A moment to remember

『失去了記憶 也就失去了靈魂』

第一次相遇：遺忘了的可樂
第一個吻：遺忘了的感覺　　　　　
最痛的意外：忘記你是誰


※【腦海中的橡皮擦】沒有一般愛情電影的煽情原素-生離死別，

導演李宰漢反而以失去記憶去訴說愛情的無常及傷痛，

他希望藉著電影的感染力，提醒大家要活在當下，珍惜生命的每一刻。

Quote: Forgiving is giving your hate just a little room in your heart. ^^

Well, by the way, I teared through the whole movie. The actor and actress are fanastic!

Something to be learnt-Alzheimer’s disease.

In the local film ``Nae Morisogae Chiugae (A Moment to Remember),’’ one of the latest tear-jerkers playing nationwide, a 27-year-old young woman named Su-jin is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) after marrying a carpenter who works for her father’s company. Starring the popular and attractive Son Ye-jin as the young woman and the equally popular Jeong Woo-sung as the carpenter, the film is built on the premise that it is possible for someone so young to become stricken with an ``old person’s disease’’ like AD.

Some of us might have scoffed at the improbability of the story. Others might have begun worrying whether our recent inability to remember a friend’s phone number is an early sign of AD. But before we jump to conclusions, let’s look at the facts.

Thanks to Ronald Reagan, November has been set aside as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in the United States since 1983. But while there is much information regarding the causes and preventive measures of this illness, scientists have still not found a cure and believe they may never get any closer than finding effective preventive medicine.

Alzheimer’s disease was discovered by a German doctor, Dr. Alois Alzheimer, in 1906 while observing the autopsy of an old woman with dementia, a term describing various brain disorders which result in confusion, a loss of memory and difficulty functioning socially.

When researchers opened the brain, they noticed two abnormal structures, known as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Plaques are abnormal build-ups of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid in the spaces between the afflicted brain’s nerve cells. Tangles are abnormal collections of twisted threads of a protein called tau within the neuron. It is not yet known whether these are the result of AD, or the cause.

There are really two forms of AD; late onset and familial. Late-onset is probably the type most of us are familiar with as it happens to older people. No one really knows why some people contract the disease, but one thing is certain, it is far more prevalent the older you get; the number of people being diagnosed with AD doubles every 5 years over the age of 65. It is believed almost 50 percent of those over 85 years of age are diagnosed with AD, while only around 5 percent of people aged 65 to 75 fall prey to the disease.

Familial Alzheimer’s on the other hand is extremely rare and may occur among those aged 30-60 years. But, as the name implies, it is hereditary. And although the youngest documented case was 28 years old, for Son Ye-jin’s character in ``A Moment to Remember’’ to have come down with this form of dementia at the tender age of 27 is about as likely as her CEO father allowing her to marry a carpenter.

The only exception would be if at least two other family members had also had early-onset AD. But as no mention of this was made in the film we have to presume that, yet again, filmmakers are taking some artistic license.

And what’s more, while both late-onset and familial AD are progressive illnesses that may last for up to 20 years or so, slowly developing from simple forgetfulness and mild depression, to full-blown loss of recognition and almost complete dependence on others for all daily tasks, familial AD, may also progress very quickly, with sufferers dying within a year. So it looks like Su-jin may just be one of the unluckiest people in the world.

Furthermore, due to the current inability to reverse the condition, the best we can do is to reduce our chances by taking notice of preventive measures.

Preventive Measures Against Alzheimer’s Disease

1. Keep physically active. A lack of glucose-metabolism has been found in the brain of both Alzheimer’s sufferers and those genetically predisposed to the disease, according to a study led by researchers at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Exercise, such as mild weight training, has been proven to drive glucose into the muscles and brain.

2. Keep mentally active. Develop new skills; encourage the brain to form new neural pathways. For example, learn a language or take up a new craft linking the hands and brain.

3. Eat fish. Cold-water fish such as tuna, sardines, salmon and mackerel contain significant amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids known as DHA, which are part of the structure of brain cells. Other excellent sources include sesame seed oil, flaxseed oil and most nuts. Taking Vitamin E supplements can also be beneficial in this regard. Furthermore, there is significant research indicating high cholesterol is linked to developing AD, so it is important to reduce ``bad fats’’ and consume more ``good fats’’ if you think you may be at risk or have been diagnosed with AD.

4. Raise your estrogen level. As a low-estrogen level post-menopause is considered a risk factor, many women may consider hormone-replacement therapy as an option.

5. Drink sage (Salvia lavandulaefolia or Spanish Sage) in tea form, take sage in capsule form or use as a herb when cooking. A study completed in 2003 by the Medicinal Plant Research Centre (MPRC) at the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria confirmed a centuries-old belief that sage aids memory.

6. Chinese health balls. Get yourself some Chinese health balls to roll around in your hands while you’re watching TV. The Chinese have used these for centuries to stimulate nerves in the hand and fingers which are thought to connect to the heart, internal organs and different parts of the brain, keeping the brain alert and aiding circulation. The monotonous movement also promotes a meditative state of calmness.

(courtesy of KoreaTimes)