What if the once-treasured memories and stories of people suddenly vanished like mist in the morning sun?

 

Imagine waking up one day and finding someone important in your life has abruptly forgotten who you are, the memories, and the stories. One day they woke up, and the eyes that were once filled with warmth now look at you as if they were those of a complete stranger. Unfortunately, these things are the struggles of the loved ones of people who are experiencing Alzheimer’s disease, the silent thief of memories that cast them lost in the shadows.

 

Alzheimer’s disease is identified as a brain condition where a person's thinking, memory, learning, and organization skills deteriorate, which will later on greatly affect their ability to do basic daily activities. This disease usually affects people over the age of 65. However, there is a rare circumstance where a patient might experience what they call early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, where it occurs to the patient earlier than usual, typically around their 40s or 50s. Less than 10% of instances of Alzheimer's disease are of early onset, making this illness rare. Alzheimer’s disease is said to be common, as approximately 24 million people around the globe are experiencing it.

 

Alzheimer’s disease was named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, hence the name, who examined the brain of a woman who died in 1906 because of an unusual mental illness that was not yet diagnosed at that time. Her symptoms were memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior, and upon examining her brain, Dr. Alois Alzheimer found a lot of abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. He then theorized that these abnormalities in the patient’s brain were the cause of her disease, and these initial findings opened the door for further studies to be developed in line with this form of dementia.

 

Alzheimer's patients experience memory loss, which can cause them to repeatedly ask questions over and over, or they might forget certain occasions in their lives, get lost in places, or forget the names of their family members. Also, this condition impairs one's ability to reason and think, which may make it difficult for them to complete one activity at a time.

 

Furthermore, patients with such a disease can experience a change in their behavior and might experience certain problems like depression, mood swings, aggression, and delusions.

 

In the Philippines, cases with regards to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in general are constantly increasing in number. The Philippines has the 172nd highest death rate for Alzheimer's disease in the world, with 3,368 fatalities from the condition between 2012 and 2018, as recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority. In addition to that, a study in 2018 by Dominguez et al. concluded that the Philippines is seen as one of the countries that would be most affected by the rise in number of patients with the said disease if left unprepared. Thinking about the diagnosis, laboratory, rehabilitation sessions, and medications, the overall estimated average costs would come up to Php 100,000; nevertheless, despite the increase in the number of patients with such disorders, PhilHealth can only currently cover Php 10,000 worth of hospital costs, which includes the hospital bills and professional fees.

 

As the Philippines celebrates Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Week, may this serve as a platform and provide an opportunity to educate, advocate, and raise awareness about the disease and the issues with regard to it. By working collectively, we can foster a sense of support for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.