E-Magazine: Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
“There is a drug called midazolam that is used for minor surgeries, dental procedures, etc… [it] induces sleep and inhibits your ability to make short-term memories… Someone who has been given Versed will have no recollection of anything that has happened in the ensuing minutes or even hours. Imagine giving this drug to someone. Then, have them awaken in a building they have never been in before that is full of furniture and items they do not recognize. Give them five minutes alone in this unfamiliar place, and then, one by one, have complete strangers enter the room and talk to the person as if they have known each other their entire lives. Have these strangers talk to the person as if each one of them is their daughter, their spouse or their pastor. Have these strangers express concern for the person’s loss and assure them that everything is going to be alright. The entire time, this person will be wondering what in the world is going on. Then, have all of the strangers exit the room. Leave the person entirely alone to ponder what just transpired.”
This is a comparison of what Alzheimer’s feels like from real Alzheimer’s patient Rick Phelps. He states how this scenario was the closest he could get to describing what his personal experiences with dementia were like. However, this description doesn’t come close to describing the hardships a dementia patient goes through day in and day out. Phelps shares his experiences with everyone, since he feels that it is important for people to understand what patients are really experiencing, not an expert’s speculations or other methods such as the “Virtual Dementia Tour”. Moreover, Phelps describes the burden dementia has on patients and their loved ones. He expresses how when dementia patients feel peace, everyone around them must grieve. This is why awareness must be raised for Alzheimer's and other dementias in order to bring more action against the diseases that burden millions of people.
June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month which was declared by the Alzheimer’s Association. Their goal is to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, while also showing their support for the millions of people worldwide living with these diseases and the people who work hard to support and care for them. The Alzheimer’s Association’s slogan is “the more people know about Alzheimer’s, the more action we inspire,” a saying that effectively conveys their message of awareness. This is incredibly important, as around every 3 seconds someone around the world develops dementia. More alarmingly, with 50 million people currently affected by the disease and that number being expected to rise to 132 million by 2050, action must be taken to help those afflicted.
First, an understanding of dementia should be established. Dementia is a brain condition that results in problems with thought, memory, problem-solving, and language. It is caused by damage to brain cells where they can not communicate properly with each other, resulting in functions not being carried out properly. Dementia is not a single disease but an overall term that encompasses many specific medical conditions with Alzheimer’s being the most common form of dementia. The risk of dementia increases with age, but it is not a normal part of aging which many people confuse. Dementia can have a multitude of causes. Alzheimer’s disease counts for around 60 to 80 percent of cases, and the second most common cause is Vascular dementia: stemming from microscopic bleeding and blood vessel blockages in the brain. There are many other causes of dementia, some of which are reversible and some of which happen simultaneously, leading to mixed dementia.
You must remember that dementia is a progressive disease, so it might be hard to see the early symptoms of dementia. Some symptoms include problems with short-term memory, having trouble paying bills on time, losing track of purses or wallets, remembering appointments, or traveling outside neighborhoods. These symptoms may seem small and uncommon at first, but over time they will become worse and frequent. If you begin to notice these symptoms commonly, it is best to go in for professional evaluation. Even if symptoms do not seem to be worrisome, early diagnosis results in the best chance for treatments and studies.
After considering all this information, you can see how important it is that awareness be brought to this group of diseases. There are millions of people living with dementia worldwide, and a lot of people remain uneducated about these diseases, often confusing them with old age despite the fact they are not a normal part of aging. The Alzheimer’s Association explains how Alzheimer’s is actually the sixth leading cause of death among the U.S. population, and it is the only disease on the list that has no cure and cannot be prevented or slowed down. This demonstrates the pressing matter of Alzheimers and other dementias. It is up to us to create a change for this and raise awareness. You can start by showing your support this month by wearing purple: the official color of the Alzheimer’s movement. Additionally, you can check out the links at the bottom of this E-magazine to learn more about Alzheimers and other dementias. Remember, “the more people know about Alzheimer’s, the more action we inspire!”
Check out the following links for more information on Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness:
https://www.alz.org/abam/overview.asp#takeActionBox
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/what-it-feels-like-to-have-alzheimers-177089.htm
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
- Bavishya Yeturi