Before my mother's diagnosis with Alzheimer's, I had heard of the disease, but hadn't known anyone who had suffered from it.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
My mother had early-onset Alzheimer's, and it took her four years to die. She was only 44; I was 14.
Alzheimer's is a devastating disease. It was painful for me and my family to watch my grandfather deteriorate. We must find a cure for this horrible disease.
I am particularly interested in Alzheimer's disease and have been for some time now.
My mother had Alzheimer's, and it's a desperately, desperately cruel thing to witness.
Alzheimer's is a horrible thing. Some people are naive about it. They think, 'Oh it's just your memory,' but my mother was in terrible pain. Your body closes down. She didn't know if she'd eaten or if she wanted to eat. She couldn't remember how to walk. Towards the end, she didn't know us. It came gradually, then it got worse.
In my case, symptoms began to appear when I was only 57. In fact, the doctors believe early-onset Alzheimer's has a strong genetic predictor, and that it may have been progressing for some years before I was diagnosed.
Most Alzheimer's sufferers aren't diagnosed until their 70s. However, we now know that their brains began deteriorating long before that.
I think everyone knows someone who's battling with dementia or caring for a relative affected by it. I've been staggered by how commonplace it is.
I know three people who have got better after a brain tumour. I haven't heard of anyone who's got better from Alzheimer's.
My mother passed away of complications of dementia. As you get older, it really makes you realize how many people are touched by this disease.