Words Jamila Douhaibi
Photo Wind Gypsy Photography
Patricia is a 75-year-old former executive and business owner who has Alzheimer’s Disease. Unfortunately, there is still stigma against many diseases that countless people face throughout their lifetimes. But diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s need to be highlighted in our society to enable those facing new unknowns, and those already living with them, to understand the different options available that may help to combat or slow down what they’re going through.
I recently spoke with Patricia, who has faced both breast cancer and is now living (and thriving) with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Patricia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. She says that 2023 was a “whole year of recovery.” Following this difficult time, she started noticing that she was losing her short-term memory, but she knew that “chemo brain” is a common cancer side effect. She says “I knew from a young age that I had a really good brain,” because her brain has always been the thing that she could depend on. Patricia went from advanced grade school classes to university, and is fully bilingual in English and French, as well as being a best-selling author.
In response to her memory loss, she went to Jubilee Hospital where she received a memory test called MoCA – Montreal Cognitive Assessment. This series of tests looks at a person’s memory, attention and language skills to identify any cognitive impairment. When Patricia received the results that she was having cognitive decline, she says “I was hysterical.” She immediately thought about the worst-case scenario. She still remembers that it was July 18, 2024 when she received the Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Further testing showed that Patricia “had the Alzheimer’s gene. There was no escaping the diagnosis. It was going to happen no matter what.” She was angry and sad but also realized that there was no way she could have done anything to avoid this inherited outcome.
Deciding to focus solely on her health and what she could control, Patricia organized to give her business to one of her good friends. Patricia started researching Alzheimer’s. She found two physicians – Dr. Dale Bredesen and Dr. Heather Sandison – who were both doing work and have published books on addressing and even reversing Alzheimer’s in some of their patients. Patricia and her husband, who she says has been amazing since day one, went to California to visit Dr. Sandison. Patricia says that in medicine, the answer is often prescription drugs, but that Dr. Sandison has a different approach that works on diet and lifestyle.
Patricia says “I’m doing everything I can to keep my brain working,” which includes shifting to the Keto diet, adding yoga and Pilates to her weekly exercise routine, avoiding stress and anxiety wherever possible, and ensuring she sleeps in a very dark, cool environment each night. She has also included MAiD as one of her options and says, “maybe I’ll never need it,” but it’s good to know it’s there. Early discovery of memory loss and knowledge of options is something she emphasizes.
The restrictions of the Keto diet take time to become familiar with. Patricia says that she has received help and support from a variety of people, but no one as much as her husband. They’ve been married for over 40 years, and after her diagnosis, her husband took cooking lessons from their daughter so that he could help make low-sugar, high-protein meals.
Based on research done at the University of Victoria, a choir called Voices in Motion was created for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. Music can aid cognitive activity, help with communication and even support memory. Voices in Motion puts on concerts throughout the year and Patricia says it’s a supportive space for people at different stages of the disease.
The Saanich Peninsula is a small network of communities, so Patricia decided to remain anonymous but hopes for a future with less stigma, saying: “why should we be embarrassed? It’s a disease!” The effects of Alzheimer’s ebb and flow but through her diet and exercise regime, Patricia feels positive for the future and says “there is life after this type of diagnosis.”
