Alzheimer’s: A Guide to Misinformation in the Media.
Alzheimer’s disease can be misunderstood and misrepresented not only in articles but also in TV shows, movies, newspapers, and even news segments. In this post, I am going to focus on a few media clips that have misrepresented Alzheimer’s/dementia. Throughout the years, there have been so many stories about this disease that have been completely or even partly false, and this post is to guide those who want to know more about some of the basics of this cognitive disease.
Let’s start with some media clips/newspaper articles that I have found. YouTube was a resource that I investigated to find some of the media that has some false information as well as some misleading information. I also found a movie that completely misrepresented how Alzheimer’s can look and can lead individuals to act. Even a newspaper published an article that advertised a drug that they said would help with reversing memory loss when it was never tested to be true.
An example of signs and symptoms being misinterpreted was found in a YouTube video (I will link the video below). This video is from a news clip sharing a story about a man who was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s at a young age when he sought help from a doctor. He was told he had Alzheimer’s when he was just having trouble sleeping. This video showed me that there are instances where you need a second opinion and to trust your instincts when you hear news that does not feel right, but also knowing that searching symptoms and diagnoses on the internet can be worse when you are looking for answers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klf01zj9Sso
How do I know if I have Alzheimer’s symptoms?
Signs and symptoms can be easily mistaken or seen as Alzheimer’s symptoms when they are also commonly associated with old age. Knowing the difference between old age and having dementia/Alzheimer’s symptoms can be easily determined. The most important way to know the difference would be to see your primary physician who can refer you to a neurologist if they have further concerns.
Common signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Memory loss.
- Getting lost frequently.
- Mood changes.
- Difficulty with daily tasks.
- Losing track of time.
- Easily agitated.
- Poor judgment and problem-solving skills.
- Forgetting loved ones.
Can Movies Be Deceiving?
There are also instances where movies can steer your idea of Alzheimer’s disease in the wrong direction. In my search to find media that was misrepresenting Alzheimer’s, I came across a movie that could be harmful, because it gave the wrong impression and idea of this disease. From the symptoms listed above, the woman in this movie had none. It seemed to me that the movie just said, “Let’s say she has Alzheimer’s”, but then had her act cognitively “normal”.
The wrong image of how something is can be discouraging and this movie made me feel that way because I know that it was not giving the message that they were trying to. They wanted to show a cute movie about how living with Alzheimer’s can be as an individual or caregiver but instead, they barely scratched the surface. For instance, the woman went behind her husband’s back to check herself into a long-term care facility because she was deteriorating, but if that were the case, she would not have the capability to make that decision on her own.
The movie is called “Away from Her.” https://www.amazon.com/Away-Her-Gordon-Pinsent/dp/B000WU7R5Y.
False Advertising…
Newspapers are published so that readers can find things that can help them, or so I thought. As I mentioned earlier in this post, I had found a newspaper article that had an advertisement for a drug that would reverse any memory loss that had occurred. When I looked further into the article, I found other articles about this drug that said it was never tested which meant that this drug was not legitimate. After seeing this, I thought how awful it is that so many people look at newspaper ads and do not expect them to be misleading.
When you are looking in the media for answers, you come across various information (good and bad) and it can be overwhelming. Before you listen to the media and the internet, it is better to talk to a professional before proceeding with any medication or personal arrangement. So, when looking at media here is what you need to check:
- Who wrote it and who reviewed it?
- What are their qualifications?
- Are they sponsored by medical organizations or by federal government agencies?
Newspaper article- The Denver Post “New Pill Reverses Memory Loss in an Amazing Way”
References:
Photo credit: <a href=”https://visualhunt.co/a7/c14cc23d”>Thomas Cizauskas</a> on <a href=”https://visualhunt.com/re10/e9e80c57″>VisualHunt.com</a>
CBS Mornings. (2017, February 9). Ohio clinic accused of false Alzheimer’s diagnosis [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klf01zj9Sso