I've reviewed multiple documentaries that revolve around the demoralizing and at times near degrading disease of Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease is a deeply personal disease and yet it is is becoming all consuming to the overall world population. The numbers of people afflicted with this mind erasing disease are climbing and they are climbing quickly. Fifty million people on planet earth are currently living with some form of dementia and that includes the most dreaded one of all, Alzheimer's disease.
My father was diagnosed with the disease at the young age of 69. What my family didn't know at the time was that those pesky personality changes that had been showing up for several years prior to the onset of the actual disease were the initial symptoms of the disease. My father lived with the disease for 12 years and in large part he lived a life full of love, compassion, mercy and grace. Most of the credit for this quality of life goes to my now deceased mother. My mom loved my dad with every single cell in her body. Love, real love is spontaneous; and my parents were amazingly spontaneous.
The documentary, Have You Heard About Greg? A Journey Through Alzheimer's with Faith, Hope and Humor is about journalist Greg O'Brien's experiences with the disease. O'Brien was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's at the age of 59. The film by Steve Ecclesine is an intriguing look at O'Brien's daily life. O'Brien states early on in the film that 60% of his short-term memory can be gone in 30 seconds. Stop and think about that. That is frightening. As the nation and the world ages and the population numbers grow we will continue to see more and more people with this shared experience.
O'Brien's situation may have been exasperated by two known serious head traumas he suffered, including a severe fall off of a bicycle. Needless to say, this is not the only way to get Alzheimer's, but we do know by the many studies conducted that head trauma and concussions are contributors to severe brain disease. One of the best documentaries you will ever see is Frontline: League of Denial. The documentary explores the National Football League and its players and their various issues with harsh brain injuries. Again, there are many reasons why one would get Alzheimer's disease and brain injury is just one of those reasons.
Fortunately for O'Brien he is surrounded by a loving family, including his wife, two sons and one daughter. One of the keys to surviving this disease with some semblance of dignity is to be engulfed with love from family and friends. Many people don't have this ring of love and devotion.
Some of the finest moments in this documentary are when O'Brien is sharing his inner thoughts with his Pastor. There are times in life when you just want to let your thoughts go unleashed and O'Brien does this frequently with his Pastor. There is a wonderful story that transpires between these two men about geese and how they fly in formation and how they take turns at the front. Going to the lead is an act of encouragement and a display of hard work. The geese take turns in their respective leadership roles. Relationships that work in life are in many ways the ultimate synergistic display in life. One hand does indeed wash the other.
Alzheimer's disease is different than other forms of dementia in that it isn't just the loss of cognitive skills, but it is the total breakdown of the physical body. O'Brien suffers from macular degeneration, stenosis of the spine and neuropathy from his knees to his feet. He is also incontinent.
The vast majority of people don't want to contemplate their own mortality, but we all will die, therefore contemplating death is not depressing. Contemplating the very concept of death can be cathartic. O'Brien has a deep spiritual resolve. The idea of not finding faith until you pursue faith is explored with his Pastor and when he says he wants to go home - needless to say, you believe him.
Greg O'Brien wrote a book about his experience with Alzheimer's and you can read the book to learn more about his journey with the disease. The book is called On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's.
Multiple neuroscientists and other medical professionals outline some ways to potentially delay dementia; and those points are provided in this poignant and revelatory documentary. They include:
1) Sleep - Get seven to eight hours per night.
2) Learn how to handle stress.
3) Interact with people. Do not isolate.
4) Physical Exercise - Walk, Cycle, Go the the Gym, Garden
5) Learn New Things. Continue to educate yourself.
6) Diet - Plant Based Diet, Mediterranean Diet, Fiber - A healthy gut, a healthy heart leads to a healthy brain.
Have You Heard About Greg: A Journey Through Alzheimer's with Faith, Hope and Humor is a film worth viewing.
Copyright The Flaming Nose 2022
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