Alzheimer's was discovered 100 years ago but it's still a bit of a mystery. So much of a mystery that the majority of information known about Alzheimer's has only been discovered over the last 15 years. I think the most important thing to know about Alzheimer's is that it is not a normal part of aging. By reading blogs written by family members of those with Alzheimer's, we can learn even more than that.

Paula recently lost her father to Alzheimer's - or did she?

And I suppose the immediate cause of death doesn't matter now; it's kind of a "chicken or egg" question anyway. Diabetes set everything in motion, but dementia was, in a way, his undoing. After his first fall, he was learning to walk again, and we all expected him to be able to go home again - his brand-new walker was waiting for him. But then, in an instant, it was all over - in his demented state, he leaned too far out of his wheelchair and fell again, breaking his hip and requiring surgery that plunged him further into the fog of dementia. And although he still had moments of clarity in his last six months, he was never really the same.

At Living With Alzheimer's, the confusion just seems to increase.

Mother's confusion just seems to increase. We know it's to be expected, but it's still hard to see. Most days she cannot find her room at all, even if she just came out of it. She also doesn't believe it IS hers when we lead her to it.

Gevera's dad gives her the funnies every week.

My dad gives me the funnies every week. He has no problem remembering that. In fact, if he forgets to give them to me, he gets very upset. And if he gives them to me and I read and discard them in his presence, he becomes confused, fishing them out of the trash and giving them back to me. He can't understand that I just want to READ them, not OWN them.

This post at BLACKFIVE is written by a man and it is very, very old, but worth reading. This is the end of the post...

And while Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease, it gave me a chance to see my grandfather in a different light - and made him even more of a hero in my eyes than ever before.

You can find caregiver information at Alzheimer's - The Carer's View and a variety of information about Alzheimer's at Alzheimer's Notes. Also, don't miss the Alzheimer's Art at grow-a-brain.

It's been 100 years, with not nearly enough advancements, let's hope it won't be 100 more before we find a cure.

~~Denise
Daily Dose of Denise and Fast Times @ Homeschool High

Image Credit: Alzheimer's Association