One of the grislier consequences of Alzheimer’s disease is that it
places its victims in almost precisely this position. Yes, their minds
are going. It isn’t so much that they don’t believe the diagnosis as that,
by the time it can be made, they cannot understand it.
Yes, their minds are going. It isn’t so much that they don’t believe the diagnosis as that, by the time it can be made, they cannot understand it.
That would seem to apply only if the diagnosis is made very late. Plenty of people know about their condition and must watch as their minds steadily deteriorate. See, for example, Terry Pratchett’s “Living With Alzheimer’s” documentary.
Many Thanks! I was relying on Sherwin B. Nuland’s description of it in a chapter in his “How We Die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter ” . That was published in 1994. I guess earlier diagnosis is feasible today.
Even if they did, would you believe them?
One of the grislier consequences of Alzheimer’s disease is that it places its victims in almost precisely this position. Yes, their minds are going. It isn’t so much that they don’t believe the diagnosis as that, by the time it can be made, they cannot understand it.
That would seem to apply only if the diagnosis is made very late. Plenty of people know about their condition and must watch as their minds steadily deteriorate. See, for example, Terry Pratchett’s “Living With Alzheimer’s” documentary.
Many Thanks! I was relying on Sherwin B. Nuland’s description of it in a chapter in his “How We Die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter ” . That was published in 1994. I guess earlier diagnosis is feasible today.