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Preface
On a sunny morning, I went to the geriatric department of the hospital to do a routine check-up for a patient with Alzheimer's disease.
When I walked into the consultation room, I was greeted by the kind and somewhat blank eyes of the old man Zhang Ruizhen.
Her daughter Chen Fang was gently supporting her, her eyes full of faint worry.
"Hello, Dr. Zhang." Chen Fang greeted tiredly, "Mom's recent situation has been a bit recurrent, sometimes she seems to be completely awake, and sometimes she is as helpless as a child.
I'm really confused, how the hell is she supposed to spend the rest of her life?"
I looked at the slow and somewhat confused movements of the old man Zhang Ruizhen, and I couldn't help but have a doubt in my heart:
When people reach their old age, at the twilight of life, what age is the happiest? Is there an optimal state of old age? I am determined to find answers for patients and families.
The ancients said: "Life is rare for seventy years". Traditionally, the life cycle of a person peaks between 60 and 70 years old.
However, with the improvement of modern medical standards, the life expectancy of human beings is also increasing. Nowadays, it is no longer uncommon for people to live to be 80 or even 90 years old.
A recent study shows that long-lived elderly tend to have some common characteristics: maintaining good health, having a stable mood, and maintaining a sharp mind.
These traits are conducive to the enjoyment of a high quality of life and the prolongation of life in the elderly. So, in the long journey of life, which stage is the happiest and most fulfilling?
With this doubt in mind, I began to carefully observe and understand the situation of the elderly Zhang Ruizhen and his family.
It turned out that Mrs. Zhang was a veteran dancer who had been active on the stage for decades and had a good reputation.
Now in her eighties, she has retreated into the background, and her life is gradually shrouded in the haze of dementia.
Chen Fang has followed her mother on the stage since she was a child, and although she did not engage in art later, she has always been her mother's most selfless supporter.
Now that her mother is entering her old age, Chen Fang feels a heavy sense of responsibility and helplessness: "My mother is like a carefree child, I have to take care of her all the time.
But sometimes she suddenly becomes very sensible, and it makes it difficult for me to grasp ......."
When faced with Alzheimer's disease, I can't help but look for answers in medical theory and practice.
Alzheimer's disease is a common chronic degenerative brain disease, which can lead to many impairments in memory, thinking ability, behavior ability, personality characteristics and other aspects, which brings a heavy burden to patients and their families.
It is normal for the brain to experience some degree of atrophy as we age.
However, dementia is a pathological change, and its pathogenesis is related to a variety of factors, including genetics, cerebrovascular diseases, trauma, etc.
At present, there is no specific treatment drug that can completely cure dementia, and only drug and non-drug therapies can be used to delay the progression of the disease and reduce the burden of symptoms.
After several months of observation, I gradually discovered that Zhang Ruizhen's condition also showed cyclical characteristics.
Sometimes her symptoms are really severe, delirious and childish; But there are also stages when she can maintain a relatively stable state, with quick thinking and emotional peace, like a happy wise man.
I can't help but wonder if it is this sharp contrast and fluctuation that has become the source of the greatest suffering for patients and their families.
In the twilight of life, people are in the last stage of their lives, and what they desire should be peace, happiness and dignity, rather than such sudden troubles and struggles.
Taking stock of Zhang Ruizhen's life, I found that her life trajectory is roughly in line with the conclusions of modern medical research:
Between the ages of 60-70, the golden age of relative physical and mental integrity is the best age to enjoy life.
After entering the age of 80, the decline of various functions accelerates, dementia and other geriatric diseases begin to rage, and the quality of life also declines.
But at the same time, I realized that the value of life cannot be measured entirely by age or illness.
Just like the old man Zhang Ruizhen, even under the cloud of dementia, she can still maintain unprecedented calmness and happiness in some moments, and when she looks back on the glory of her past artistic career, she also reveals her deep pride and satisfaction.
I told Chen Fang about my observations and thoughts. She nodded thoughtfully, "Doctor, you have a point.
Although her mother experienced hardships in the past, her love and dedication to the dance career made her brilliant life.
And now, although she suffers from dementia, when she briefly regains her clarity, I can see the yearning and hope for life in her heart. "
In this way, happiness in life does not depend on a specific age group, but is a life attitude and spiritual pursuit that has been accumulated for many years and internalized in the heart.
As long as we humbly learn from our mother's spirit of never giving up and cherish the present, we will definitely be able to live a happy life in our old age. Chen Fang's eyes flashed with hope again.
After bidding farewell to Chen Fang's mother and daughter, I deeply realized that everyone's definition and pursuit of "happiness" is different, but only by treating each stage of life with an appreciative and tolerant attitude can life shine the brightest.
As a doctor, I certainly want to use my professional knowledge and skills to solve the problems caused by the disease of patients.
But at the same time, I will listen patiently to the voices of patients and their families, and use empathy to understand their situations and needs.
Only by combining medical knowledge and humanistic care with love and wisdom can we bring comprehensive physical and mental recovery to our patients, allowing them to regain their happiness and dignity as much as possible.
This is my philosophy and pursuit as a geriatrician, and I will continue to strive for and practice it in the future.
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(The story in the article is purely fictional, if there is any similarity is purely coincidental, if the body is not well, seek medical help in time)