Curated Paper #2 - Kaden Jensen

 

The data and topics presented in the recent modules have been profoundly impactful, with many personal and emotional connections for me. Beyond these personal ties, it’s been fascinating to see how these subjects are inextricably connected with concepts I’ve delved into during past and present courses. As I’ve explored these topics, I’ve gained a more nuanced understanding of my personal and social situations that has instilled within me a profound gratitude and perseverance that I did not have before.

I started off my journaling experience by delving into Multiple Sclerosis, and it was an emotionally difficult start. My brother-in-law struggles with M.S., and it has been very disheartening to watch him deal with it. My brother-in-law struggles with M.S., and it has been very disheartening to watch him deal with it. He loves the outdoors and spends as much time as he can doing the things he won’t be able to do later. He high-lines multiple times a week, rock climbs, and slacklines constantly, but his M.S. flare-ups often leave him unable to leave the house and extremely fatigued. My sister and he recently divorced, and it was very difficult for my family. None of us really understand why it ended up happening, but the educational slides about M.S. mention that M.S. can cause mild emotional disturbances, and it pains me to wonder if that could have been a factor in the dissonance in their marriage. This idea of interpersonal conflict was discussed recently in my Introduction to Communication course. In this course, I learned about a conflict pattern type called “symmetrical withdrawal.” Symmetrical withdrawal is when neither partner is willing to confront the other to come to a resolution. When one person stops speaking because of conflict, the silence is reciprocated by the other. I wonder if these mild emotional disturbances brought about by M.S. led to such a conflict pattern. My sister mentioned that they never talked about any problems and that no big fight had caused anything. She just decided they no longer had a connection, and she wanted to find something new.

The slides mentioned that the cause for M.S. is unknown, but I think it’s important to note that genetics play a fairly large role. My brother-in-law’s older sibling also was diagnosed with M.S. years before he was. He has always talked about the fear of passing it on to future children, and he actually got a vasectomy to prevent that from ever happening. It’s very disheartening to consider how much these incurable neurological diseases affect people in so many ways you’d never even think of. And the spontaneity of M.S. is really a difficult factor. We never know whether my brother-in-law will be chipper and participate socially or be out of commission for multiple days trying to recover from sporadic flare-ups.

It’s intriguing to consider the interconnectedness of the body with M.S. The underlying cause of M.S. is not known. I found an article that is beginning to carry out research surrounding oligodendrocyte death to see how the body reacts to oligodendrocyte death. It’s exciting to consider how measuring the balance of other molecules in the body could possibly lead to pinpointing factors that lead to oligodendrocyte apoptosis and prevent those factors from initiating the process. Or identify different measures of molecules that could be damaging oligodendrocytes. I do think my brother-in-law shows the importance of Ayurveda in chronic neurological illness. He is constantly striving to live life in a fulfilling way that enhances his outlook on life and daily experiences. As a result, his illness doesn’t entirely consume him. He got a tattoo that says “Mind/Matter” to remind himself to be strong and work to improve and live a great life despite the drawbacks he experiences with MS. He has also surrounded himself with a very wonderful social circle that supports him and ensures he is safe and healthy. My sister still checks in on him and makes sure he is healthy. He’s still on her insurance, so it’s wonderful to see that he is still protected. Taking time to consider his social circle led me to connect this idea of Ayurveda and living a healthy life with an Introduction to Sociology course I took a few years ago. During that course, we talked about what are called “Blue Zones.” This term refers to geographical areas where people live longer and healthier lives compared to the rest of the world population. One of these blue zones is Okinawa, Japan. We discussed the lives these people led and found that one of the most significant aspects of their lives was having a strong community and social bond. A significant social network that cared for them and to which they contributed. That class discussion elucidated that having a strong social community was one of the largest predictors of longevity. This connects to the idea of Ayurveda because it shows that by maintaining a healthy social network, people are healthier and happier.

The introduction to pathogens brought up genetically engineering crops resistant to pathogens, which was really exciting because I learned about a genetically engineered crop that is saving the world. Researchers have developed a strain of rice called “Golden Rice” that contains genes that encode the enzymes to synthesize a precursor of vitamin A. This has helped to alleviate vitamin A deficiencies, which affect roughly 400 million people, and has the potential to cause blindness if extreme. Also, this golden rice contains genes for a protein that functions in iron storage, ameliorating iron deficiency, which affects roughly one-third of the entire world population. Considering how our development of technology has allowed us to alleviate health stress so much of the world population suffers led me to realize that a topic I’d been discussing in my U.S. Economic History class absolutely pertains to this idea as well. A very influential work of economic literature titled Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson discusses how for a nation’s economy to grow persistently, the key is changing the quality of a nation’s factors of production, or changing a nation's level of technology. Improving technology enhances the quality of life. This is perfectly portrayed through the development of these genetically modified crops that have improved the lives of millions. During my U.S. Economic History course, we also discussed how several very important people’s lives could not be saved but whose conditions would be trivial now. For example, Nathan Rothschild (one of the richest men in the world), William Henry Harrison (a U.S. president), and James Garfield (a U.S. president), all died from illnesses or medical complications that would seem trivial to us now. These deaths highlight how our technology dictates outcomes in life and that our current technology has facilitated saving the lives of millions from what can now be considered a trifle.

I really appreciated the drug discussion’s presentation of addiction. It is a disease that changes the brain, and this is really significant because people need to realize that when loved ones are addicted to substances, how they act is a result of those addictions, and how they may treat you is due to the addiction. Their brains have changed. My uncle is an alcoholic, and my mom frequently discussed how violent he became over the years. My mom mentioned a time when she went on a camping trip with my uncle when she was a young teenager. She wanted her brother to be sober for a night, so she dumped all his alcohol out onto the ground. She said that she had never been more scared for her life than when my uncle found out what she had done. My mom has hope that he will be able to become sober and work on correcting his brain’s physiology to return to lucidity and prudence. The time I spent considering alcohol addiction and people’s personality changes led me to think back to when I took Introduction to Psychology. During that course, we discussed how addiction to substances is recognized as a disorder. The addict is a victim of their disorder, and their actions should not be taken personally. They need help. They have a genuine disorder that is not their fault. During Introduction to Psychology, we also discussed how, in many cases of intense substance abuse, the brain’s chemistry is changed to where the amount of chemicals released that are intended to induce happiness during everyday life activities is reduced substantially, and the only time they can even feel relatively normal is when they are high.

In summary, exploring these modules has been an eye-opening journey, weaving together my personal experiences surrounding M.S. and addiction with insights from other courses. Reflecting on my brother-in-law's resilience in coping with M.S. highlighted the profound role of social support, community, and holistic wellness in managing chronic illnesses. This journey also emphasized how advancements in technology, in the form of genetically modified crops and medical developments, have drastically improved lives for all people, regardless of socioeconomic status. Each topic I explored reminded me how intricately connected science, health, and society are, shaping lives in profound and often unexpected ways. This experience has deepened my understanding of the importance of a social network, resilience, and helping to advance technological change in navigating the complexities of both health and human relationships.