85-year-old who has cared for a dementia wife for 20 years

Husband... "I want to talk with you again"

 

A broadcast video of a man in his mid-80s caring for his wife with dementia for over 20 years always touches my heart.

I wash and feed my wife every day with a weakened body.

The image of lovingly combing my wife's hair is full of love.

 

An elderly husband caring for his wife at home in an era where nursing hospitals are all-purpose facilities...

 

His wish is to have deep conversations just like when his wife is healthy.

 

How should we live in an era with 1 million dementia patients?

 

 

My wife's daily caregiving journal... Why didn't my husband develop dementia?

 

 

My husband's daily battle ends with writing a diary.

This is a note-style record of caregiving from early morning until my wife fell asleep.

There are over dozens of these diaries.

 

Writing a diary every day stimulates brain activity.

Writing by hand while recalling what you did each day greatly contributes to maintaining cognitive function.

In fact, dementia experts suggest that activities such as keeping a diary, studying foreign languages, and drawing can be beneficial.

It emphasizes that stimulating the brain can help prevent dementia.

Wouldn't it have been nice if my wife, who developed early-onset dementia in her late 50s, had kept a diary?

 

 

Today, a message about looking for people again... Over 1 million dementia patients in Korea.

 

 

The number of dementia patients in our country has surpassed one million this year.

According to the National Medical Center - Central Dementia Center, dementia patients aged 60 and above

This year, the number has exceeded 1 million and continues to increase.

 

On average, there are 40 reports per day and over 14,000 reports annually of missing dementia patients who have gone out.

Local governments are sending a series of text messages to find missing patients.

Is there a way to prevent or delay dementia?

 

 

Consistently eating eggs and fish... Exercise, keeping a journal, and studying foreign languages are helpful.

 

 

Alzheimer's disease accounts for about 70% of dementia causes, while vascular dementia makes up approximately 20%.

In addition, there are alcohol-related dementia and others. Stroke (ischemic stroke - hemorrhagic stroke)

Vascular dementia caused by brain blood vessel damage due to sequelae can be prevented and managed.

Preventing stroke is the top priority.

 

Alzheimer's disease has few definitive preventive measures, but maintaining cognitive function

Eat eggs, legumes, and oily fish (mackerel, saury) that are rich in good choline frequently.

 

Physical activity, journaling, studying foreign languages, knitting, etc.

Activities such as hand-based tasks and social activities are helpful.

 

You need to use your brain a lot in everyday life to prevent degeneration.

 

 

Women patients are twice as many as men... The most dangerous side effect of menopause

 

 

There are about twice as many female patients with dementia as male patients.

 

The loss of female hormones (estrogen), which protected blood vessels, bones, and brain nerve cells before menopause, has a significant impact.

 

Women's life expectancy is 86.6 years, which is longer than men's (80.6 years).

They live 6 years longer, but their period of illness is 5 to 6 years longer.

 

Most of the time living longer than men is spent suffering from diseases such as dementia.

The most dangerous side effects of menopause are dementia and stroke.

 

From before menopause, it is necessary to prepare for the risk of dementia through diet regulation, exercise, and mental activities.

 

Reporter Kim Yong (ecok@kormedi.com)