www.reportage-bygeyimages.com In the rugged mountains north of the Colombian city of Medellin lies a cluster of small towns and villages where, for decades, the populaon has fallen prey to the murderous whims of drug traffickers, paramilitaries and leſt-wing guerrillas. Further isolated by the treacherous terrain of the Andean highlands, these communies are also stalked by premature death of a different kind. Many of those who live in the area, Anoquia, suffer from a disease that robs them of all memory. Their afflicon mirrors that of the villagers in One Hundred Years of Solitude, by the Nobel prizewinner Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In the novel, the health of the villagers is eventually restored by a gypsy’s magic poon. But those who fall ill here suffer years of painful oblivion before they die. Alzheimer's in Colombia Photographs by Alvaro Ybarra Zavala Text by Chrisne Toomey ANGOSTURA, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 24, 2011: Emerson helps his father Javier lie on the bed. Javier has Alzheimer's disease. His condion is very advanced. His son Emerson and his wife Emperatriz look aſter him. Javier is from Angostura, and his family is a carrier of the gene that increases incidence of Alzheimer's. In his family, his mother died of Alzheimer's disease and of his fiſteen siblings, seven suffer from the disease, three of whom have allready died from it. Javier was a bus driver before suffering the disease. In the province of Anoquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communies. (Photo by Alvaro Ybarra Zavala/Reportage by Gey Images)
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In the rugged mountains north of the Colombian city of Medellin lies a cluster of small towns and villages where, for decades, the population has fallen prey to the murderous whims of drug traffickers, paramilitaries and left-wing guerrillas. Further isolated by the treacherous terrain of the Andean highlands, these communities are also stalked by premature death of a different kind.
Many of those who live in the area, Antioquia, suffer from a disease that robs them of all memory. Their affliction mirrors that of the villagers in One Hundred Years of Solitude, by the Nobel prizewinner Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In the novel, the health of the villagers is eventually restored by a gypsy’s magic potion. But those who fall ill here suffer years of painful oblivion before they die.
Alzheimer's in ColombiaPhotographs by Alvaro Ybarra ZavalaText by Christine Toomey
ANGOSTURA, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 24, 2011: Emerson helps his father Javier lie on the bed. Javier has Alzheimer's disease. His condition is very advanced. His son Emerson and his wife Emperatriz look after him. Javier is from Angostura, and his family is a carrier of the gene that increases incidence of Alzheimer's. In his family, his mother died of Alzheimer's disease and of his fifteen siblings, seven suffer from the disease, three of whom have allready died from it. Javier was a bus driver before suffering the disease. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities. (Photo by Alvaro Ybarra Zavala/Reportage by Getty Images)
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Generation after generation has been ravaged by what was known for centuries simply as ‘la bobera’, or idiocy, a condition locals believed was caused by a curse or contact with a poisoned tree. In years gone by, the afflicted, ‘los bobos’, were often locked away and ignored. “Many were corralled outside to stop them straying and treated little better than animals,” says Blanca Nelly, whose grandmother, mother, five aunts and uncles, brother, sister and now husband have fallen victim.
The real cause of so much misery was only recently discovered to be a rare inherited form of early-onset Alzheimer’s; a form so virulent that it affects nearly half the members of some families in the area. Many of the afflicted are reduced to wrecks in their forties. Few live much beyond 60. The gene mutation that blights this community can be traced back to Spanish settlers in the 18th century; its prevalence is the result of repeated intermarriage in a remote, hostile terrain where there are few options when it comes to finding partners.
ANGOSTURA, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 24, 2011: Emerson shaves his father Javier every morning. Javier has Alzheimer's disease. His condition is very advanced. His son Emerson and his wife Emperatriz look after him. Javier is from Angostura, and his family is a carrier of the gene. In his family, his mother died of Alzheimer's disease and of his fifteen siblings seven suffer from the disease, three of whom have allready died from it. Javier was a bus driver before suffering the disease. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s, generally passed down as a dominant genetic trait from one parent, is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of the disease worldwide. But the brain lesions seen in Colombian early-onset victims are very similar to those seen in the usual late-onset form of Alzheimer’s, where symptoms rarely appear before the age of 65. Now it is thought these remote Colombian communities may hold the key to new treatments for all Alzheimer’s sufferers.
Emerson takes a break in the lounge of his house.
Emerson gives his father a drink inside his house.
A family picture in which Emerson's father Javier is featured before becoming ill with Alzheimer's disease.
Emperatriz (L) and Emerson (R) give lunch to Javier.
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ANGOSTURA, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 24, 2011: Dr. Lopera visiting Javier, who is ill with Alzheimer's disease. The center for the study of neuroscience at the Antioquia University has spent years studying Alzheimer's cases in the region. This research group is led by Dr. Lopera and Dr. Villegas. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
A DNA bank inside the neuroscience unit of the University of Antioquia. The center for the study of neuroscience at the Antioquia University in Medellin, Colombia has spent years studying Alzheimer's cases in the region. This research group is led by Dr. Lopera and Dr. Villegas. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Doctor Villegas working inside the brain bank of the neuroscience unit from the University of Antioquia, in Medellin, Colombia. The center for the study of neuroscience at the Antioquia University has spent years studying Alzheimer's cases in the region. This research group is led by Dr. Lopera and Dr. Villegas. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
A specimen inside the brain bank of the neuroscience unit from the University of Antioquia, in Medellin, Colombia.
Dr. Lopera studies test results. The center for the study of neuroscience at the Antioquia University in Medellin, Colombia has spent years studying Alzheimer's cases in the region.
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MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 23, 2011: Olga watching television at home. She suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has begun to experience early symptoms of dementia. Her daughter Michelle and mother Martha deal with her care. Olga is part of one of the three families being studied by the team of neuroscience research lead by Doctor Lopera at the University of Antioquia. Olga's brother and one of his sisters have also begun experiencing symptoms of the disease. Michelle, Olga's daughter, is afraid of starting her own family, as her family is a carrier of the gene which significantly increases chances of devloping Alzheimer's. Olga's father, the husband of Dona Marta, was also a victim of the disease as well as four of his siblings. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Olga with her mother Marta (foreground) and sister (R) at Marta's house. She suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has begun to experience early symptoms of dementia. Her daughter Michelle and mother Martha deal with her care. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Olga's niece gives her a kiss at home. Olga is part of one of the three families being studied by the team of neuroscience research lead by Doctor Lopera at the University of Antioquia. Olga's brother and one of his sisters have also begun experiencing symptoms of the disease. Michelle, Olga's daughter, is afraid of starting her own family, as her family is a carrier of the gene which significantly increases chances of devloping Alzheimer's. Olga's father, the husband of Dona Marta, was also a victim of the disease as well as four of his siblings.
Olga suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has begun to experience early symptoms of dementia.
Olga's daughter Michelle helps her.
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MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 25, 2011: Carlos junior takes care of his father Carlos, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. His case is very advanced. His family has been severely hit by the disease. Of his twelve siblings, four have been affected by the disease and one of them has already died. Carlos belongs to the family of Dona Laura, the great matriarch of the family. Carlos lives in Medellin and his wife Gloria Nellie, as well as his children Carlos and Natalia, take care of Carlos every day. Carlos played guitar before developing the disease. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Carlos junior takes a break from caring for his father Carlos, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Carlos belongs to the family of Dona Laura, the great matriarch of the family. Carlos lives in Medellin and his wife Gloria Nellie, as well as his children Carlos and Natalia, take care of Carlos every day. Carlos played guitar before developing the disease. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Carlos junior playing computer games near his father Carlos, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. His case is very advanced. His family has been severely hit by the disease. Of his twelve siblings, four have been affected by the disease and one of them has already died.
Carlos junior takes care of his father Carlos, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Family photos of Carlos, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.
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YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - NOVIEMBRE 24, 2011: (R-L) Maria Elsi, being looked after here by her sister Nodiel, is sick with Alzheimer's disease. Her case is very advanced. Her family has been severely hit by the disease. Of her twelve siblings, four have been affected by the disease and one of them has already died. Dona Laura is the great matriarch of the family, and with the help of her daughters Gloria and Nodiel, deals with Maria Elsi and Oderes, also an Alzheimer's sufferer. Maria Elsi was a nurse before developing the disease. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Angostura cementry. In the province of Antioquia, the largest number of cases belonging to the families affected by Alzheimer's disease are concentrated in Angostura and Yamural communities.
Doctor Lopera inside Oderes' house during supper time. Oderes is sick with Alzheimer's disease and has begun to experience early symptoms of dementia. His family has been severely hit by the disease. Of his twelve siblings, four have been affected by the disease and one of them has already died. Dona Laura is the great matriarch of the family, with the help of her daughters Gloria and Nodiel deals with both Oderes and Maria Elsi, also suffering from Alzheimer's.
Maria Elsi, being looked after here by her sister Gloria, is sick with Alzheimer's disease. Her case is very advanced.
Maria Elsi was a nurse before developing Alzheimer's disease.
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