My mother passed away five and a half years ago after a twelve year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Now, my father has dementia from Parkinson's disease (which for all intents and purposes looks Alzheimer's). Dementia- which means progressive memory loss- is tough on everyone. There is no "noble battle" aura like we have when people fight cancer. Friends often disappear, rather than increasing their presence. No one knows what to say. To quote my mom in a lucid moment, "It's not exactly FUN losing your mind!" Instead, our loved ones slowly, steadily slip away. It is absolutely heart-breaking.
Still Alice is a must-read for everyone, because if you don't yet have a friend or loved one suffering from Alzheimer's, odds are good that you will. Still Alice tells the story of Alzheimer's from the point of view of a young 50 year old Harvard neuropsychologist as she is diagnosed with and rapidly declines from early onset Alzheimer's. Although this is a fictional account, it is very accurate and insightful.
BOTTOM LINE: Pick up a copy of Still Alice today, read it, and pass it on.
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