National Geographic published an overview of a study that looks at the correlation between Alzheimer's patients and empathy. It's a great article. It ties together the way the brain makes connections and the way those with dementia interact with the world.
If you have spent time with someone with Alzheimer's you have experienced this and know it to be true. Even those who can no longer speak nod along in agreement, laugh when a joke is told and look distressed when someone is telling a story with an uncertain ending.
Scientific-minded individuals with personal experiences conduct research to validate what they have experienced. This gives us an opportunity to make progress. 18 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease. By 2025, this estimate is projected to grow to 34 million people, with the highest increase expected among developing countries.
I'm taking a cue from my empathetic friends with Alzheimer's and collecting stories about the disease and it's impact on our world.