Vishruth Week 13: Memories: A Fragile Entity
Memory paves a road—one that stretches years, even decades-long in human time. The final destination? A snapshot. An image that no one else on this planet has access to. You may laugh or you may cry by staring at this image, but it’s yours and it cannot be stolen. Memory does not always have an emotional touch to it, though. For example, remembering a neighbor’s name shortly after being introduced would require the use of memory. Even realizing at 9:50 PM “shoot, I have a blog due today” is a faculty of human memory. But as teenagers, many of us struggle to appreciate memory as a gift to the human race. Therefore, below I shed light on the lives of people who do not enjoy some of the privileges we do in terms of memory.
Neurodegenerative diseases are terrifying. Not only because they are one hundred percent incurable but also because of some of the nasty things they do to patients. I shuddered the first time I saw illustrations of the grimy tentacles of neurofibrillary tangles and the ominous shadows of B-amyloid plaques taking over a brain. Just take a look at it yourself.
Let me take a step back. Does Alzheimer’s or Parkinson's strike a chord with you? Well, these are variations of neurodegenerative disease—disorders that result in the death of neurons in our brain. They ultimately render the brain incapable of performing many of its functions—ultimately stripping away memory. The progression of neurodegeneration is inevitable: the memory declines gradually, almost cruelly, as the bulb of short-term memory fuses, and soon after, long-term memory goes out.
In 2020, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Early in onset, he would ask, “shall we sit for dinner,” having had his meal just 15 minutes prior. My sister and I would actually find this quite comical. But within a year, his memory dwindled to a terrible point at which he could not recognize his own family. That’s when it hit. This disease had so cruelly thrown out 75 years of memories down the drain, never to be found again. And along with these memories bonds.
Neurodegeneration is unpredictable. That means our memories could be with us one moment and gone the next. That’s why I want us to appreciate every single opportunity we get to take that road back down memory lane.
Neurodegenerative diseases are terrifying. Not only because they are one hundred percent incurable but also because of some of the nasty things they do to patients. I shuddered the first time I saw illustrations of the grimy tentacles of neurofibrillary tangles and the ominous shadows of B-amyloid plaques taking over a brain. Just take a look at it yourself.
Let me take a step back. Does Alzheimer’s or Parkinson's strike a chord with you? Well, these are variations of neurodegenerative disease—disorders that result in the death of neurons in our brain. They ultimately render the brain incapable of performing many of its functions—ultimately stripping away memory. The progression of neurodegeneration is inevitable: the memory declines gradually, almost cruelly, as the bulb of short-term memory fuses, and soon after, long-term memory goes out.
In 2020, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Early in onset, he would ask, “shall we sit for dinner,” having had his meal just 15 minutes prior. My sister and I would actually find this quite comical. But within a year, his memory dwindled to a terrible point at which he could not recognize his own family. That’s when it hit. This disease had so cruelly thrown out 75 years of memories down the drain, never to be found again. And along with these memories bonds.
Neurodegeneration is unpredictable. That means our memories could be with us one moment and gone the next. That’s why I want us to appreciate every single opportunity we get to take that road back down memory lane.
Hi Vishruth! I enjoyed your informative but also extremely relatable blog considering I suffer from forgetfulness which has cost me many late assignments which could have been avoided. However, memory, as you discussed in your heartfelt blog, is much more important than remembering minor tasks to do; rather it is the basis of our lives and enjoyment. Thus, I ultimately agree and empathize with your characterization of neurodegenerative diseases being quite a terrifying fate for someone you love or yourself. As a result, I can understand and personally feel for you the stark and quite shocking reality it is when someone you know can not recognize their own family. I also have had a distant family member who suffered from Alzheimer's. Although I did not know him well, my uncle was very close with my father and nearing his death, he could not remember the names of any of his sons. It is quite a heartbreaking disease which can take a toll on loved ones. Thank you for sharing your story Vishruth.
ReplyDeleteHi Vishruth! I found your blog to be a powerful and moving discussion of neurological diseases. It led me to have a deep appreciation for my memory, which I realize has been of great avail in my life. Especially in the past few years, this ability has been crucial to my academic success. From last year in AP European History, which demanded recollection of more than five centuries of history, to this year in AP US History and AP Lang, which have gone further in their memory requirements. For both classes this year, I have had to harness the power of my memory to store a large amount of facts and details. As I reflected on this while reading your blog, I became extremely grateful for this ability. The image that you included to demonstrate the horrors of these diseases effectively conveyed your point. It was terrifying to imagine that my brain could be attacked by those things without any indication until it was too late. In my opinion, the brain is one of the most important parts of our bodies. I value it over many other aspects because I consider it to be the driving force behind my functioning. As a result, I was frightened by your discussion of neurological diseases and how they could take over the body without any warning. I am sorry for your grandfather being a victim of this disease. From your explanation of it, no one deserves to have this inherent human ability stripped away. However, it just reminds us to be grateful for our bodies.
ReplyDeleteHey Vishruth, your blog allowed me to realize how vulnerable humans are to diseases, like the neurodegenerative ones you discussed; it evoked fear in me for my future and how I would turn out once I start aging. Your in-depth detailing of the adverse effects of these diseases and connection to the appreciation of memory by exemplifying your grandfather, prompted me to have a deeper appreciation for my mind and its ability to form memories. In particular, I like how you described a person's memory as a "snapshot" to emphasize that every person is connected to their past through their memories, therefore drawing importance to it. One thing I would do to enhance the quality of your blog is to place the story of your grandfather at the beginning instead of the end, this would help your readers see your connection to the topic early on, enhancing ethos, while forming an emotional commitment with the topic by empathizing with you, appealing to pathos. However, besides this minor detail the inclusion of this story still drastically improved your work. Overall, your blog is very well-written and effectively conveys the significance of a person's memory by explaining the dangerous of neurodegenerative diseases.
ReplyDeleteHi Vishruth! Your blog eloquently portrays memory as a cherished aspect of human experience while shedding light on the harsh realities of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Through your personal account of your grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's, you create a powerful emotional connection that resonates with readers. Also, I would like to express my sympathies for you and your family for having gone through this. This personal touch humanizes the topic, making it relatable and prompting reflection on the fragility of memory. The analogy of memory as a road leading to unique snapshots effectively conveys its significance, capturing readers' attention from the outset and setting the stage for a meaningful exploration of the subject. Your clear explanations of neurodegenerative diseases and their effects on the brain contribute to the educational value of the blog, making complex concepts understandable to all of your audience. By describing the physical toll of neurofibrillary tangles and B-amyloid plaques, you provide concrete examples that illustrate the devastating impact of these conditions on memory and cognition. Furthermore, your closing message urging readers to appreciate their memories and cherish every opportunity to reminisce serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of living in the present moment. Overall, your blog effectively combines personal narrative with educational content to highlight the significance of memory and raise awareness about the challenges faced by those affected by neurodegenerative diseases.
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