Alzheimer’s disease, clinically described as a primary degenerative dementia, whose main symptom is a progressive loss of brain function, affects millions throughout the world; and World Health Organization (WHO), predicts that the number of cases of dementia will more than double by the year 2050.

In Brazil, the estimation is that the disease attacks 1,2 million people over 65. And the number of cases will more than double until 2030, according to the Brazilian Alzheimer Association (ABRAZ).

Among the diseases that cause dementia in the elderly population, specialists clarify that Alzheimer’s is the most common, and according to the president of ABRAZ, Fernanda Paulino, “There’s no cure for the disease, but the treatment in the initial stages of the disease may postpone in a year the symptoms and the complications”. 

History and concept - Alzheimer’s disease was described by the psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. When performing an autopsy, the German doctor found lesions in the dead brain that no one had ever seen before: it was a problem inside the neurons (brain cells), which appeared atrophied at many places around the brain, and full of strange plaques and twisted fibers, rolled up on each other.

Alzheimer’s also known as dementia, wrongly called by the folk “sclerosis” or decadence, is a degenerative illness of the brain. As a consequence, memory and brain function are affected, and other troubles arise, such as mood changes and disorientation in time and space.

Although Alzheimer’s is not contagious or infectious, it makes the person less able to take care of himself or herself (one’s daily needs), or manage his or her emotional life, etc. and, that’s why people become dependent on others to perform even the most basic tasks such as personal hygiene and eating. 

Causes – The cause of Alzheimer’s is not yet known to the orthodox medicine. There are several theories, but the only one accepted is that it is a genetically determined disease, not necessarily hereditary (transmitted throughout family members). 

Symptoms – It is possible to divide the condition into three stages: early, intermediate and terminal. 

Early stage. The disease usually begins between 40 and 90 years of age. In the beginning a few cases of forgetfulness happen, usually accepted by family members as part of the normal ageing process, but get worse gradually. Aware of the forgetfulness, the individual may become confused, aggressive or even experience some misconduct such as anxiety and depression.

We see the loss of recent memory, learning and retention difficulties, language disorders, progressive difficulties to deal with day-today activities, lack of personal are, irritability and disorientation, in this phase, however, patients are still alert and show a fairly good social quality of life. 

Intermediary stage. The patient becomes uncapable of learning and retain new information, depending more and more on others. Mobility problems begin to happen, communication gets impaired and demands more full-time care and supervision, even of day-to-day activities such as feeding, hygiene, dressing up, etc. Bladder control problems also start to happen (incontinency). 

Final stage. The patient is incapable of walking (bedridden), cannot talk and experiences loss of bladder and intestine control; there’s also difficulties swallowing food, which degenerates into the use of an enteric tube (ET). With that, the risk of pneumonia, malnutrition and ulcers increases dramatically.

Most of the time, however, the cause of death has to do with factors related to old age and not necessarily to the disease itself.

In other words, because Alzheimer’s is a terminal disease that causes a general decay in someone’s health, the most frequent cause of death is pneumonia, as the condition worsens the immune system deteriorates, causing severe weight loss, which increases the risk of throat and lung infections. 

Diagnosis – There are no specific tests that confirm Alzheimer’s without a doubt. The only sure test must be done by examining brain tissue through a biopsy or necropsy. In this way, the only probable diagnosis (and non-invasive) is done by excluding other causes of dementia through an analysis of the patient’s history (depression, memory loss associated with old age), blood tests (hyperthyroidism, vitamin B deficiency), tomography or resonance (multiple infarcts, hydrocephaly) and other exams.

There are a few marks, generally identified through blood tests, such as apolipoprotein E (APOE), whose results can show an increased chance os acquiring Alzheimer’s and are valuable in research, however, do not work for individual diagnosis. It is obvious that this does not stop that more sensible marks may appear in the future. 

Treatment – The so-called “orthodox medicine” (conventional) deems there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, meaning, therapy seeks to control the symptoms and the most employed medications are the anticholinerterase drugs, at least for the time being.

Besides that, without going against the itinerary proposed by orthodox medicine, the patient may seek help in energetic medicine (homeopathy and/or floral therapy) and can be prescribed as an instrument to prevent the worsening of the condition; without overlooking this kind of medicine (especially floral therapy) in the relief of the suffering of Alzheimer’s patients. 

Alzheimer’s and Spiritualism – Studies conducted by the Brazilian Spiritual-Medical Association refer to spiritual hypothesis for the occurrence of Alzheimer’s such as rigidity of character, guilt, severe states of obsession, depression and sickening feelings – hate and sorrow – especially when kept long term. 

Prevention - The most recommended prevention measures are the care with one’s physical and emotional health, intellectual labor, including jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, artistic activities as well as learning a foreign language, among others, and, especially, the interest for a psychological life, nurtured by noble values and objectives – in a clear opposition to a self-centered existence.

Yet, while the need for intellectual work demands attention with cognitive and mnemonic tasks, the processes of obsession, the states of depression and the rigidity of character (intolerance, impatience, etc.), among others, claim the need for the individual to assume a proposal of self-illumination – thus implying a doctrinarian study (uplifting reading), weekly if possible, going to the spiritualistic center for passes and fluildified water and the exercise of charity, which, together with praying, strengthens our spiritual immunity.

At last, the severe emotional difficulties serve well the practice of psychotherapy. The latter help overcoming the pains of the soul, in the realm of our “inner” enemies. 

Final appointments – Undoubtedly the increase in the number of cases of Alzheimer’s lately is an alert to all of us, mainly if we nurture a less fruitful life for the purpose of our evolution, that is, when we do not pay attention to the real purpose of our reincarnation program.

We must not ignore that Alzheimer’s is, above all, a disease that resonates with a dark and negative loneliness, for the sufferer starts living trapped in himself or herself. And this is why this evil – Alzheimer’s “annihilates the experience of time for the body, because it does not obey the Spirit’s command” (Iso Jorge Teixeira).

On the other hand, it is important to point out that in an interview given to the Spiritualistic Divulgers of Portugal in 2009, when they asked Divaldo Franco what the Spirits told him about the cure for cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer’s, the eminent orator replied: “I was informed that, for the time being, theses conditions are necessary for our self-enlightenment process”.

Therefore, without forgetting our transition period, we must, as spiritualists, look into the future with hope and, work towards making health one of the clear signs of of love in the edification of a more beautiful and happy human fate.

References: 

Doenças genéticas: Alzheimer. LEITE, Leonardo. Disponível em www.ghente.org/ciencia/genetica/alzheimer.htm

Associação Brasileira de Alzheimer – www.abraz.org.br

Associação Médica Espírita de São Paulo (AME) – www.amesaopaulo.org.br 
 

Notes from the author: 

The Canadian film “Away from her” (2006) deals sensibly with the problem of a couple who copes with Alzheimer’s in their old age.