Observation No. 24: Preventing Alzheimer

People generally think that playing Mahjong can prevent Alzheimer, and Singapore has just completed a 2-year research and found that shopping is far more effective.The research was felt to be very significant for an ageing population, because medication aside, doctors now have a better idea what kind of social activity is more effective in reducing the onset of Alzheimer.

Our Place Comments

The majority are trained to solve problems at a symptomatic level. So, when they find that Alzheimer patients exhibit a lack of mental agility, they think that the solution is to look for ways to stimulate mental activities. It sounds so logical to them. But what about the cause?

Is this not another illustration of a futile attempt trying to prevent disease without even knowing what the cause is?

To prevent Alzheimer, shopping or playing mahjong is clearly not the answer. What is needed is for us to first get out of this kind of kindergarten approach to problem solving.

We need to look for the cause now, without the presumption that it is complicated and mysterious and can only be left for the experts to figure out. For if we don’t, our mentality will forever be stuck at this pre-Alzheimer phase, believing that shopping or playing mahjong is the way to prevent Alzheimer, and we will not want to think commonsense and feel deeply enough to care for ourselves.

By Siok Khoon
Oct 2007, Singapore

P.S. And I’d like to add an appropriate ending here as suggested by Ray ---

“So, this leaves us with nowhere to begin except with this proven formula of fasting, sunshine, pure eating and love. It will send us home to ourselves where the most care is needed. And there we will find ourselves in the moment.”

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