For the first time in the Croatian language, an illustrated book on Alzheimer’s has been published. The book, “Alzheimer - Twelve Anecdotes” (“Alzheimer – dvanaest anegdota” / ISBN 978-953-176-874-0), was authored by Professor Ninoslav Mimica, MD, PhD and Marija Kušan Jukić, MD, PhD and was fully illustrated by Vlatko Šagud, academic sculptor. The publishers are Medicinska naklada, Klinika za psihijatriju Vrapče and Hrvatski liječnički zbor from Zagreb, Croatia. The publication is recommended by the Croatian Alzheimer Alliance.
All twelve of the anecdotes are true stories, told and shared by family members of people with dementia, or carers. Illustrations give an artistic impression of the texts, and are both personal and emotive. The original paintings done for this book were exhibited during the Croatian Congress on Alzheimer’s Disease (CROCAD- 18). The conference, which attracted international participation, was held in Novigrad (Istria), Croatia, from 3-6 October, 2018.
Throughout the short anecdotes, the most common symptoms of dementia - forgetting recent events, disorientation in time and space, mistrust, losing things, not recognising family members, ‘wandering’, etc. - are explored. Behind each of these brief, illustrated stories there is a unique person, and this book is a homage to all those who live with Alzheimer's, or another type of dementia; as well as to their carers and family members. Alzheimer Croatia believes this new book can serve as a useful educational guide for lay people, to help them recognise the symptoms of dementia.
