Unveiling the Emotional Struggles of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Deeper Look

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease tends to affect the elderly, which causes them to lose old and new memories. For most, losing memories becomes confusing and frustrating. Some patients don’t lose all their memories. They just can’t find the right words for what they want to say. Hence, the Alzheimer’s Association chose to write, “I know what I want to say. I just can’t find the words.”. Early signs of possible dementia are the loss of communication skills, loss of sense of direction, and forgetting basic life functions, i.e., personal hygiene. The suicide rate of patients affected by Alzheimer’s is significantly higher when compared to the rates of other dementia patients. The amount of emotional strain and discomfort put on those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is astronomical. Alzheimer’s Association’s ad explicitly tells you that she’s confused and distressed but implicitly says that she’s hurting emotionally and knows a cure doesn’t exist.

Depicting Desolation: Visual and Emotional Elements

When looking at the advertisement, you see an elderly woman who looks depressed. She stands with a white sign that describes her thoughts because she doesn’t know which words will get her point across. The tone of the ad is sad and sympathetic towards the woman. When you look at the background, you see that it’s blurred. Maybe it’s for visual aspects, but in reality, it’s blurred to show that she can’t remember her past or recall what has happened earlier in her life. The creators of the ad want to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s and the charities attached to it. Alzheimer’s Association is one of the largest donors to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and helping provide care. By advancing their research, their goal is to eradicate Alzhiermers completely. Since the ad is in a magazine whose target audience is business owners and entrepreneurs of an older, more mature demographic, the creators expect the reader to know the general definition of Alzheimer’s Disease and how it makes the affected feel.

Alzheimer’s Impact on Caregivers and Families

During the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s, it’s common for a patient to experience some form of depression. With the help of the Association, treatment that is given can make a large difference in their quality of life. As of now, there is no cure or a way to slow down the natural effects, but thanks to the donations and funding provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, there are “drug and non-drug options that may help treat symptoms” (Alzheimer’s Association).

Most people think of Alzheimer’s as a disease that affects memory and thinking, mostly due to lapses in the beginning stages of the disease. In the early stages, people start to misplace objects, forget faces and names, and have difficulties recalling recent events. Toward the end, “people may completely lose the ability to speak” (Harvard Medical School). At the bottom of the ad, the Association added a short description of where to find information about Alzheimer’s. The ad appeals to ethos or values by spreading information about the first signs and warnings of potential dementia.

Common feelings caregivers and families often experience are “guilt, grief and loss, and anger.” (Alzheimer’s Society Canada). Alzheimer’s is often referred to as a family disease because of the strain and sadness of watching someone you love slowly deteriorate. Alzheimer’s can lead those diagnosed at a loss of words, which makes the people who have a fully functioning vocabulary feel guilty and sympathetic. The Ad uses facial expressions and body language to emote the woman’s feelings and overall demeanor. The older woman is stressed and frustrated. Purple is a sympathetic color and is often used to evoke a feeling of close relationships and sensitivity. The Ad uses pathos or emotions to attract a reader or viewer to gain more knowledge about Alzheimer’s and the effects it has on a person’s emotions.

Conclusion

Alzheimer’s can lead to depression of the ones affected and the family and friends of those. While you’re still young, take advantage of your youth and ability to have a fully capable memory, speaking your mind without delay and feeling no confusion. In recent research, it’s been shown that head trauma is linked to Alzheimer’s, especially if the affected is at any point unconscious. You can help reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by protecting your head. Alzheimer’s Association utilizes the appeals of value (ethos) and emotions (pathos) to persuade a viewer to investigate and gain knowledge about Alzheimer’s.

References

1. “The Alzheimer’s Action Plan: The Experts’ Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems” by P. Murali Doraiswamy and Lisa P. Gwyther
2. “On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s” by Greg O’Brien
3. “Somebody I Used to Know: A Memoir” by Wendy Mitchell