As Alzheimer's Grips

In the present age of globalisation, it is a challenge to lead a healthy and stress free life. Yet, thanks to the very progressive and emerging field of scientific and medical innovations and technologies, which has provided a great sense of relief to the common man as most of the diseases can be identified and cured at an early age. However there are certain diseases, which do not have any cure and can also take demonising forms.

One such disease is Alzheimer's.

I still have unmarked memories of my grandmother being so energetic, lively and active till she was diagnosed with the disease. She was a typical traditional woman but was never conventional and orthodox of her age. She even travelled alone to London to meet her son, even though she only knew speaking her native language. I never knew about the disease until I saw her condition deteriorating. My grandfather died many years back due to lung cancer, so she had started living alone with some other people who had come to live on rent. Once in a year she used to visit our place and stay for few months. Those days were typically exciting where in me and my brother used to spend time joking and fooling around with her, counting our piggy bank money, playing cards etc. I used to make fun of her as she forgot things so easily, for which now I'm feeling guilty. I was very small when I started hearing discussions of my parents and relatives that she was suffering from Alzheimer's. I was so surprised and terrified that she could not recollect all the name of her children and grand children. Slowly I saw her getting more annoyed without any reason. She was not able to do her own tasks as well. Within very few years her condition worsened so much that she was completely bed ridden. From that moment onwards, she became a living dead body. And, three years later she died in her bed due to heart attack.

What is more terrifying is the feeling that one day I might as well suffer from the condition and that feeling of helplessness is dreadful. Moreover taking care of people suffering from this disease is big challenge in itself and is very demanding in nature. It has a devastating impact on the family as well. There is a dearth of awareness about the disease among people and it has been proved that with proper diagnosis and education can reduce the advancement of the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed out that there are about 18 million people suffering from the disease and that these figures are expected to double in the year 2025.The disease may not have any cure but being a social worker myself, I realize the importance of supporting and helping them cope with the disease.

References

World Health Organization, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: The Brain Killer, http://www.searo.who.int/en/Section1174/Section1199/Section1567/Section1823_8066.htm