| The Memory Loss Tapes is the first part of the | | | | mortality treated so realistically or with as much |
| HBO series The Alzheimer's Project, and it's an | | | | impact in any film. For parents, I would warn you |
| extremely powerful documentary that touches on | | | | to either prescreen this for your children, |
| the most basic human emotions, those that flow | | | | especially those under ten, or counsel them |
| naturally from love, caring, and mortality. The film | | | | before viewing. It's something we'll all face, but it |
| was brilliantly constructed by producer-directors | | | | may be distressing for young viewers to actually |
| Shari Cookson and Nick Doob to slowly reveal the | | | | see in reality. |
| progressive stages of Alzheimer's in seven | | | | The saddest part of this illness to me is that it |
| different patients, and just as importantly, to | | | | robs its victims of their memories at a stage in |
| show how the families of each have to cope with | | | | life when these are likely their most cherished |
| different aspects of the disease. | | | | possession. As a child, we would visit my |
| The first patient, Bessie, has only mild symptoms, | | | | great-grandmother in her nursing home, but she |
| so we get to see her as a lively, outgoing, and | | | | never remembered who we were, and she lived |
| funny person. She knows what's coming | | | | to be ninety-nine. I would have loved to have |
| eventually but is still enjoying every day to its | | | | heard her stories that began around 1870, and |
| fullest. Another patient, Fannie, is losing her ability | | | | just imagine the century she was able to witness. |
| to drive her car, and with it her independence. Joe | | | | Hopefully this film will instill a desire in many to |
| keeps a blog of his decline and can feel his mind | | | | become healers or medical researchers, and bring |
| slipping away. Yolanda thinks her reflection is a | | | | an understanding of the heavy cost of all terminal |
| new best friend. Woody can't remember his wife | | | | illnesses on the families and friends of the patients. |
| but can still remember song lyrics and sing with | | | | We should all be aware now that new biotech |
| his old group. Josephine's daughter has had to | | | | research is necessary to cure this and similarly |
| fence in her property to keep her mom from | | | | debilitating illnesses, and that money wasted on |
| wandering away. The patients shown exemplify | | | | destructive goals is being diverted from these |
| the progression of the disease by revealing their | | | | more humane purposes. |
| everyday reality. | | | | Many elderly patients don't have any remaining |
| The most gripping part of this film deals with | | | | family, as I found out when my mom was in a |
| someone in the final stages of life, and the | | | | nursing home with Parkinson's. Many eat alone and |
| devastating effect it has on his family. In a heart | | | | never have visitors, something we should never |
| wrenching revelation, the man's wife admits | | | | allow to happen. Visit as many of these people as |
| feeling selfish for wanting to keep her husband | | | | you can, their smiles will be the best reward you'll |
| with her as long as she can, despite the fact that | | | | ever receive. |
| he has "no life." I don't think I've ever seen | | | | |
