[NNN Documents] Even if you forget me... a couple's thoughts on "presenile dementia" NNN Selection

More than 6 million people nationwide are said to be affected by dementia. Early-onset dementia, which develops in those under age 65, highlights the economic and psychological problems faced by people in their prime working age. As the practical application of therapeutic drugs to suppress the progression of dementia accelerates, we will shed light on the lives of young-onset dementia sufferers today.
Do you still recognize me?
Kato Katsumi: "Do you see it? It's the ocean. Ma-chan, open your eyes a little. Hey, Ma-chan. When we were here last time, we stayed at that hotel over there, didn't we? Remember?""
Mr. Kato Masaya's presenile dementia developed nine years ago. He was an accountant for a department store and a foreign pharmaceutical company. It was on the day of an interview for a new job that his wife, Katsumi, noticed something was wrong.
Mrs. Katsumi : "I received a call from the company and they said, "People at the company are angry. He came late and didn't even greet anybody". "What does that mean?" asked they angrily. He got to the building, but he didn't know which room he needed, so they said, "That's weird"."
Dementia was overlooked at the initial diagnosis, and it was diagnosed as a mental disorder caused by stress.
Mrs. Katsumi : "We were said something like, "It's depression from leaving the company. There's nothing wrong". If there is nothing wrong with your brain, you can manage it somehow if it's just a feeling."
It took Mr. Masaya three years to be diagnosed with dementia. He wished to continue working in accounting, but it was not possible.
There are notes Mr. Masaya wrote to remind himself of the seeing off and meeting on return procedure at the caregiver job he finally found.
Mts. Katsumi: "He wrote these notes and tore them up. These are the notes after he tore them up. There are a lot of them. Do you remember it, Ma-chan? You wrote it."
"He's a serious person. He has to work. I appreciate that he has to support me. Those three years were really...There are a lot of things going on right now, like not being able to eat anymore, but I really respect his efforts during that time. It's amazing."
Mr. Masaya's caregiving work tasks description is the proof of his struggle to preserve somehow his fading memories. One day suddenly little by little.... the reality of not being able to do the same things as before will come.
♢ ♢
In the summer, Mr. Masaya and his wife Katsumi decided to visit an aquarium of fond memories for them.
Mrs. Katsumi: "This is a photo from when I participated in the show. I got into an awkward situation, because it was raining, and there weren't many people in the audience, so I had to show up. I kept telling this story for a long time."
"Though I said, "I'm embarrassed to be out there", they were taking pictures of me. I think it was a good time..."
Mr. Masaya is no longer able to take pictures. Mrs. Katsumi asked Mr. Shimosaka Atsushi, who also suffers from dementia, to record their trip. They have been a couple for 26 years. The only person Mrs. Katsumi can look back with is her husband Masaya.
The stage (on the show) they stared at 13 years ago not to miss the best moment to take a picture.
Mrs. Katsumi : "He was probably shedding tears. I saw it. He was looking with his eyes opened. I thought he might have remembered something."
♢ ♢
Will dementia eventually lead to complete memory loss?
Mrs. Katsumi: " "You don't call my by my name these days, but do you understand this?'" I once asked him. Then he really made a face like "Sorry!". He made a face like "I'm sorry!" "
Mr. Masaya: "' I said, "Wait a bit, please" "
Mrs. Katsumi: "He made a face "I'm sorry!" and it was something amazing. His face was like " Oh dear! I don't call you by your name, but I fully understand it's bad that I don't do this." Even though he doesn't say my name... he understands, I'm sure he understands. I'm confident that he has not forgotten at all."
"It's not that memories are lost, it's just that the drawers that hold them no longer open properly," Mrs. Katsumi is convinced of this.
Mrs. Katsumi: " "'What kind of life do you want to lead?" the care manager asked him. He answered, "I want to set my wife free." I was so moved by that. It was very typical of my husband... It really made me think, "I guess I'll have to see what happens in the end." "
Mr. Masaya: "Thank you"
Production: Yomiuri TV
*This video is a re-edited version of one broadcast on "NNN Documents" on September 10, 2023.
[NNN Documents '23]
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