My grandpa lived and passed away with Alzheimer's Disease. This was a very moving experience for me to be able to watch the disease take its slow progression. I learned so much from watching this process. I was able to watch all the individual stages as they appeared and became stronger. The forgetfulness, the paranoia, the loss of muscle control. For the most part my grandpa was on a trolly car in Omaha Nebraska where he grew up. This goes along exactly with the statement made in the book that they will forget the most recent memories first versus the memories of when they were younger. Like his music, my grandpa had a doctorate degree in music and was a professor at the U at one point. He was always able to recall his organ pieces flawlessly, well until the very end, but with out any sheet music at all. Thus demonstrating the incredible power of the memory. So, Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that ravages the brain and it is called "the long goodbye" for good reason. This seems the most painful for the family...for the most part the one who has Alzheimer's generally regresses to a pleasant past memory. Then you just go along with it, riding along the trolly car in Omaha.
Being in the dementia ward
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It's so sad to have to see the people go through something like this. I have personally not experienced this with anyone in my family or through my friends,and for that I am thankful. Someone else stated that if the person with the disease is physically, socially, and mentally active, the disease progression in slowed, and I do believe this is true, for those activities tend to slow many diseases and illnesses. If I did have someone in my family, I would try to help them remember or tell old stories to keep them in a happy state for as long as possible.
I'm so sorry to hear your story because I have an uncle who has Alzheimer's too. He is only two years older than my mom and got the disease when he was 52, which is relatively young age to suffer from dementia. He first started forgetting his way home, his children, and his wife. He relatively remembered his siblings and parents well because those memories were old ones he had had from his youth. Dementia leaves a lot of pains. That is not only because it's an incurable disease but also because the rest of family members have to take care of someone who thinks they are total strangers. Yes, it is painful and I will be forever reminded of my uncle whenever I deal with dementia.
I am very sorry to hear about your grandpa who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease. It is a terrible disease that it very hard on family and friends. I also wrote my blog on Alzheimer's, and I read that if someone is physically, socially, and mentally active, they are less likely to catch the disease. However, your grandpa sounded like a great man who was active, especially intellectually, so I wonder if what I read was actually true.
I work at an assisted living home and occasionally care for the residents that have forms of dementia like Alzheimer's. It is sad to see the progression of the disease. For me, it's especially saddening to have a really good conversation with a resident, and then 2 minutes later (or less, they won't even remember your name. I'm glad that your grandfather was still able to remember music without looking at the sheet music! Implicit memory is fascinating, it's like it holds onto those memories that mean the most to us at the end of our lives.