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5 min
Thursday, September 21 will be World Alzheimer’s Day, a disease that causes 1.2 million French people to lose their memory. 225,000 new cases are detected each year. And sometimes, illnesses appear early, well before the age of 60. There are then very few reception structures. The 20 Heures team went to a center specializing in these “young Alzheimer’s”.
Their gaze is a little lost, their memory fades early. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before turning 60, they live together in a unique structure in Isère. At the foot of the Chartreuse massif, at the Maisons de Crolles, the day begins with a qi gong session. There are no white coats here, although each resident is accompanied by a caregiver. “The idea is to re-mobilize the body. Give it a little bit of energy again, because at the brain level, it’s more difficult”explains Éric Latil, adapted health sports teacher.
Like at home
The session ends with music. This is what Fatima particularly likes. She hums, but hardly speaks anymore. She lost words and some reflexes. She must be guided in all daily actions. No schedules, no constraints, the staff adapts to the needs and desires of residents so that they feel at home.
Among Our sources
Health Insurance website
Understanding Alzheimer’s disease, last paragraph
Foundation for Medical Research, “Everything you need to know about Alzheimer’s disease”
Non-exhaustive list