Last week was declared as the mental health week. Programmes were shown on the TV, discussions were held on the radio and seminars were held around the country throwing light on peoples’ deteriorating mental health. This begs the question. Are forgetfulness and failing mental health comparable to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? As old age creeps upon us, we find that gradually we tend to forget things. The first thing we notice is that we find it difficult to put names to faces.
We struggle to remember people’s names or other important things about them. Then forgetfulness takes a hold on us and it is a downhill ride. One may get away with ones physical problems by modern medicines but the deterioration of the grey cells in the brain cannot be halted. Nothing can be done to reverse the process as the damaged cells cannot be replaced. Imagine your plight when you go out of the house and forget where to return to your home? Or keep forgetting where you have placed your keys or wallet or do not remember whether you have turned the television off before retiring to bed at night. With modern methods and excellent health care more and more of us live longer and longer.
But when dementia and Alzheimer diseases get a grip on us, although hale in body, our minds are unable to keep pace with today’s fast moving life and modern technology.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
