Young People Taking an Interest in Alzheimer’s
June 18, 2007 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
It excites me when I see young people taking an interest in Alzheimer’s disease, both from the research aspect and the caregiving role. This would indicate to me that we are rasising a young generation who care and are concerned about others.
When I read Liz’s post mentioning Melanie Kabinoff and her research with earthworms to aid Alzheimer’s, I was delighted that this young woman’s concern for a grandfather, who had experienced Alzheimer’s, translated itself into research which, hopefully, will aid future Alzheimer’s victims.
This reminded me of an incident involving my granddaughter several years ago when my mom was alive and residing in a nursing home. Kara was about six years old then, but often visited Mother with me. Someone asked Kara why she visited her great grandmother when the older lady no longer recognized her.
Without hesitation Kara replied, “Because it makes her happy.”
Perhaps through young people like Melanie and Kara (now 16 years old but remembering our visits to Great Grandma), others their age will develop a concern for Alzheimer’s patients and family members, too, and desire to help bring them joy or find a cure for this disease.
If Melanie happens to read this, I’d enjoy being updated periodically on the Alzheimer’s research project.
Hello, My name is Melanie Kabinoff… I really do love to hear that people enjoyed the fact that i was doing something i love… It means a lot to me that someone really does care about what i’m doing outside of my science competitions… I have recently started my work on finding a way to actually prevent the Alzheimer’s from even accuring… I will be competing again this year and hope to have even more success… And I will tell exactly what i tell everyone else, I hope to one day make informational videos… I want to educate our future… I want them to know that it’s okay to ask why… And I want them to know that they too can look for answers… And I want them to know that the people who came before them cared to, that they were looking for reasons why certain things happen… And I want to know what caused the things that happend to my Grandfather…
Melanie, thank you so much for visiting Alzheimer’s Notes and updating us on what you’re doing to increase Alzheimer’s awareness and working on finding a way to prevent Alzheimer’s. I encourage you to continue your work and continue to keep in touch. I hope your work will encourage other young people to become involved with Alzheimer’s in some way.