I should consider myself blessed that mom still remembers who I am because I have heard horror stories from others who say their parent no longer recognize them. This Alzheimer's Disease is the worst!
And you really don't get its true impact until you have a loved one who suffers from it. I think the most agonizing part is its impact is slow and very gradual. At first, it's the forgetfulness -- over little things. Like she can't remember the name of an old classmate. That seems normal - we all do that.
But, then there's the repetitiveness. She'll tell me a story or ask me a question and within another 10 minutes, she'll repeat that very same thing. I've since learned, with Alzheimer's and dementia are closely related. According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptoms.
My mom's neurologist explained to me and my family that with Alzheimer's, neurons (cells that deliver messages to the brain) begin to deteriorate. With these neurons gone, certain basic body functions stop working. For example, the neurons that tell your body to eat because hungry are no longer there, so the person won't eat. Or when the neurons that tell your lungs to breathe deteriorate, the person won't breathe.
It's horrible. While my mom still has most of her faculties and wits about her. She has Mild Cognitive Impairment - MCI which may not lead to full-blown Alzheimers. Nonetheless, I can't help but have that uneasy feeling that one day she may not call my name or understand who I am.
That's why I'm glad the work continues to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. In fact, you're invited to join V 101.9 this Saturday, October 23, 9am at Truist Field, uptown Charlotte for the WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S.
A walk is also being held in Rowan County. The Rowan-Cabarrus Walk is Saturday, October 30, 10am at the Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis.
You can register HERE.
Hope to see ya at the park!
