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Things I love to read. I went to visit my aunt one day, and my favourite uncle couldn't recognize me. It made me think that Alzheimer's is probably the worst t

Things I love to read. I went to visit my aunt one day, and my favourite uncle couldn't recognize me. It made me think that Alzheimer's is probably the worst thing that could happen to a person. I mean, what's worse than not being able to recognize those closest to you? You work a lifetime, and then you go out in such an undignified manner. I pray for a cure in my lifetime.

outworlder 1y ago
It's worse. Not recognizing people close to you is really hard on everyone else(including people taking care of you), but since you don't remember, it's not as bad for you. You won't even remember whether or not you had lunch. I met a grandma that was distraught that nobody was feeding her and she was hungry. Except she had had lunch already but couldn't remember. You forget where you live so if you get out of the house you can't get back. And many have 'sundowning', they get scared if they are outside and the night falls. It's not just the forgetting either, you start losing fundamental functions and eventually die. Not to mention the aggression and mood swings, which are aggravated if you try to point out that they are forgetting things. It's a terrible disease. You cease to be you.
- groos 1y ago
  What most people don't realize is that Alzheimer's - and its friend FTD - are terminal diseases with life expectancy just as bad as many cancers. Hardly anyone makes it to 5 years after diagnosis. The bodily degeneration that eventually results in the patient being utterly unable to function is heartbreaking. Forgetting things is a relatively minor symptom. It's also terrible on the family members of the patient whose mental health also suffers along the way.
cubefox 1y ago
> It made me think that Alzheimer's is probably the worst thing that could happen to a person. Alzheimer's is slowly destroying the person, but this might in some cases be not as bad as diseases which leave the person in place but make them suffer intensely, e.g. from pain or depression. Though it's hard to compare.
- a5c11 1y ago
  I'll take pain over slowly reversing to fetal brain development. My grandma had it, and it was freaking sad to watch her lose all body functions. I've already made a decision that when I spot first symptoms, and there won't be a cure, I'll finish all my earthly stuff, and will buy some good morphine.
switchbak 1y ago
> It made me think that Alzheimer's is probably the worst thing that could happen to a person I've had relatives die of Alzheimer's, and others die from other causes. Let me assure you that there are worse fates than the one you describe.
prmph 1y ago
worse than familial insomnia?

outworlder 1y ago

It's worse. Not recognizing people close to you is really hard on everyone else(including people taking care of you), but since you don't remember, it's not as bad for you. You won't even remember whether or not you had lunch. I met a grandma that was distraught that nobody was feeding her and she was hungry. Except she had had lunch already but couldn't remember. You forget where you live so if you get out of the house you can't get back. And many have 'sundowning', they get scared if they are outside and the night falls. It's not just the forgetting either, you start losing fundamental functions and eventually die. Not to mention the aggression and mood swings, which are aggravated if you try to point out that they are forgetting things. It's a terrible disease. You cease to be you.

groos 1y ago
What most people don't realize is that Alzheimer's - and its friend FTD - are terminal diseases with life expectancy just as bad as many cancers. Hardly anyone makes it to 5 years after diagnosis. The bodily degeneration that eventually results in the patient being utterly unable to function is heartbreaking. Forgetting things is a relatively minor symptom. It's also terrible on the family members of the patient whose mental health also suffers along the way.

cubefox 1y ago

> It made me think that Alzheimer's is probably the worst thing that could happen to a person. Alzheimer's is slowly destroying the person, but this might in some cases be not as bad as diseases which leave the person in place but make them suffer intensely, e.g. from pain or depression. Though it's hard to compare.

a5c11 1y ago
I'll take pain over slowly reversing to fetal brain development. My grandma had it, and it was freaking sad to watch her lose all body functions. I've already made a decision that when I spot first symptoms, and there won't be a cure, I'll finish all my earthly stuff, and will buy some good morphine.

switchbak 1y ago

> It made me think that Alzheimer's is probably the worst thing that could happen to a person I've had relatives die of Alzheimer's, and others die from other causes. Let me assure you that there are worse fates than the one you describe.

prmph 1y ago

worse than familial insomnia?