Please Be With ME

Please Be With ME

• Down the memory lane, I use to wish how I could help all the old people who used to forget a lot and often had problems remembering names of their loved ones. I never thought, this wish of mine would shape itself into the nightmare of my lifetime, when my Father started to forget names and started losing himself.


• My father got diagnosed with Alzhiemer’s Disease.It is the basic and the most common form of Dementia. Dementia can be defined as a collection of symptoms of cognitive decline. It was completely an alien dieasease for us as it was such an unpredictable symptoms. He often used to forget our names or sometimes he could just go out without knowing where to go. Then he started having  a  delay in speaking out words and showing other cognitive changes which were unpredictable and devastating for the while family. I started to start researching on this disease.

The disease was first discovered by Dr. Alois Alzhiemer in 1906.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

• The most crucial and vital point to understand about Alzheimer’s  Disease is to know that Alzheimer’s is not a Psychological disease, but rather, it is a Neurodegenarative or Neurological brain Disorder.

The simplest way to define the disease is to know a little about a human brain first. A normal Human brain is functions through a network of cells called Neurons. These neurons, are made of proteins. These neurons sends electrical signals ( in the form of releasing healthy chemicals) to other neurons and thus the brain gets signals , stores memory, and functions through the signals sent by neurons. Within the network of these neurons, there are other proteins working their work as well , named as Beta-amyloid and Tau Protein. In a Brain with Alzhiemer’s diease ,the Amyloid and Tau protein becomes toxic and starts accumulating and  forming  clumps.  The Brains starts to shrink as a result and This clumping of toxins , not only affects the basic neuron functioning, Memory, thinking,  but it also affects the vascular system , and hence the whole brain gets affected which inturn starts affecting the rest of the body as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alzhiemer’s disease is a progressive and an irreversible disease. A lot of research is being carried out on this disease now internationally, but in Pakistan, rarely few doctors and medical institutes have genuine knowledge , treatments and  diagnosis. Mostly Pakistani Public , treat an alzhiemer’s Patient to be mentally challenged person due to their own lack of knowledge about this disease.

 

 

 

 Stages of Alzhiemer’s

There are 7 stages of alzhiemer’s researched internationally

1. No Decline Signs


2. Very Mild Decline


3. Mild Decline


4. Moderate Decline


5. Moderalty severe Decline


6. Severe Decline


7. Very Severe Decline

 

 

Stages of Alzhiemer’s researched in Pakistan

1. Pre SIgns 2. Early SIgns 3. Moderate SIgns 4. Advanced Stage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Symptoms  

• Restlessness


• Lack of Sleep


• Wandering


• Memory Loss


• Thinking Delay


• Confusion


• Language and speecha delay


• Cognitive  decline


• Difficulty eating , praying, recalling, holding thing and other cognitive functions


• Lack of Body Balance


• Emotional, Physical and Psychological dependancy


• Lack of Vision


• Hallucinations


• Delusions


•  Lack of emotional balance


• Depression


• Social withdrawal


• Mood swings


• anxiety


• Lack of hearing


• Paranoia or simply Fear of falling, bathing etc.


• Lack of Decisive power


• Lack of remembering places ad relations etc.

And the devastating list goes on just like this progressive disease.

Causes There are major researches being done Internationally and also in Pakistan to know the main cause of Alzhiemer’s and Dementia but so far it is unknown. Many factors are involved and can  become the cause of this diease.  Some of the  so far researched main  causes are

• Barin Injury


• Lifestyle changes that affects barin


• Person having alzhiemer’s disease history in family


• Alcohol Consumption


• Genetics ( risk genes( risk genes are the ones that increase the risk of developing the diseases of alzhiemer’s) and deterministic genes ( deterministic genes are the ones that directly causes the disease)

 

• Stats in Pakistan According to a reaserch, Pakistan ranks sixth with 150,000-200,000 patients suffering with dementia

Diagnosis and Treatments in Pakistan Alzhiemer’s is a very cmplex  and unpredictable disease. There is no cure for this progressive disease. Lifestyle changes and managing the behavioral symptoms of the patient, proper care, Nutritious Diet, and lost of love  is the only cure.if we talk about Pakistan, then not much treatment is being done regarding Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Usually Brain Tests (MRI, PET and CT scan) are done, reasoning skills check through neuropsychological tests, reflexes are checkd, tests for vision and hearing, body balance check, Coordination and  response check, muscle strength check are mostly done.

 

Final Words:

In the end, there can be no words better to this poem to end this unending discussion.      

 

                                                             "Please BE with me, dear."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Poems For Caregivers Of Alzheimer S Patients - Infoupdate.org. (2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021, from http://infoupdate.org/poems-for-caregivers-of-alzheimer-s-patients/

 

Encyclopedia, M., & disease, A. (2021). Alzheimer disease: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved 29 March 2021, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000760.htm

 

What Is Alzheimer's Disease?. (2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-alzheimers-disease#:~:text=Alzheimer's%20disease%20is%20an%20irreversible,appear%20in%20their%20mid%2D60s.

 

What are the Three Stages of Alzheimer's Disease | SeniorDirectory.com. (2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021, from https://seniordirectory.com/articles/info/what-are-the-three-stages-of-alzheimers-disease

 

Determining Alzheimer's Symptoms | Urgent Team - Family of Urgent Care and Walk-in Centers. (2019). Retrieved 29 March 2021, from https://www.urgentteam.com/healthy-living-tips/determining-alzheimers-symptoms/

 

 

What Are the 7 Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease?. (2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021, from https://www.alzheimers.net/stages-of-alzheimers-disease/

 

Alzheimer's Disease. (2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021, from https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/diseases-and-conditions/Pages/alzheimers-disease.aspx

(2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021, from http://alz.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DiP-Final-Report-31-January-2019-revised-again.pdf