Lapses

When I got back from the salon after having my hair relaxed last Wednesday, I was surprised to find our housekeeper, Ate Dory, in a snit, greeting me with "where have you been, I've been looking all over for you." The uncalled for "greeting", if you can call that a greeting, would have irked me but since I was feeling beautiful coming from the salon, I just smiled and said, "Galing akong parlor, di ba obvious? giving her a flip of my no tangles, no tikwas, at di buhaghag hair. "Nagpunta ka kila Pat (my family's stylist)? E bakit sabi ni Kuya (referring to my Dad who didn't go the office because of sore throat and colds) e natutulog ka daw. Kala ko nga binibiro mo ako dahil la ka naman sa kwarto mo. Nahilo na ko sa kakahanap sa'yo dito sa bahay nagpaparlor ka pala!" My eyebrow raised when I heard what she said. "Ha? E si Daddy pa nga nagsara ng pintuan sa akin ng umalis ako e. Labo naman nun!" Then we laughed out loud with Ate Dory having the last say of "Si Kuya talaga, matanda na!"

This morning over breakfast, that incident last Wednesday was again brought up. Not particularly sure how or why but it was just thrown into the conversation that we were having while eating breakfast. Oh, I just remembered. It was when Ate Dory brought out the bukayo for dessert when my brother was looking for the sweetened peanuts that my Dad brougth home from their company outing in Batangas last weekend. She was explaining where the other pasalubongs went that lead to another one of my dad's memory lapse anecdote. She was telling us that the other afternoon, my Dad was asking whether or not he had merienda when the evidence that he did was right in front of him. Ate Dory again then recounted how her conversation with my father went regarding my whereabouts last Wednesday which went on like this:

AD: Kuya, si ________? (she went looking for me because it was already dinner time and I still haven't gone down)

Dad: Nasa taas, natutulog pa ata.

AD when upstairs to look for me and according to her, "Nahilo na ko sa kakahanap sayo, e wala ka naman pala dito!" She then went downstairs and told my Dad that I wasnt upstairs.

Dad: Ha? Wala ba sa taas?

AD: Oo, wala sa taas. Di ba nagpaalam sa'yo?

Dad: Ah...Ewan ko. Kunin mo nga ang cellphone ko ng matext kung na saan na siya.

Like before, we laughed at my Dad's short-term memory lapses. But unlike before, I sobered quickly, afraid that those incidents might mean something more than just mere symptoms of aging. My mind chose to remember The Notebook, the first (and last as of to date) Nicholas Sparks book that I read and loved for its heartfelt/wrenching dialogues, which I feel weren't given justice in its film adaptation *sigh*. I quietly asked myself, "Were those lapses signs of Alzheimers?"

I know that I'm being extremely paranoid here but I cant help it. My dad IS old. And although we don't have a history of that disease with most my relatives dying due to heart attack and high blood pressures and he hasn't had any of those episodes that were written in The Notebook (talaga bang gawing basehan ang novel ni Nicholas Sparks noh?!), the thought still doesn't give me comfort. In this day and age, anything can happen! So, to at least assuage my fears (unfounded or not), I yahoo-ed Alzheimers and here is what I got from http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw136623/hw136626

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition that affects areas of the brain involved in memory, intelligence, judgment, language, and behavior. It is the most common form of mental decline, or dementia, in older adults.

Alzheimer's disease is more severe than the mild memory loss that many people experience as they grow older. Alzheimer's disease also affects behavior, personality, the ability to think clearly, and the ability to carry out daily activities. Close family members usually notice symptoms first, although the person affected also may realize that something is wrong.

What causes Alzheimer's disease?
It is not clear why these changes in the brain occur, but research to discover the cause of Alzheimer's disease is ongoing. Although most people who develop Alzheimer's disease do not have a family history of the condition, you are at increased risk for the condition if a member of your family has it.

What are the symptoms?
Typical early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include:
Memory loss.
Inability to use judgment and make decisions.
Confusion about what time and day it is.
Getting lost in familiar places.
Difficulty learning and remembering new information.
Difficulty expressing himself or herself.
Decreasing ability to perform everyday tasks like cooking a meal or paying bills.

As the disease progresses, these symptoms get worse. The person may also develop strange new behaviors and withdraw from family and friends. Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia are common; some people may become verbally or physically aggressive or abusive. Eventually, the person may forget how to perform basic tasks such as eating, dressing, bathing, using the toilet, or getting up from a bed or chair and walking.

How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed after a careful medical history and physical examination, evaluation of the person's mental and functional status, and selected lab tests and imaging tests, such as CT and MRI scans, to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. Imaging tests may identify subtle changes in structures of the brain that may relate to Alzheimer's disease, but they may not provide enough evidence for a diagnosis.

How is it treated?
While there is not yet a cure for Alzheimer's disease, much can be done to maintain quality of life and help the person stay active. Treatment focuses on several areas, including improving memory and daily functioning, dealing with new and unusual behaviors, and treating other conditions that commonly occur with Alzheimer's disease such as depression. Medications, including cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine, may temporarily improve memory and thinking problems. Other treatment includes making sure the home is safe and providing supportive care as the condition worsens.

Since the average life span has increased over the years, Alzheimer's disease is becoming a more common problem. If you are a caregiver for a spouse or parent with Alzheimer's disease, the demands can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining. With support, education, and planning, caregivers may find ways of making life easier for the person they take care of and for themselves.

What I read STILL didn't give me comfort, particularly when I read what my Dad forwarded* me in the email which was, to say the least, thought provoking and tearjerking. The opening slide already had my eyes misting and by the end of the show, I was crying.

I really hope that its just all paranoia on my part and nothing more. That those short term memory lapses of his are nothing more than just symptoms of aging. Nonetheless, notwithstanding this hoping and wishing of mine, I still plan on suggesting that he see a neurologist to be sure. Good luck to me on how to tell him!

*if you want to see the forward, click here: http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/andybluetwinkle/lst?.dir=/Mail+Attachments if that doesn't work, just leave a comment with your email address and I'll send it to you a.s.a.p. It's really worth seeing, I tell you; really worth it.