Kids Meet a Woman with Alzheimer's | Cut

Summary

In this heartfelt and humorous conversation, Miriam, a 70-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease, shares her personal experience of living with memory loss. She explains how her brain cells are deteriorating, drawing a lighthearted comparison to Pac-Man eating away at her mind. Despite the challenges, Miriam maintains a positive outlook and relies on technology like Google Calendar to help with daily tasks. The conversation highlights the impact of Alzheimer's on memory, independence, and emotions, while also showcasing the importance of hope, support from friends, and finding humor in difficult situations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Miriam introduces herself as a retired lawyer, now struggling with Alzheimer's disease, which causes her to forget things.
• 😀 Miriam explains that Alzheimer's is a disease where brain cells die, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline.
• 😀 The concept of 'genetics' is briefly mentioned as being related to a person's genes, but Miriam becomes confused and forgets the full explanation.
• 😀 Miriam humorously describes Alzheimer's by comparing it to Pac-Man eating her brain cells, illustrating the progressive nature of the disease.
• 😀 Justin suggests an imaginative solution to Miriam's condition, proposing a 'ghost' in her brain to combat the 'Pac-Man,' which Miriam laughs at.
• 😀 Both Miriam and Justin share experiences of forgetfulness in everyday life, such as misplacing remote controls and forgetting tasks.
• 😀 Miriam discusses her use of a Google calendar to help manage her daily life, substituting for her failing memory.
• 😀 Miriam reflects on the impact of Alzheimer's as she is gradually losing the ability to perform basic tasks, like eating and navigating her own apartment.
• 😀 Miriam describes an experience of getting lost in her own apartment for several minutes, a symptom of her Alzheimer's.
• 😀 The concept of 'sundowning' is introduced, explaining how Alzheimer's patients experience worsening confusion and memory issues in the late afternoon and evening.
• 😀 Despite her condition, Miriam remains hopeful for a future cure and emphasizes the importance of staying positive to manage her symptoms.
• 😀 Miriam lives alone but has a support system of friends who check in on her regularly, as she doesn’t have a caregiver.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the conversation?

The main topic discussed in the conversation is Alzheimer's disease, its impact on memory, and how the speaker, Miriam, is coping with the condition.

How does Miriam describe her experience with Alzheimer's?

Miriam describes Alzheimer's as a disease that causes her brain cells to die, which leads to memory loss. She compares her brain’s decline to the Pac-Man character, which is going around 'eating' her memories.

What symptoms of Alzheimer's does Miriam mention experiencing?

Miriam mentions experiencing memory loss, difficulty remembering her age, forgetting where she is, and losing the ability to perform basic tasks. She also refers to 'sundowning,' a state where cognitive functions worsen in the evening.

What does Miriam do to help cope with her memory loss?

To cope with her memory loss, Miriam uses a Google calendar on her laptop and cell phone to keep track of important tasks, essentially substituting her brain's functions with the calendar.

What is sundowning, as mentioned by Miriam?

Sundowning is a symptom of Alzheimer's where cognitive decline worsens in the late afternoon or evening, making it difficult to follow conversations or remember details.

Does Miriam live alone, and if so, how does she manage?

Yes, Miriam lives alone but is supported by friends who check up on her regularly. She also maintains a positive outlook, even though she struggles with her memory.

How does Miriam cope with the potential of losing basic skills like eating?

Miriam accepts that she may eventually forget how to do basic things, including eating, and expresses the hope that there will be a cure to stop Alzheimer's from progressing.

What does Miriam think about the possibility of a cure for Alzheimer's?

Miriam remains hopeful that a cure for Alzheimer's will be found, and she focuses on not getting upset, as doing so could make her condition worse.

What is the role of humor in Miriam’s approach to dealing with Alzheimer's?

Humor plays a significant role in Miriam's coping strategy. She uses humor to lighten the mood, for example, by comparing her brain to Pac-Man, and this helps her stay positive despite the challenges she faces.

How do Miriam’s friends support her as she deals with Alzheimer's?

Miriam's friends provide emotional support by checking up on her regularly, offering companionship, and helping her through moments of confusion or forgetfulness.