The Ignorance Monster

The stigma of neurological diseases: of damage or disorder residing within us from the neck up.

It has been this way at least since the dawn of the Sumerian culture in Mesopotamia around 3500 BC.

Things that effect the body are viewed one way. Things that effect and disturb the mind are viewed in quite another way. 

If you have survived a cancer tumor, a heart bypass operation or are successfully living with residual HIV, often as not, there are organizations and individuals that wish to decorate you with their version of a “Purple Heart”, various ribbons, bracelets, jewelry, “Boobies” wrist bands etc. You are then proclaimed a survivor, a fighter, a hero. Bodily ailments and life-threatening ones are looked upon with a compassionate eye. The same goes for those that affect our children.

There is nothing wrong with this kind of compassionate recognition. 

Not so, however, when it comes to diseases of the brain, your neurological system, your mind. Involve the brain and people have a different reaction altogether. It usually stirs up unease, apprehension, aversion. Family and friends tend to head for the life boats or quietly bail over the side of the ship. 

Why do folks react in this fashion and why do we continue to not question and challenge it?

It is my contention that as a society, we continue to grapple with perhaps a 5500 year old ignorant and prejudicial bias with neurological illnesses. 

This needs to categorically change.

Diseases that affect portions of or all parts of the brain,  or the mind can strike a person with the same randomness as a disease or medical condition that strikes any other part of the body.

Neurological diseases have nothing to do with character flaws or imperfections. They do not arrive at your doorstep because of the lack of strong moral fiber or the abundance of it.

Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the neurological diseases I am writing about here.

It is high time that we make the effort to slow down, pull to the curb and come to a stop. Next, devote the time to read up on what this disease really is, and just as important, what it is not.

Alzheimer’s is real.  It can now be imaged and seen by the way it physically shrinks the brain, the cellular damage and dead zones it leaves, and the beaver dam build up of toxic protein plaques and tangles that are left behind. A wasteland where once resided thriving memories, passionate emotions and treasured life experiences.

Our choices are clear.

Continue on our path of ignorance, prejudice and bias towards AD or change our view by educating  and empowering ourselves better. 

Less than 100 years ago, our game plan with respect to Leprosy was still one of ignorance, prejudice and bias. Courageous and compassionate doctors helped lead the way with research, medical improvements and factual ground truth.

30 odd years ago,  our game plan with respect to HIV was one of ignorance, prejudice and bias. Happily, we elected to change up on our game plan. We chose to educate ourselves and begin to eliminate the social divide or chasm of “us and them.”

It is now nearly 2012 and we face another chasm of “us and them” with respect to AD.

Time to light up a god-damned bonfire within the blackened cave of ignorance!

Jeff Dodson

December 4th 2011