Learn Alzheimer's disease by self-drawing

The year 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of Alzheimer's dementia, first reported by German psychiatrist Dr. Alois Alzheimer. Currently the US has about 5 million people suffering from this disease and an average of about 360 people are diagnosed with the disease each year.

Yesterday (October 24), a special exhibition of American painter William Utermohlen took place at the New York Academy of Medicine, under the auspices of the Alzheimer's Association.

Painter William Utermohlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1995. After learning about his illness, Utermohlen's painting techniques changed drastically: bold strokes and stronger emotions.

Many works at the exhibition are self-portraits that reflect the way Utermolen looks at itself through periods of fighting Alzheimer's.

Self-portrait photo of Utermohlen in 1967 (left photo) and 2000
(Photo: nytimes.com)

Dr. Dan Christensen, Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at the University of Utah, said that many things about Alzheimer's can be learned through Utermohlen's works. The chronologically ordered works, reflecting Utermolen's intellectual decline, including misleading self-portraits in 2000, show that he has fallen into insanity.

The artist's wife Patricia Utermohlen said Utermohlen has gone through extremely difficult times to be able to continue writing.

Now artist Utermohlen is 73 years old.

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