At 87, she was losing memories to Alzheimer’s. Then she learnt to spell her name again
At 87, Tara Pal was experiencing memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease. As the disease progressed, she struggled to recall even the simplest things and her identity began to fade. Her grandson introduced her to alphabet blocks, which helped her recall her own name, TARA. Dr. Prasun Chatterjee, a geriatrician, explained that Alzheimer's affects memory formation, but doesn't destroy all types of learning.
Some memory systems can remain intact even with severe cognitive decline. In another case, 78-year-old Kamla Mehra from Noida began asking the same question repeatedly, indicating early signs of cognitive decline. Her family sought help, leading to a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. India's growing elderly population faces a growing dementia crisis, with 7.4% of Indians aged 60 and above affected.
Early detection and intervention are crucial to improving the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
