Alzheimer's..Be Aware!

What will you do if one morning you aren't able to recognize the person sleeping next to you? Yes, one morning when you aren't able to associate a name to the face which seems so blissfully asleep by your side? No matter how hard you try you just aren't able to identify the person who has actually been your partner for years, your spouse, and your one true love. What then? The prospect is scary, isn't it?

Or, imagine a day when you aren't able to recall how to wear a saree or make coffee, an activity that you were adept in. Impossible don’t you think?

Or, God forbid what if one day you just aren't able find your way back home or recall where is home? A day when everything seems alien. Just the thought is preposterous right?

But as scary or as impossible as these situations seem, truth is there are real people living through these day after day, every day. As I write and now as you read, there are actual people in this world for whom answering these questions have become a fact of life. Unfortunate. Alzheimer’s they call it and trust me it’s something you wouldn't wish upon your worst enemy too.

As per wiki:

Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease, is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. It was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Most often, AD is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onsetAlzheimer's can occur much earlier. In 2006, there were 26.6 million people worldwide with AD. Alzheimer's is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050.

21^st September was World Alzheimer’s Day and I reckon it’s not too late to speak about it. Awareness is one of the ways to fight any disease, isn't it? So along with Write Tribe I urge you to spend some time today reading about Alzheimer’s here and anywhere you can.

It is classified as a neurodegenerative disorder and there are no available medicines or treatments that can stop, control or reduce the advancement of the disease. Unfortunately in this era of medical innovation too we are helpless when it comes to Alzheimer’s. Makes one realize that we are after all merely humans, doesn't it? Nevertheless studies and trials are being carried out around the world. Perhaps in the future we will have the cure. In fact, I’m certain we will have the cure at some point in time. Till then I thought why not tell you about some things we can do to prevent it. Bear in mind these are just propositions and have not been definitively proved. But in the absence of any treatment, I think we should grab on to whatever little we have as long as it doesn't cause us any harm. Don’t you agree?

So here goes. As per Wiki, the following activities may be able to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Engaging in intellectual activities like reading, solving crossword puzzles, playing board games or healthy social interaction which leads to efficient neural functioning.

Learning a second language.

Being physically active.

Avoiding diets rich in high saturated fats and simple carbohydrates.

Not enough evidence to corroborate the fact but light to moderate use of alcohol especially red wine and caffeine.