Nowadays, people are constantly juggling demanding work schedules and multiple commitments, making it easy to forget things. Aging can also contribute to occasional memory lapses. However, when forgetfulness becomes frequent, it may be a sign to seek medical advice.
Mark Hatzer noticed his mother struggling with memory loss, and as her condition worsened, she was eventually hospitalized and diagnosed with dementia.
Unfortunately, it got even worse over time so at one moment Sylvia couldn’t even recognize her own son.
“When my mum was in the hospital, she thought it was a hotel—the worst one she had ever stayed in,” Mark recalled. “She didn’t recognize me and even called the police, believing she had been kidnapped.”
Mark was heartbroken. Having lost his father in 1987, he now felt like this illness was taking his mother away too.
“We were a duo, always together,” he said. “I was devastated and had never felt so alone—there was no other family to turn to. Overnight, we went from a happy family to one in crisis.”
However, this devoted son wasn’t about to give up that easily. He did lots of research and decided to fight the dementia with the right foods.
They learned how the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries are less likely to suffer from dementia because of their eating habits, so Mark created for Sylvia a special diet.
The foods in the diet are made up of plenty of “brain-boosting” foods, two among them being walnuts and blueberries.
“Everyone knows about fish but there is also blueberries, strawberries, Brazil nuts and walnuts — these are apparently shaped like a brain to give us a sign that they are good for the brain,” Mark explained.
Other key foods in her diet included broccoli, oats, dark chocolate, green tea, and sweet potatoes.
Over time, she started regaining parts of her memory back.
“It wasn’t an overnight miracle, but after a few months, she began remembering things like birthdays and started to become more like her old self—more alert and engaged,” he explained.
With a combination of physical and mental exercise, her condition began to improve. However, progress wasn’t immediate—it required a lot of courage, determination, and support from family and friends.
“People often think that once you get a diagnosis, your life is over,” Mark said. “You’ll have good days and bad days, but it doesn’t have to be the end.”
Since the diet showed positive results, the Alzheimer’s Society has shared Sylvia’s recipes and exercises on their blog, hoping they will help other patients manage their symptoms.
“It’s fantastic that Sylvia along with her son Mark have taken action to create a personal plan that works well for her dementia diagnosis,” said Sue Clarke from the Alzheimer’s Society.
“There is currently no cure or way of preventing the progression of the condition, but taking regular gentle exercise, eating a healthy diet and doing cognitive exercises can help someone with dementia manage their condition more effectively.”
Sylvia and Mark’s efforts may help a lot of other people feel better. Their commitment and devotion led to Sylvia being invited to one of Queen Elizabeth’s garden parties.
We are really glad for Sylvia. She is one lucky lady for having raised such an exceptional son like Mark.
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