"How I'm Preparing to Get Alzheimer's" by Alanna Shaikh

“How I’m Preparing to Get Alzheimer’s”
TEDX TALK BY ALANNA SHAIKH

I chose to do my Neuro Note on Alzheimer’s Disease and I discovered a Ted Talk, “How I’m Preparing to Get Alzheimer’s” by Alanna Shaikh. Alanna begin her Ted Talk by revealing her father passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease, after a decade of degeneration. She described his life as a professor; he spent much of his time writing op-eds and spent his leisure time playing chess and bridge. These activities gave him delight and purpose. Alanna goes on to talk about how 35 million people worldwide have some type of dementia and it is projected that 70 million will have it by 2030 (current statistics show 50 million people are living with dementia and 82 million will have it by 2030). Typically, the most common ways people deal with these statistics is by denial or trying to prevent dementia. Considering nothing will 100% protect anyone, Alanna decided that she would prepare to get Alzheimer’s, instead. How did she go about preparing? One, change what she did for fun. Two, build physical strength. Three, try to become a better person. Her logic for this was straight forward. In terms of finding new things to do for fun, she learned that it is better for a person with Alzheimer’s to be allowed to participate in familiar things that the hands know how to do. It is better for the person with the disease, as well as the caregiver. Those who participate in activities are happier, easier for caregivers to look after, and it may help slow the progress of the disease. She asked herself, “What would caregivers do with me?”. She decided to learn a few new hands-on activities, including origami, making boxes, and knitting. Those with Alzheimer’s are known to have cognitive and physical deficits, which Alanna decided to address by taking up yoga and Tai chi (for balance) and strengthening exercises to build up her ability to offset any muscle deterioration. Lastly, she made it her mission to become a better person. According to Alanna, her father was a kind and loving man. “When you take away everything he has ever learned in this world, his naked heart still shines.” Her goal was to have a heart so pure that if it is stripped bare by dementia, it will survive.

In the recent week I have learned more about dementia and its most common cause—Alzheimer’s Disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Dementia is not. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that is caused by complex brain changes following cell damage. It leads to dementia symptoms that gradually worsen over time. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million. Also, 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. And though most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older, approximately 200,000 Americans under 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Alzheimer’s and dementia. Retrieved August 30, 2020, from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s

Shaikh, A. (2012, June). Alanna Shaikh: How i’m preparing to get alzheimer’s [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/alanna_shaikh_how_i_m_preparing_to_get_alzheimer_s#t-367557