Alzheimer's Disease
In the portion of The Madonna's of Leningrad that takes place in the present day, Marina's family must come to terms with the fact that her increasing difficulties remembering current events are much more than memory lapses that come with age. Although her husband, Dmitri, has tried to hide the seriousness of her condition from their two grown children, it becomes undeniably evident over the course of a weekend spent together that Marina is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America defines Alzheimer's disease as "a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes." According to the Foundation, as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer's Disease, and that number will increase significantly as the Baby Boomer generation continues to age. The Foundation also estimates that 1 in 4 family members cares for someone with Alzheimer's Disease.
For those interested in learning more about this devastating disease, the following information may prove useful.
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America defines Alzheimer's disease as "a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes." According to the Foundation, as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer's Disease, and that number will increase significantly as the Baby Boomer generation continues to age. The Foundation also estimates that 1 in 4 family members cares for someone with Alzheimer's Disease.
For those interested in learning more about this devastating disease, the following information may prove useful.
For additional information about Alzheimer's Disease...
Online Resources:
Professional Organizations
The official websites of both the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America offer a wealth of information regarding the disease. Serving victims, their families, and caretakers, both organizations provide extensive information regarding the nature of the disease, its symptoms, methods of treatment, current research efforts, educational literature, recommended reference resources, helplines, assistance in locating medical professionals specializing in the treatment of the disease, and help in locating local support groups for caregivers.
PBS Documentary: The Forgetting
The critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary The Forgetting, inspired by the book of the same name by David Shenk (see below), can now be viewed online. The documentary chronicles the devastating effects of the disease on several families, and provides insight into the disease by noted researchers and medical professionals. In connection with the program, and in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, the portion of the PBS site supporting the program also provides educational information for victims and their families.
A clip from the documentary can be viewed below.
A clip from the documentary can be viewed below.
Suggestions for additional reading....
The Forgetting: Alzheimer's, Portrait of an Epidemic
by David Shenk
An award-winning title that examines the social, medical, and spiritual implications of the devastating disease. Shenk discusses the causes and effects of the disease, the search for a cure, and the impact a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease can have on patients and their families.
Read more about this title on Amazon.com
The 36-Hour Day
by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins
Now in its 5th edition, this title by the Johns Hopkins Press is considered to be a definitive guide for caregivers of individuals suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia. Topics discussed include the progression of the disease, the many emotional and practical challenges of caring for loved ones suffering from dementia, and various long-term care options for those who can no longer manage in-home care.
Read more about this title on Amazon.com
The Long Goodbye by Patti Davis
Patti Davis, daughter of former President Ronald Reagan, writes movingly of her feelings of helplessness as she lost the father she loved to the ravages of Alzheimer's Disease. Davis describes her father's bravery in divulging his condition to the public, his subsequent withdrawal form public life, the heartbreaking and unrelenting pace of his mental decline, and the effects his disease had on relationships within the famous family.
Read more about this title on Amazon.com
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Still Alice is a work of fiction by author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova. The best-selling, award-winning novel, which was published in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, tells the story of 50 year-old Alice Howland, a Harvard professor and researcher diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease at the height of her professional career. The novel offers a moving account of the increasingly debilitating effects of the disease from the victim's point of view, its impact on her personal and professional lives, and the lives of her husband and grown children.
Read more about this title on Amazon.com