My name is Kuang Liqun. I am an 80-year-old retired doctor, and I am delighted to be here today to share my personal journey and the remarkable changes I experienced through memory training.

Using mnemonic techniques, I was able to free myself from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and regain much of my memory, confidence and enjoyment of life. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can encourage others who may be facing similar challenges.

Before I began memory training, I experienced three of the classic symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The first was confusion about time, place and orientation. If a friend invited me to lunch, I might arrive in the evening or even on the wrong day. I frequently confused one location with another, and at home, I constantly misplaced everyday objects. I once put my gloves and hat in the refrigerator, and on another occasion, I stored my books in the wardrobe, only to spend days wondering where they had gone.

The second symptom was a dramatic change in my personality and behaviour. I had always loved singing, dancing and learning new things, but gradually I lost all enthusiasm. I wanted only to stay indoors, sleep, and avoid people. I became irritable and sometimes felt like arguing for no reason.

The third symptom was my inability to remember recent events, while memories from many decades earlier remained perfectly clear. I could recall classmates from middle school, people who owed me money before graduation, and even small incidents from my youth, yet I often forgot conversations that had taken place only minutes earlier.

The consequences could be dangerous. I would begin cooking and then wander outside, forgetting the food completely. More than once, I returned home to discover burnt pans, ruined meals and a kitchen filled with smoke. On one occasion, I left food cooking in the microwave and went shopping, forgetting it was switched on. By the time my family returned, the microwave had been destroyed.

Sometimes I boarded a bus and forgot where I was going. On another occasion, I became completely lost in a subway station, asking myself, "Where have I come from? Where am I going?" I simply could not find my way.

As a doctor, I recognised these symptoms and sought medical advice. Investigations showed arteriosclerosis at the base of my skull, narrowing and twisting of the blood vessels supplying my brain. Reduced blood flow meant reduced oxygen, leading to damage to brain cells and declining memory.

I began treating the underlying vascular problems with medication, physical exercise and increased social activity. However, the greatest turning point came when I met a group of remarkable memory teachers: Guo Chuanwei, Zhu Shaomin, Li Lihui and Qian Liyi.

They introduced me to mnemonic techniques and encouraged me to train every day.

At first, progress was painfully slow. While most students completed an exercise in about an hour, I needed almost three hours. I constantly had to review the material and ask questions before I understood it. In competitions, I regularly finished last. Some of the children would smile and joke, "Grandma, thank you for helping us avoid last place!"

Although I laughed with them, I felt deeply embarrassed.

My teacher, Zhu Shaomin, gave me advice that changed my life.

He said:

"Don't compare yourself with the children. Compare yourself with yesterday's you. Improve just a little every day."

I followed that advice faithfully.

Day after day, I continued training. Gradually, my thinking became clearer, my understanding improved, and my memory grew stronger.

In 2011, my teachers encouraged me to compete in the 20th World Memory Championships China Final and later in the 20th World Memory Championships itself.

To my amazement, I won the Senior Category World Champion title.

Today, my Alzheimer's symptoms have largely disappeared.

Yet I have never forgotten the fear, anxiety and frustration I experienced during my illness.

I know there are countless older people living through the same experience today. Alzheimer's disease affects not only patients but also their families and society as a whole. Even more worrying is the fact that it is now appearing in increasingly younger people.

For that reason, I have dedicated the rest of my life to promoting memory training and the Mind Sports movement. I hope more people—especially older adults—will discover the benefits of mnemonic techniques before it is too late.

My wish is simple: that more elderly people can preserve their memories, maintain their independence, and enjoy the happiness and dignity of later life.

Thank you very much.


(2018)