My first encounter with Alzheimer’s was when I was 13 years old and I watched my 70-year-old grandfather fight one of his sons. I didn’t understand why they were fighting, and it terrified me to see it happening. Once my other uncles broke up the fight and everything seemed to have begun to calm down, I asked my grandfather what was wrong. His response was one that I was not prepared for. He told me that he didn’t know why that man was in his house and talking to him like a child. I asked him what man and he pointed at my uncle. I told him that was his son and he said that was not his son and proceeded to watch TV as if nothing had happened. I had such a hard time trying to figure out what had just happened and why my grandfather said that. My uncles later told me that my grandfather was losing his memory. …show more content…
This disease can last for years and even a lifetime for most. Alzheimer’s doesn’t just fail to replay your old memories; it profoundly changes both your memories and you as well. It is known to affect individuals age 65 and up. However, it can inflict younger people as early as the age of 40. Most physicians don’t understand why early onset of Alzheimer’s is happening within the younger generation, but some scientists have discovered that it may be due to genetics. Alzheimer’s is a transformative event that requires us to acknowledge the new needs of a rapidly changing self. It has touched the lives of many people since its discovery by Alois Alzheimer at the start of the 20th century. The disease’s effect on the brain causes you to lose some—if not all—of your memory. You eventually forget who you are, where you are, who your relatives are, how to get home, or even how to eat. This can be a personal tragedy when it happens to you as well as the loved ones who bear the burden of caring for