2004. It’s really miserable to live a life forgetting everything and its spreading fast nowadays. It affects nervous system leading to the gradual deterioration of its functioning.
How it occurs?
Main reasons are still unknown. Only hypothesizes exist. Neurons of brains are destroyed continuously leading to this disease. It is believed that Alzheimer’s disease occurs when a protein is deposited around the neurons as plagues causing its destruction eventually. Its primary symptom is complete loss of memory. Even the memories of blood relations, dates, month or year will fade for ever. What he is doing, what others are doing – he is not aware of such things. He even forgets his own activities. Dopamine and Acetyl Choline shares a unique proportion inside a human’s brain. If amount of dopamine decreases, it causes a distortion in its proposition. As a result of the increased proportion of Acetyl Choline, the rate of transmission of electrical signals to basal nucleus increases and muscles begin to contract without much difficulty.
Symptoms are many
Cognitive abilities and memory seem to be normal in the first stage. gradually, problems arise one by one making the patient's life miserable day by day. Most chances are for persons above 60. But recent studies show the possibility at early 40’s also. As age progress, resistive power of body reduces. Also, transmission speed in neurons of brain cells show a gradual depreciation. That’s why this disease affects old people most. Tremor, rubbing of thumb with other fingers, stiffness of face muscles, decreased speed in movement of body, staring with open mouth, bending forward and walk with small steps, speech and writings become unclear, feeling difficulty in doing even small things, a feeling of loss of body balance etc are some of the common symptoms. It’s not a genetically transmitted disease and can’t be cured. Daily exercises and medicines can only decrease its intensity. Though Dopamine treatments are available now, they are not 100% effective. Patience and nursing with love can also help a lot.
Parkinson’s disease
It’s a similar brain disorder when nerve cells of substantia nigra of brain are destroyed gradually. It occurs as a result of lower production of dopamine which helps to control muscle movements. Dopamine is also necessary to reduce the over activity of nervous system. When dopamine content is depreciated, ganglions are destroyed resulting in Parkinson’s disease. Though it’s seen after 50 years, younger persons may also be affected genetically.
How an Alzheimer patient should be treated
It’s incurable. Medicines and exercises can reduce its intensity. Also caring and patience can give positive results. Medicines should be given at right time as prescribed and give him a homely atmosphere. Health is also equally important. If better care is given to him, many bad phases of the patient can be avoided to some extend.
A few words about Aloysius Alzheimer
Aloysius Alzheimer was a German doctor who first presented scientific researches of a memory losing disease. He graduated from Wursberg University. Then he spend a few months in treating ladies having mental disorders and started a hospital at Frankfurt. In 1901, a newly admitted 51 year old lady patient named Auguste Deter showed some strange behaviour. Sudden loss of memory was her problem and Aloysius examined her continuously for years. When she died in 1906 April, Aloysius studied her brain. He, along with two Italian doctors Emil Sioli and Franz Nissl began to work together. Very soon, he told world about the newly found disease Alzheimer. Later his name was given to this disease.
Through the diary pages of Michell
This work came to book stores this year only. It contains notes of a British house wife Michell Montgomery who describes how a Alzheimer patient should be treated and include the details of this disease. It’s nothing but her personal experiences related to this disease which is nowadays getting more attention. When her father Antony Wrestling died at an age of 46 due to this disease, she had a feeling that she will also meet the same fate. But she was not willing to share her sorrows with anyone. She identified the genetic disorder at the age of 30, in the year 2000. From that day, till the disease took full control over her, she wrote diary. She kept a note of everything in that diary including even small things of her home, birthday of her kids and names of her relatives. She was not at all willing to leave her home and pet dog to live among a group of people suffering from the same disease. She is the youngest Alzheimer patient of Britain and this disease completely defeated her at the age of 38. Now she is 43. She even forgot to give this diary to her husband. She is now at a care home since 2011. This year beginning, Steve got her diary incidentally and from that day, till now he is spending full time with her. Now his eyes fill will tears reading her diary pages. Their kids, Richard and Graham are also now with them. Steve published this book giving a message to readers not to neglect its symptoms thinking Alzheimer won’t affect them.
It’s now shown in movies and a few novels
Let me conclude this article giving a few movie names and one literary work that I read recently which describes Alzheimer disease. Among Indian movies, I remember two movies, released in the same year 2005. First one is a Bollywood movie Black, Big B playing the role of an Alzheimer patient and the second one is a Malayalam movie ‘Thanmatra’, where Mohanlal did a memorable role as Alzheimer patient. Since movie Black is most remembered for Rani Mukherjee’s role, let me write a few words about Thanmatra. Mohanlal plays the role of an intelligent Government employee who just missed the chance of becoming an IAS officer who later wants to see his dream fulfilled through his son. He prepares everything, even notes, charts and objective questions for his son. But, very soon he began to forget even simple things and do strange things like putting files in the refrigerator and bringing vegetables to office. When his disease was detected, he can’t even identify his own family, yet remembers occasionally his IAS dreams of his son. His son begins to take studies seriously taking more responsibilities. When the film reaches its climax, Mohanlal dies just before his son’s final interview and his wife hide it from their son. The different stages and strange behaviour of the disease is clearly shown in this film.
The Notebook is a romantic novel written by American Novelist Nicholas Sparks which tells a unique love story of Noah and Allie, how they reunite after a separation and how Alzheimer disease separates them again. Allie forgot everything, even her own name and hence both remain as strangers in their old age. Yet, Noah didn’t give up completely and on their 49th anniversary night, she identifies him.
Through this article I have given a brief description of Alzheimer disease, its symptoms and after effects. Hoping you liked it.
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