Abstract

Alzheimer’s can be a devastating disease to observe in others. From a patient’s perspective, it can be frightening, too, as memories fade away. This puzzle graphic considers the physical and emotional experiences of brain deterioration.

 

Figure. The Fading Mind of a Patient With Alzheimer’s

Media

Pencil drawing.

 

Working closely with many nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease allowed me to see what they and their families endure. Patients with Alzheimer’s often do not have insight into how their minds disassemble; this puzzle graphic explores this phenomenon explicitly and starkly, using vividly contrasting black, white, and gray shading. It is important to encourage patients with Alzheimer’s to connect with others. Meeting persons with Alzheimer’s where they are in the present moment and assuring them that they need not face their disease progression alone is critical.