Hope: Reversal of cognitive decline: A novel therapeutic program

[bettyellen]

13. you missed the part on how traumatic + confusing it is for the patient also- it is a horrible thing

for them to experience. It is painful to the survivors to witness loved ones in pain- it is not selfish to want to help them- as you seem to be implying.

The patients know they are losing their identity, and are very frightened by the people and places that should be comforting suddenly become very scary and unfamiliar. For a very long time they struggle greatly to retain what they can of their selves, and it is petrifying. It is not "cute" or romantic like it is in movies like The Notebook, nor is it any kind of "relief" to the patients to lose their former selves. Those notions are ridiculous, and harmful.

Alzheimer's sufferers have horrible fits of fear and confusion you would not wish on anyone. Parkinson's related dementia as well as AD results in a loss of "muscle memory" as well, where the most basic physical functions - from walking to digestion degrade sharply because the body doesn't know how anymore. If you think this is more about the family, you are sadly mistaken. The big reason family is involved in these cases is because their loved ones cannot advocate for themselves, so their families must. It is a role thrust on them by these horrible diseases, and your attempts to characterize their motivation as self interest is totally ignorant and well as cruel.