Monday's with Mom
Alzheimer's Disease
Heidi Vogel
Issue date: 10/23/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Joyce is a seventy-five year old woman born March 23,1931in Toledo, Ohio to George and Ethel Lindberg. A graduate of the University of Michigan (English major). Joyce has lived in many states, traveled around the country and abroad, raised three children and has seven grandchildren and now two great-grandchildren. She taught her children right from wrong, good manners, and how to use proper English. She has had a full life, and through both good and bad times she has managed to keep going. A very intelligent woman at one time, she now looks in the mirror at her reflection and wonders "Who is that old lady?" Joyce is my mom. She is in the third stage of Alzheimer's disease.
Approximately seven years ago, Mom showed the beginning signs of Dementia such as mixing up common words and increased forgetfulness, but she was still able to live on her own. Progressively we (my sister, brother, and I) needed to tend to her weekly (or daily) for showers, outings, money management, and meals. This was stressful on us due to our work requirements, location, and mostly because Mom always took care of us. Now, the role has changed. Two years ago it became evident that she could not live alone. Initially, we placed her in a nursing home; a few weeks realized that she'd be happier with her family. My sister and her husband made necessary arrangements, took over guardianship of Joyce and moved her in with them. In the beginning, mom would come stay with me for 1-2 days during the week. Once these overnight visits were to stressful for her and me, I began to take her one day a week. Monday is my day with mom. It's not a super productive day for me, but it's not all about that. It's about keeping memories alive, holding her hand, and reassuring her that she's loved.
The understanding of etiology of Alzheimer's is not as cut and dried as some diseases. There are so many factors linked to the progression of the disease, the strongest is natural aging. It is known that AD is connected to the neurons, nerve cells in the brain. Alzheimer's disease disrupts the processes that keep the neurons healthy and active and affects three processes of the human brain: communication, metabolism, and repair. When studying the brain of an AD patient, doctors and neurologists have determined two abnormal structures, Beta Amyloidal Plaques and Neurofibrillary Tangles. Plaques are dense, mostly insoluble, deposits of protein and cellular material outside and around the neurons. Tangles are insoluble, twisted fibers that build up inside the nerve cell. Both plaques and tangles have been found in non AD- patients, but those with AD have them to a greater extent. The evidence is there, but that connecting line to plaques and tangles causing AD is not. So how does it get diagnosed?
Approximately seven years ago, Mom showed the beginning signs of Dementia such as mixing up common words and increased forgetfulness, but she was still able to live on her own. Progressively we (my sister, brother, and I) needed to tend to her weekly (or daily) for showers, outings, money management, and meals. This was stressful on us due to our work requirements, location, and mostly because Mom always took care of us. Now, the role has changed. Two years ago it became evident that she could not live alone. Initially, we placed her in a nursing home; a few weeks realized that she'd be happier with her family. My sister and her husband made necessary arrangements, took over guardianship of Joyce and moved her in with them. In the beginning, mom would come stay with me for 1-2 days during the week. Once these overnight visits were to stressful for her and me, I began to take her one day a week. Monday is my day with mom. It's not a super productive day for me, but it's not all about that. It's about keeping memories alive, holding her hand, and reassuring her that she's loved.
The understanding of etiology of Alzheimer's is not as cut and dried as some diseases. There are so many factors linked to the progression of the disease, the strongest is natural aging. It is known that AD is connected to the neurons, nerve cells in the brain. Alzheimer's disease disrupts the processes that keep the neurons healthy and active and affects three processes of the human brain: communication, metabolism, and repair. When studying the brain of an AD patient, doctors and neurologists have determined two abnormal structures, Beta Amyloidal Plaques and Neurofibrillary Tangles. Plaques are dense, mostly insoluble, deposits of protein and cellular material outside and around the neurons. Tangles are insoluble, twisted fibers that build up inside the nerve cell. Both plaques and tangles have been found in non AD- patients, but those with AD have them to a greater extent. The evidence is there, but that connecting line to plaques and tangles causing AD is not. So how does it get diagnosed?
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Mary Berger
posted 11/13/06 @ 7:36 PM EST
Heidi is a student of mine. This article is missing an entire ending section that puts closure on the piece. Please find the time to run the complete article, it deserves at least that. (Continued…)
Post a Comment