My Daughter Has Alzheimer’s Disease

 “Mom, I have Alzheimer’s and I want to say goodbye to you when I can.” This is what Maria said to her mother when she learned at the age of 48 that she had Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease has traditionally been a disease of the elderly, but it has also begun to spread among the younger ones .

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes cognitive impairment and impairment of certain brain functions. Its main consequence is seen in memory. As the disease progresses, the memory begins to deteriorate so much that the person suffering from the disease will eventually not even be able to identify their own family. People over the age of 65 are most susceptible to Alzheimer’s. 

Years ago, we thought that Alzheimer’s disease would only affect people if it occurred in their  parents. However, the roles have changed. Now many parents have to take care of their children who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

Early Alzheimer’s disease destroys lives

Jason was a young, lively, hard-working 36-year-old American man. However, less than a year after he started writing down things to remember them better, he was no longer able to stay on schedule. One day he even got lost on his way back home. And in the winter of 2012, he was no longer able to put Christmas lights in his house.

Jason was confused. He began to doubt though and what, so he decided to meet with a psychologist who referred him to a neuropsychologist. After several tests, the diagnosis was clear. Jason had Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 36. His life was short and he died in 2013.

The cases of Jason and Mary are not uncommon. Alzheimer’s disease has taken the lives of many young people who were just starting their families. People who were just beginning their goals. The disease comes from nowhere just when they look at their future full of hope and dream of what they might experience next.

But Alzheimer’s starts with transient and “normal” memory problems. These can be warning signs that need to be taken seriously.

Another important issue in Alzheimer’s disease is its origin. It is unclear what actually causes the disease, as many people do not get it because of their genes or family background. However, it must be borne in mind that Alzheimer’s disease may be associated with a traumatic event, physical or psychological, or type 2 diabetes.

Warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease

“I don’t remember what I was looking for.” “I forget things quickly.” “When people ask me why I ask the same thing twice, I feel silly and lock myself in the bathroom crying.” This is how 54-year-old university professor Carmen García describes her experience with the disease.

Early warning signs can be very subtle. Even so much that we might ignore them altogether. But they deserve attention, as they may signal an early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. What do we need to observe?

• Forgetting recently learned information and the increasing need for help in remembering things (dates, events, etc.)
• Difficulty concentrating, solving problems, and doing things that used to take much less time than they do today.
• Problems driving a car and paying bills.
• Confusion with time or place.
• Problems using words. Difficulty finding synonyms or saying words.
• Lack of initiative and mood swings.
• Family support is vital because a person with Alzheimer’s disease feels frustrated, confused, sad, helpless, and isolated.

Many parents do not know what to think about when a child develops Alzheimer’s disease. Every time they think about it, they can just cry. Alzheimer’s disease is a very complex disease and no cure has yet been found. Before, it was just a matter for the older generation, but now young people are also suffering from it.