It all started one morning at the breakfast table together with his girlfriend, who works as a cabin crew. – It was she who first pointed out that I had begun to remember poorly. I could ask where she was going to fly today, and I would also ask her the same question five minutes later, because I had forgotten what she had answered, says Ingebrigt Steen Jensen. On 17 December 2021, the author and sports manager, who among other things has made himself known for his commitment to the football club Stabæk, is informed that he has Alzheimer’s disease. Ingebrigt Steen Jensen in 1992 when he worked in the JBR advertising agency. Photo: Pål Hansen / NTB – It was a shock. It came like lightning out of the blue. Although my boyfriend had pointed out that I messed up a lot, I didn’t imagine this. He quickly found that he had to process the shock. For the author, it was natural to write about it. It has become the book “Before I disappear”, which will be published on 5 October. Skammen Jensen has heard Alzheimer’s referred to as the “disease of shame” several times. – In a way, it becomes the least heroic disease you can have. He believes this disease is not something you should try to hide, or be ashamed of, because it strikes almost completely randomly. – It’s not because you smoke, or have sat on the sofa and eaten a burger. The disease just comes, and picks out those of us who will get it, he says. Facts about Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that is one of the most common causes of dementia. The disease attacks a part of the brain that is crucial for episodic memory. The cells in the cerebral cortex break down and are replaced with deposits. Most people affected by Alzheimer’s are older, but one in ten is under 65 when the disease breaks out. The disease begins with the loss of new memories, and difficulties in learning new things. Eventually, old memories also fade, and the patients lose track of time and place. Eventually, you lose the ability to walk and carry out everyday tasks. 70,000 Norwegians suffer from dementia. Of these, around 60 per cent are Alzheimer’s patients (©NTB) Normally, Tormod Fladbyer, professor of neurology at the University of Oslo, believes that openness about the disease is the way forward. – This disease is very common, so it is very worthwhile that Ingebrigt Steen Jensen writes about this, he says. He completely agrees with Jensen that the disease is not something to be ashamed of. – It affects so many patients and so many families, so that someone goes around thinking that this is something that should be hidden is very unfortunate. HELP: Jensen hopes the book can be of help to those who are ill, and the people who care for them. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news Hope it can be an inspiration Jensen hopes the book can be of help to people who are ill, but perhaps mostly to those around them. There are around 100,000 Norwegians who have Alzheimer’s disease. For Jensen, this means that there are 1,000,000 people affected by the disease. – Then this book might be of inspiration or help for them, but primarily I have written it for myself and my loved ones. For Jensen, it is important to use his time, to hope and to see the positive. – Today it was foggy when I went out, but now the sun has come out.
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Ingebrigt Steen Jensen refuses to be ashamed of the disease – news Culture and entertainment
