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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : October 8, 2014 10:46 AM IST
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday released a book titled 'A World Within', which is based on the travails of coping with a parent's dementia. 'It's based on parent-child relationship,' writer and former journalist Minakshi Chaudhry told IANS. 'This story is a sensitive tale, the story of a man dying in slow motion. This is a tale of a man building bridges to nowhere as he loses his memory and is struck by a deadly disease - Alzheimer's,' she said. (Read: Exercise could boost cognitive skills in people suffering from dementia)
'But this journey has life lessons too... Dementia and Alzheimer's are still mysteries. We just have a combination of vitamins, anti-depressants and sleep-inducing pills as a prescription. The number of the elderly will increase in coming decades as average life expectancy will rise. Many of them will suffer from diseases, including dementia/Alzheimer's, and will need loving care, attention and proper handling,' says the author of the 241-page book published by Hay House, India. (Read: What every dementia or Alzheimer's caregiver ought to know)
'This is a big social issue that needs to be taken care of,' said the Shimla-based writer. Her earlier books include 'Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills', 'Love Stories of Shimla Hills' and 'Whispering Deodars: Writings from Shimla Hills'. (Read: Dementia sufferers set to treble by 2050)
What is dementia?
Dementia refers to a group of degenerative mental diseases in which there is a serious loss of cognitive function which goes beyond normal ageing. Symptoms include confusion, mood swings, long-term memory loss and a gradual loss of bodily functions. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. It is caused due to plaque deposition in the brain's neurons which affects its functioning and causes it to die. Why this happens is still not clear though research suggests it's linked to genetic susceptibility and mental age. Read more about Dementia causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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