How I'm preparing to get Alzheimer's - Alanna Shaikh

TL;DR

Alanna Shaikh is preparing for possible Alzheimer's disease by developing hands-on hobbies, strengthening her balance and muscles, and becoming kinder and more loving. Her father began showing symptoms about 12 years before the talk and was officially diagnosed in 2005. She also eats right, exercises daily, and keeps her mind active, but says nothing offers 100% protection. Read on for her three-part preparation strategy.

Transcript

I'd like to talk about my dad my dad has Alzheimer's disease he started showing the symptoms about 12 years ago and he was officially diagnosed in 2005 now he's really pretty sick he needs help eating he needs help getting dressed he doesn't really know where he is or when it is and it's been really really hard my dad was my hero and my mentor for ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👯 Alzheimer's disease affects a significant number of people globally and is expected to increase in prevalence in the coming years.
• 😨 Denial or prevention are common reactions to the fear of dementia, but there is no foolproof method to prevent it.
• 💍 Engaging in familiar activities can bring happiness and make caregiving easier.
• 💪 Physical symptoms of Alzheimer's can include loss of balance and muscle tremors.
• 💪 Engaging in activities that improve balance and increase muscle strength can help counteract these symptoms.
• 🥰 Kindness and love remain even in the face of cognitive decline.
• 🔇 The speaker seeks to develop these qualities in themselves to better cope with the potential challenges of Alzheimer's.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is Alanna Shaikh preparing to get Alzheimer's disease?

She is focusing on three areas: changing what she does for fun, building her physical strength, and becoming a better person. She is developing familiar hands-on hobbies, improving her balance and muscles, and trying to become kinder and more loving.

Q: Why is Alanna Shaikh preparing for Alzheimer's instead of relying only on prevention?

She eats right, exercises every day, and keeps her mind active because research recommends those actions. However, she says research also shows that nothing will provide 100% protection, and Alzheimer's tends to run in families.

Q: What hands-on hobbies is Alanna Shaikh learning for possible dementia?

She is drawing more, learning basic origami, and teaching herself to knit. Her goal is not mastery, but to make these activities familiar enough that her hands will know how to do them if her brain can no longer guide her.

Q: Why are familiar activities important for people with dementia?

Familiar, hands-on, open-ended activities can help people with dementia remain happy and busy. Shaikh says engaged people are happier, easier for caregivers to look after, and may even experience slower disease progression.

Q: What physical symptoms of Alzheimer's does Alanna Shaikh describe?

She describes loss of balance and muscle tremors in addition to cognitive symptoms. These changes can make people afraid to walk or move, leading them to become less mobile.

Q: What exercises does Alanna Shaikh use to prepare for Alzheimer's symptoms?

She practices yoga and tai chi to improve her balance. She also does weight-bearing exercise to build muscle strength and preserve mobility for longer if physical decline begins.

Q: What did Alanna Shaikh learn from caring for her father with Alzheimer's?

She saw her father lose his intellect, sense of humor, and language skills while remaining kind and loving. His love for his family and caregivers continued to make them want to be around him, even when caring for him was difficult.

Q: How many people does Alanna Shaikh say are living with dementia globally?

She says about 35 million people globally are living with some kind of dementia. She adds that the number was expected to double to 70 million by 2030.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Who: Alanna Shaikh is preparing for possible Alzheimer's based on caring for her father and researching life with dementia.

• When: Her father began showing symptoms about 12 years ago and was officially diagnosed in 2005.

• Number: About 35 million people globally live with some kind of dementia, with 70 million expected by 2030.

• Number: Eating right, exercising every day, and keeping the mind active do not provide 100% protection.

• Step 1: Build familiar, hands-on hobbies through drawing, basic origami, and knitting.

• Definition: Useful dementia activities are familiar, hands-on, and open-ended, helping people remain happy and busy.

• Step 2: Practice yoga and tai chi for balance, plus weight-bearing exercise for muscle strength.

• Definition: Physical Alzheimer's symptoms include loss of balance and muscle tremors, which can reduce mobility.

• Step 3: Become kinder and more loving so those qualities may remain despite cognitive decline.

• Who: Shaikh's father remained kind and loving after losing intellect, humor, and language skills.