JOAN’S WEEKEND BLOG – JULY 24/25, 2010 – HURRICANE ALZHEIMER

After four years of living in a hurricane zone, I am quite versed and knowledgeable about the subtle signs of a storm brewing. It starts with a wave forming far away off the coast of Africa, which we follow carefully, as the computer models show the possible, probable, and most likely path it will take. We know how to prepare, from cutting down excess foliage around our houses, to getting the tools ready for the hurricane shutters, to stocking up on non-perishable supplies. Then we sit, wait, and watch as the storm intensifies and heads right toward us. At mild winds, they name it a tropical depression. As the winds pick up in intensity, they name it a tropical storm, and when the winds reach a certain high level strength, it becomes a hurricane, and the experts give it a human name – Alex, Bonnie, and through the alphabet for each new storm. Not all tropical depressions turn into storms, and not all storms turn into hurricanes. There is no way to know ahead of time. But even with all the technologically advanced computer programs, expert scientists studying it, as well as predicting its path and intensity, these storms shift and change constantly, their only consistency being their unpredictability. And when they hit, they hit. No amount of preparation or expert knowledge is going to stop them.

I was thinking about those hurricanes last night, when the similarity between hurricanes and Alzheimer’s Disease occurred to me. Just as I compared Alzheimer’s Disease to the weather in an earlier blog, I thought about Hurricane Alzheimer.

It starts with subtle signs (that far away wave) that spouses, loved ones, and doctors dismiss, make excuses for, or miss altogether. Forgetting names, appointments, how to do part of a job that used to be automatic. It’s age; job stress; depression, or we barely notice enough of it to give it a name. If the symptoms become obvious, initial testing is done, and it may be given the name – Mild Cognitive Impairment. Not to worry, we are told. Not all Mild Cognitive Impairments turn into Hurricane Alzheimer. But as with hurricanes, there is no way to know or predict, in spite of what the experts think they know.

Before we move to a hurricane zone area, we learn about it. We read up on hurricanes, ask others who have experienced them, and prepare. We make sure we have stocked up on lanterns, batteries, battery operated radios and TV’s, water, non-perishable food, even a generator if we have the funds for such a luxury. 

When we hear about Alzheimer’s Disease, many people “prepare” for it. They keep their brains and bodies active and healthy, because study after expert study tells us those activities will “prevent” or at least hold off Alzheimer’s Disease.

But as with natural hurricanes, Hurricane Alzheimer cannot be prevented or stopped. Its path, intensity, unpredictability, twists and turns, will keep us guessing, learning, playing catch up, and cleaning up the destruction to our lives when it is over.

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The Alzheimer Spouse LLC
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