From my experience I am inclined to believe that the disease is harder on family members and loved ones than it is on the afflicted one. By definition those who have it are completely ignorant of the fact.
It is a tragic disease. Any help scientists come up with will be great. If they ever find a way to prevent it or find a cure, it would be a major medical miracle.
Have you had a full blood analysis? My father began experiencing memory loss in his early 60's, and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 67. However, a new doctor linked his symptoms to iron deficiency and Vitamin B-12 deficiency, and he's doing much better now that he's receiving large-dose vitamin and mineral supplements. He also got a pacemaker installed to treat slow heart function, and that's made a big difference - more blood to the brain!
In summary, not all memory loss in an aging person is Alzheimer's - there are numerous other potential factors, which would indicate different treatment.
Bump
Seriously, my father is currently in the advanced stages of this disease, and at the age of 50, I am starting to detect the early signs of it in myself.
My wife's father had this horrible disease and eventually, he could no longer recognize anyone in his family. In many ways, it was like watching someone in a time machine slowly turning the clock back.
The last time I was able to talk with him, he was living at the time of WWII, during operation Market Garden.
I understand. I too have family members that are afflicted with the disease. Sadly, if the research dollars pumped into disease easily prevented by changes in human behavior, had been used to prevent and/or treat Alzheimer's, great advances would have occurred. More $$ are pumped into studying AIDS than the most important diseases of our time--cardiovascular diseases including stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's. It is sad when a venereal disease such as AIDS gets all the attention.
I saw this story on local TV. They show rats in a circular pool. First they are disoriented, but the one with gene therapy can remember where it entered the pool filled with an opaque liquid to obscure the steps.
They can return to find the steps from whence they came. They found exactly which gene to tamper with, to repair.
Trust me, it was unfriggen' believable. WCCO.com might still have the story in its health section.
Someone should show this story to Nancy Reagan- it would bring tears to her eyes. It was that amazing. Alzhiemers will be cured within 6-8 years.
Great post. Thanks.
bttt