Akio Kakishita
Age:
65 years old （As of May 2019）
Year of birth:
1953
Place of residence:
Tokyo
Relatives living together:
Lives with wife
Occupation:
Former Olympic Athlete / Former Product Center Director, Tokyo Seika Co., Ltd.
Age of onset:
About 60 years old
Age of diagnosis:
61 years old
Diagnosis:
Unknown (Alzheimer's disease or cerebrovascular dementia)
Dementia rating scale?Mini-Mental State Examination（MMSE）
The most widely used screening test internationally for identifying dementia, in which questions are asked directly to subjects. The MMSE assesses cognitive functions with a series of questions/tasks related to orientation, memory, attention and calculation, language, giving commands and copying a picture. The test yields the highest score of 30 points, and, in general, those who score 23 points or lower are identified as suspected patients with dementia.Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS-R)
A screening test widely used in Japan for identifying dementia, in which questions are asked directly to subjects. It has 9 questions/tasks related to age, orientation, immediate memory and delayed recall of 3 words, calculation, backward digit span, memory of 5 objects and language fluency. The test yields the highest score of 30 points, and, in general, those who score 20 points or lower are identified as suspected patients with dementia.:
MMSE 27About （As of July 2017）
Using long-term care insurance:
Day service (twice per week)
Care manager visit (once per month)
Frequency of gatherings with other people with dementia:
Meetings such as ones for people with dementia (once per month)
Past experiences
2013年（60）
My head felt constantly foggy and unclear. My manager even asked me if I was okay.
I do not remember much about these times.
My family noticed that I was getting lost, taking longer to prepare for a trip, being exhausted after coming home from work, and repeatedly checking my work schedule for the next day.
Diagnosis
2014年（61）
I was diagnosed with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) at a neurologist that I had been visiting regularly.
I had been visiting the hospital alone until then, but my wife accompanied me when I was diagnosed.
2015年（62）
I asked the neurologist about the outlook for my treatment but did not get a clear answer. So I transferred to a dementia specialist on the referral of a doctor who was a friend of mine.
While continuing to work, I attended the hospital's day care once a week for half a day.
I retired after my term as a board member expired and began to attend day care at the hospital twice a week.
I started to attend a day service for young adults with dementia twice a week, where retired people of similar ages worked in small groups to conduct daytime activities.
2018年（64）
I got to know "Minna no Dangisho Shinagawa" (Everyone's Talking Place Shinagawa) and started to participate in its activities.
I enjoyed with my peers events such as RUN Tomo, softball games, barbecues, rice cake pounding and so on.
I participated in a working group for people with dementia. I experienced things such as a meeting with the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.
2019年（65）
I discuss with my peers at "Minna no Dangisho Shinagawa" what a town would look like where it is easy to live with or without dementia.
As a place open to everyone, a loose community of people is beginning to form, and we are discussing what we want to do.
It has become my routine to do muscle training once a week.
Joy in life and living
1
Joy that has come to you after onset
Interacting with people beyond the boundaries of people with dementia, caregivers, etc.
2
Joy that has come to you after onset
Using my five senses, for example enjoying the view of the ocean and smelling fruits
3
Joy that has come to you after onset
Going to art exhibitions and drawing pictures of the seaside and flowers (I started them after I began to do clinical art in art therapy.)
4
Joy that has come to you after onset
Participating in RUN Tomo and playing baseball with peers with dementia
5
Joy that has come to you after onset
Selling items that we have designed and made at the day service and promoting such activities to the community
Something you would like to do in the future
Now that I have dementia, I want to take this opportunity to do what I can to make the most of it.
Recently, I have started to think that I would like to have a place where I can come together and talk with people who have the same disease or some kind of handicap.
I think about we bring together and share what we are doing, what we are enjoying, what we are having trouble with, and what we are doing to cope with things in our lives.
We can invent all sorts of things! I would like to create such a place by discussing with my peers at Minna no Dangisho Shinagawa.
Challenges in daily living
RESIDE
BUY
STUDY
WORK-
11 Areas of Daily LivingDaily Living ChallengeDATAthe Mental or Physical DysfunctionKnowledge
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When attending formal ceremonies, I need to wear formal outfits that are different from my everyday clothes, but it is difficult for me to remember what to wear.My wife supports me only with what I need help with. -
I used to cook but not anymore because I cannot afford to even think about it now.I might be able to cook if I do what I can do alone and do what I cannot do alone with someone. -
When there are many steps to transfer money at the post office, I get confused in the middle of the process. My finger stops moving sometimes, and I make mistakes in the operation in other times. -
I feel that the programs offered at day services are just about simply performing something. -
I have a feeling that I get tired easily when I am in a new environment, and this feeling is gradually becoming stronger.
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I feel under pressure when I see emotionless expressions on the faces of hospital staff during psychological testing at the hospital.
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I feel that my ability to go to new places or do new things has declined. I get tired easily. -
When getting on the subway, where I cannot see the outside, I get anxious because I worry about what to do if I take a wrong train. I sometimes get on wrong trains going to the opposite direction.
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The scenery that I remember is different from the actual scenery. When I am in a place that I have not visited for a long time, I feel as if I am in a different world and get confused. I cannot get to my destination.
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It is difficult to communicate only over the phone. I cannot remember what I am expected to do.I ask to send me what has been discussed over the phone separately via e-mail. This way I can ask questions if needed. -
When talking with someone, it is difficult for me to maintain my concentration and understand the conversation if the conversation gets long or topics change.
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I forget the story of serial dramas and have difficulty following the storyline. -
I have trouble following the story when scenes in dramas switch.
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I feel anxious and tense all the way to the exhibition and am exhausted by the time I arrive at the venue.I feel more comfortable if I can go to my destination with someone. If I get lost alone, I will ask someone who seems easy to talk to.
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Movies are long. It is hard to keep my concentration because I lose track of the storyline halfway.
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When I am looking around with others in a museum, I feel anxious because I cannot tell what I am looking at.
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If there are multiple exhibitions being held at a museum or there are many people, it becomes difficult for me to tell where the exhibit I want to see is or where I am walking.
Physical and mental dysfunctions
Message to the society
Dementia is not just about being supported.
There are many things we can do and want to do. We are feeling various things in a normal way.
A society where people can live together and understand weaknesses and difficulties unique to each person. A society where people can make contributions with capabilities and characteristics that each has. I want to create such a society together with everyone.