Muhammad Saiyaara takes on Alzheimer's disease, but does the Rs 5.5 billion glitzy film by Mohit Suri effectively portray the subject matter?

In the remote hills of Himachal Pradesh, a young woman named Vaani is battling an uncommon enemy. At just 22 years old, Vaani has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, a condition that almost exclusively affects older adults, typically those over 60.

Vaani's case is extremely rare, with Alzheimer's almost negligible in prevalence among young adults. The familial form of the disease is an exception, but even in young adults as young as 22, it is still exceptionally uncommon. Medical literature offers virtually no examples of the disease at this age.

The early onset of Alzheimer's typically appears in people in their 40s, and further research is needed to validate these early associations and explore how preventive measures and lifestyle interventions could reduce long-term Alzheimer's risk.

Health and lifestyle factors in early to midlife can predict Alzheimer's risk later on. Tracking these risk factors and biological changes over a person's lifespan may be key to delaying or even preventing the disease.

Vaani's initial responses are often blank looks and confusion, a common symptom of Alzheimer's. As the disease progresses, she finds solace in the repeated attempts of Krish, a character from the film "Saiyaara", to motivate her to write songs.

Alzheimer's is often confused with dementia, a general term for decline in mental ability. It is a progressive neuro-generative disorder that impairs daily life and shows symptoms such as memory loss, poor problem solving, and disorientation. The processes behind Alzheimer's disease start developing many years before clinical symptoms arise.

Certain risk factors and blood biomarkers linked to Alzheimer's and cognitive decline can be detected as early as age 24. The APOE e4 genetic variant, which is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's, may not affect cognition in people in their 20s.

"Still Alice", a film that showed the gradual progression of Alzheimer's, featuring Julianne Moore, depicted scenes of the protagonist struggling with words and thoughts, and the grief was more palpable compared to "Saiyaara".

Taking an early approach to addressing risk factors could help postpone or reduce the onset of Alzheimer's. As research continues, the hope is that early detection and intervention can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by this devastating disease.

Muhammad Saiyaara takes on Alzheimer's disease, but does the Rs 5.5 billion glitzy film by Mohit Suri effectively portray the subject matter?