Sohila Elattar - Week 16 - The Pain of Alzheimer's

 One of the things I hope to never experience in my life is Alzheimer's. And to anyone who has experienced a family member or a family friend who had Alzheimer’s, my heart goes out to you.

As you all probably know, Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that not only affects memories, but also a person’s behavior and thinking. Alzheimer's is caused by genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors.
 I have a brother-in-law whose father suffers from Alzheimer's, and as much as I dislike the guy, it makes me feel terrible. This is one of those “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy” situations (btw if you were real haters, then that quote would not exist).
 Alzheimer's completely changes a person—both the one who has to undergo the terrible disease, and the ones who suffer from slowly losing someone they love. It is insane to think that a person becomes an entirely different version of themselves when suffering from Alzheimer's.
They forget names, faces, places, and past emotions. Although it is crazy to think about, people’s emotions and feelings toward someone completely change when you have Alzheimer's. A feeling that was once filled with rage and disappointment can quickly turn to one of indifference, and you are left with trying to build a new relationship, a better one. In a strange way, it is a reset, however, the question is whether that reset is even wanted. That feeling is a feeling of grief, even when the one who is being grieved is right in front of you.

Comments

  1. Avni TewariMay 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM

    Hi Sohila! While others’ blogs seem to be about our current memories and making of them, your blog really stuck to me. As young as we are, I don’t think people often think about the future diseases that we may get, or the slow fade of memories that do not seem relevant anymore. Honestly, you’re right. Alzhiemer’s is truly scary and is an experience no one would ever want to go through.

    My late grandfather had Alzheimer’s, and although I was not super close to him, it pained me to see that he was barely able to recognize other family members he was a lot closer with, but we seemed to relish the moments he came back and remembered, having full conversations unlike his usual state with dementia. Although I hold these memories, he doesn’t and it was very painful for my dad.

    That said, it looks like we don't think what we do in the present might be affecting our future, and makes me value my memories I have a lot more. I never want to forget all the fun things we’ve done in our highschool years, and seems impossible to forget even though it might happen one day. Thanks for this new insight!

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  2. Ayush SharmaMay 21, 2025 at 9:41 PM

    Hello Sohila! I found your Blog really interesting, and you really explained the concepts of Alzheimers and how it affects the way an individual is able to live their life. I actually have relatives that have had Alzheimers, and it really affected their lives and my life as well, because seeing them in that situation really affected me negatively as I hate to see the people closest to me in pain. Having the ability to remember things is really crucial as it allows oneself to relieve amazing memories and interact with other individuals that apart of the community. Having a good memory also makes an individual's life so much easier, as it cultivates strong relationships amongst living beings and also brings a sense of fulfillment. My heart really goes out for those suffering with Alzheimers, and I really do hope that one day a cure will be found to get rid of this horrible medical condition.

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