Daniel Davis Week 13: Alzheimer's Treatment and Its Relevance to Everyone

    

One of the easiest ways to determine how important something is can be to take it away.

Almost everyone will deal with some form of memory loss, and the reasons behind the issue range from completely out of our control to fairly manageable. 

The most severe form of memory loss is caused by Alzheimer's and there is currently no cure for the disease. Those treating Alzheimer's, caring for someone with the disease, or affected by it all have to resolve to mitigate the effects Alzheimer's instead of reversing the effects as the damage the disease causes to brain cells is currently irreversible.

While I have always found the idea of having Alzheimer's and forgetting those around you to be one of nature's cruelest punishments, I was surprised at how treatments for Alzheimer's could be applied to anyone struggling with finding direction in their life. 

While obviously there are certain aspects that cannot be applied to a broader audience, the simple directions to helping someone with Alzheimer's: be patient, use simple and short explanations, offering corrections in suggestions form, etc. all could improve everyday relationships. 

I found even more interesting therapy work done to mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's. Specifically mentioned by Alzheimer's Society, is life story work.

Life story work consists of making a record of "important people, places, and experiences" in one's life. As someone who is a part of the Personal Creed Organization, this process has many similarities to the Personal Creed Project. To me, this emphasizes the importance of reflecting on one's past and memories. If a pattern of analyzing memories continues to appear when attempting to address issues,whether that be dementia or a need for self-reflection in highschool life, then that process must be extremely powerful.

Comments

  1. Keshavi KanagalingamMarch 23, 2024 at 7:49 AM

    Hi Daniel!
    I enjoyed reading your blog about Alzheimer’s Treatment and its relevance to even those who do not have this disease, as it was extremely insightful and informational. Additionally, I found the first sentence of your blog to be compelling. I completely agree with the point you made that taking away something is an easy way to determine its importance, as humans tend to take things for granted. For example, when I got sick over the summer and had trouble breathing properly, it hit me how lucky I was just earlier that week and how appreciative I should have been for a part of me I assumed would always be there. The transition you made from this idea to your blog about memory is impactful, as it effectively emphasizes the importance of memory and establishes the significance of the topic of your blog.

    I also found it interesting to learn about the versatility of a form of treatment that is not typically talked about among the general public. Reading your blog has not only taught me more about Alzheimer's and ways to aid those with this disease; it has also shown me that even treatments that are catered towards specific groups of people can teach important things for those who lie outside of this group.

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  2. Aishwarya GogiMarch 25, 2024 at 11:15 PM

    Hi Daniel! Your blog was compelling in conveying how a disease can help to retrace and reflect on past memories. It is interesting how you brought up the Personal Creed Organization as it reminded me of the Creed Project in Mr. Creger’s class where we presented about ourselves; this process of reflecting oneself is a novel way of mitigating the effects of memory loss. The connection you make from the project to a wider issue like Alzeheimer’s is unique in demonstrating how people can use their experiences to analyze memories closely.

    Through the introduction of your blog, I was shocked by the fact that Alzheimer’s disease has no real cure. But, by taking a common perspective people have and presenting your view on it, it intrigued me to learn more about the insides of how Alzheimer’s can be treated. This reminded me of how there are various experiments going on using computational methods as well as laboratory work to find a treatment. But, seeking a cure for neurodegenerative diseases is so challenging that many companies left this quest for years.

    The logical approach to providing examples of how people can treat the disease made me more informed to know how difficult it can be to experience memory loss. But, by connecting the disease to a common day's struggle in finding direction in life, you may have brought people like me and scientific researchers to join the Personal Creed Organization in order to find a solution to a greater cause.

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  3. JaydenMarch 27, 2024 at 9:09 PM

    Hey Daniel! I really thought your exploration of Alzheimer’s treatment and the larger uses of it was both enlightening and also thought-provoking. The idea that the principles leading to the care for Alzheimer’s patients can also enhance our daily relationships is a testament to the value of patience, simplicity, and empathy. The connection that you have made between Alzheimer therapy, specifically life story work, and the Personal Creed Project really shows the impact of personal history and reflection in our well being. Your insight into the importance of going back and looking at your past to solve present problems is a good perspective of the role of memory on our own wellbeing. This approach not only gives an idea of what improving our connections with others does but also shows the significance of memory and looking back at the past in understanding ourselves and those around us. What you say is a reminder of the human potential for growth, even in the face of challenges like Alzheimers. It encourages us to appreciate the power of storytelling, and what that can do for ourselves to better ourselves and society.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alfiya JoharMarch 27, 2024 at 9:31 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Alfiya JoharMarch 27, 2024 at 9:35 PM

    Hi Daniel,

    I was drawn to your blog by the title being about the importance of seeking Alzheimer's treatment. As an aspiring pre-med, I too believe that finding treatments for diseases that affect millions of people world wide is a shared effort. It benefits not only those with the disease, but everyone, which you cover in your blog. I liked your characterization of Alzheimer's as "one of nature's cruelest punishments."

    When writing essays for summer programs this year, many were about why I want to research a certain topic. I decided to focus on neuroscience and neurodegenerative disorders, including addiction and Alzheimer's. I learned about how many people Alzheimer's affects and the need to find treatment. However, your post opened my mind to a new aspect of finding treatment, the ways that it can help people in their everyday relationships by teaching them common values.

    I also like how you provided background information in small, easily digestible paragraphs. You clearly explained the literal aspects of Alzheimer's and the loss of memory. But you also vividly captured how debilitating and difficult it can be to live with. Memory is one of our dearest privileges that many of us take for granted. It is something that you never miss until you lose it and your post has helped me increase my value for it.

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