Alzheimer's Disease: When They Don't Know You Anymore

Watching someone struggle with Alzheimer's as the disease robs them of all their memories is a heart-wrenching experience.  Sandra Day-O'Connor, the former Supreme Court Justice, watched as her husband forgot who she was and took a girlfriend at the residential facility where he was cared for along with others struggling with Alzheimer's.  Fortunately, she knew enough about the disease to understand and, while it was hurtful, she knew not to take it personally.

And Then It Gets Worse...

As the disease progresses, the problems move from not remembering and recognizing to becoming less and less communicative at all.  It is then that the feeling of despair can be the worst.  Your loved one is there, but not there at all.

The one area of the brain that seems to escape the worst devastating effects of Alzheimer's is the part that deals with music. There are countless cases of music 'waking up' a person with Alzheimer's just enough for a glimpse to shine through.

Even a person who has been non-verbal for a long time can sometimes mouth the words to a song or even sing them. While that is not the same as carrying on a conversation or recognizing loved ones, it is a huge blessing for those around to see that they can at least connect with them in some small way and see a smile.