Remembering to Love Despite Alzheimer's

"It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back my tears as he left, and all I could think was that I wanted that kind of love in my life."


5.3 million people suffer with Alzheimer's Disease, and there is still so much confusion about the difference between being forgetful and the onset of far more dramatic symptoms that, when caught early are, are treatable.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation (866-232-8484) recommends screenings to anyone with concerns about their memory. The foundation sponsors National Memory Screening Day each November, when free screenings are offered at more than 2,000 sites nationwide, including at many assisted living facilities.

They say that the test is no substitute for a medical diagnosis, but it can tip people off to early Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementias, and can encourage a patient to see a doctor who could prescribe a treatment plan to slow the progression of symptoms.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation discusses the disease as follows:

•Alzheimer's disease dates back to 1906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician, presented a case history before a medical meeting of a 51-year-old woman who suffered from a rare brain disorder. A brain autopsy identified the plaques and tangles that today characterize Alzheimer's disease.

•Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes.

•Two types of abnormal lesions clog the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. They are sticky clumps of protein fragments and cellular material that form outside and around the neurons.

•Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, or loss of intellectual function, among people aged 65 and older, but it is NOT a normal part of aging.

Signs of Alzheimer's vs. Typical age-related changes

Poor judgment and decision making vs. Making a bad decision once in a while

Inability to manage a budget vs. Missing a monthly payment

Losing track of the date or the season vs. Forgetting which day it is and remembering later

Difficulty having a conversation vs. Sometimes forgetting which word to use

Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them vs. Losing things from time to time


Get screened (It takes only minutes), if you have any concern about your memory. You can allay your fears or address the symptoms ASAP!