Alzheimers Disease

Question: Is Alzheimer's disease the proof that most people live in false hope? The degredation of the mind due to Alzheimer's disease proves that the mind and, resultantly, the human consciousness are both transient things. Does this prove that most preconceived notions of an afterlife are fundamentally flawed? Most people believe that we will be able to perceive, evaluate and understand any kind of afterlife that may exist. But clearly, as Alzheimers proves, the mind cannot possibly survive without a functioning human body. It is a possibility that a kind of eternal soul lives on, but, surely, if the consciousness dies then the thing that makes you an individual, self-aware human will cease also. Opinions?

Answer: Alzheimer's is a physical manifestation of a deteriorating physical 'thing' and has nothing to do with philosophy as I see it . Losing ones self awareness in my opinion dose not cancel ones soul. Alzheimer's destroys the brain -the body cannot exist with out at least a partially functioning brain. My mother died of the effects of Alzheimer's and would react to discomfort until the end but did not seem to be aware of self or even of light and dark. Perhaps her soul---her self died long before her body died.

Question: How do I know if my dad has Alzheimer's disease or just a bad memory? Lately, my dad has been acting very strangely. His memory is leaving him and I'm worried because some would say that's the first sign of Alzheimer's. Although, he says he's ALWAYS had a bad memory. How do I know if he has Alzheimer's disease or just a bad memory? If it matters, he will be turning 66 in May.

Answer: I just did a report on Alzheimers and although bad memory does come with old age, it is very important to check up on it. First look up the signs and symptoms online, and if they are similar to the way your Dad is acting, its probably best that you go to the doctors. A lot of people refuse to believe or even consider the idea that they have Alzheimers so it's important that you let your Dad know that you JUST want to make sure... Keep in mind that Alzheimers runs in the family and if you have any past relatives with Alzheimers then it is even more vital that you take your father to the doctors. Hope that helped. Check out this website, it has almost everything you need to know about Alzheimers: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/default.htm

Question: Is it true that president Reagan had had alzheimer's disease before his second term started? Meaning during his entire second term was he suffering from alzheimer's disease? Very interesting to know how he managed got elected while with dimentia. He must have been one hell of an actor to fake metal health.

Answer: His handlers did a good job of keeping him away from the press. There is one clip later in his 2nd term where he's being interviewed, and Nancy is whispering the answers to him the entire time. When he said "Oh, I don't recall that" about a thousand times during the Iran-Contra hearings, he really meant it. His brain had been wiped clean by that time.

Question: Does forgetfullness at a young age trigger alzheimer's disease at an older age? I'm 14. Sometimes, i will be having a conversation and after saying hi to another person, i'll completely forget the topic. I'm guessing i have short term memory loss. The question is, does this forgetfullness at a young age trigger alzheimer's disease once i'm older?

Answer: Alzheimer's is hereditary so first try to find if your elder relatives had or has this disease. Forgetfullnes is easy to win: train your memory and be more attentive to another person.

Question: Is it possible to develop Alzheimer's disease when you are very young? Is it possible to develop Alzheimer's disease when you are very young?

Answer: The youngest I have heard of anyone developing it was early 30's, though that's very rare and it occurred in a family with a VERY high prevalence of it. There are other conditions and forms of dementia that can affect young people though.

Question: What about the Phase III clinical trials with dimebon (dimebolon) in Alzheimer's disease? These Phase III trials take a long time to complete. Meanwhile, is it impossible to use this drug under a compassionate use program just as we did for AIDS ? The only known advantage of Alzheimer's disease over AIDS is not being contagious. But costs are huge, perhaps more than associated with AIDS. Please DO NOT think only the patients, think the caregivers and social/medical burden of Alzheimer's disease also.

Answer: Well, I had not heard of dimebolon till you mentioned it. I do know how hard it is to get Alz drugs of any kind. When my mother was first diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia, I was reeling in shock at the news. I knew nothing about it. I said to the specialist, "Is there anything to slow it down?" and was promptly shown the door! No answer of any kind, nothing. He just got up and opened the door. And I, in my shock, just went out of it like a lost sheep. It was only afterwards that I discovered the NHS in the UK had a policy of not giving drugs to patients that were in the first stages. But I kept on till I got my mother on Aricept. It proved to be very beneficial in her case, and even though it's reported to give only a couple of years more quality, it has kept my mother remembering who we all are for seven years now. Before that, she mixed up names and thought my brother was my father. And I am happy to say, she is doing well to date. Considering the number of people suffering from this disease, and considering the devastation of it, I just find it unfathomable that any drug would be overly delayed in reaching patients. I find it even more unfathomable that the cost of these drugs should be an issue. The banks have seen a big cash injection from the government. To me it's obscene that it denies patients a drug that can help just because of the money it costs -- a few pounds a week. And then doesn't even give them the option of buying it themselves. Sorry to vent, but when it's a loved one, you can't help it.

Question: At what age does Alzheimer's disease can start to affect a human? I just want to know how old so then I can warn people before I ever get Alzheimer's disease, which if I get

Answer: There is no set age. There are two types of alzheimers, regular, and early-onset. Early onset can affect someone at any age in theory, but generally shows in the late 40's-50's crowd. As far as regular alzheimers, it can show any age beyond 60. There is no cure for alzheimers disease, I lost a grandmother to it. Warning someone will do no good, if someone is diagnosed with the illness, then it just runs it's course, the only thing family can do is be there for their loved one and help take care of them.

Question: What would you do if you get Alzheimer's Disease? Would you still want to live, would you still want to live now. You will get Alzheimer's Disease when you get older. Then what. You will forget everything in life. You will forget how to eat, and how to use the bathroom, and everything else. That is why I need to leave this world right now, so I would know the difference from being alive and being dead. I want to experience what it is like to be dead.

Answer: Worried about Alzheimer's? Forget about it. (pun intended) ;) Seriously though, you say "you will get alzheimer'd disease when you get older." That's not true. Not EVERY old person has alzheimer's. And there will be plenty of time later to experience being dead. Enjoy the life experience while you can.

Question: Is it possible to get Alzheimer's disease before your even thirty? For a few year's now I've felt like I'm getting more and more forgetful about things and I've told a doctor this and they told me not to worried about it but it's still pretty unsettling for me because I do have a family history of Alzheimer's disease but I've never herd of anybody ever getting it before thirty and I'm 27 so I'm wondering is that even possible or am I just being paranoid?

Answer: There is such a thing as Early-onset Alzheimer's disease, but that's defined as symptoms starting before age 65. Only 5-10% of Alzheimer's patients have the disease before 65, so you can imagine that showing signs of it at 27 would be very rare. Like you mentioned, a younger age of onset is linked to familial Alzheimer's. So if a parent/aunt/uncle and grandparent developed Alzheimer's really young age (before 65, not necessarily 27), you can go and have genetic testing to see if you have the defective gene. It may actually give you some peace of mind. You can also go to a neurologist who can do specific memory testing on you to try to characterize your symptoms if they're negatively affecting your life. That being said, I'm 26 and in med school and I forget things constantly. Sometimes I actually think information is leaving my brain faster than it's going in. Hope everything works out for you!

Question: Mrs. Sagalov has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. What clinical symptoms is she likely to sho Mrs. Sagalov has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. What clinical symptoms is she likely to show, and what would probably be seen if her brain were examined?

Answer: Sarah, I think you need to be doing your own homework. Grab your med-surg book, lecture notes, etc. and study hard. You could always form a study group if you are wanting to bounce ideas and solutions off each other. If you don't learn the material, a patient will eventually pay the price.

Question: My father has moderate Alzheimer's Disease and needs help now. What social services are available to him? My parents live in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. My dad is becoming more and more confused, and really should not be left alone -- unfortunately my siblings and I all live in the northeast. My mother is doing her best to take care of my dad, but it's a lot for one person to handle. I'd like to find a caretaker / companion who can visit with my dad, provide support, and help alleviate the strain on my mother. Cost is a factor, so ideally I'd like to find a program or service that is subsidized.

Answer: Hey check out this webpage: http://improvedhealthandfitness.com/Alzh… You should also check out the "Recommended Links" Section...

Question: Can Alzheimer’s disease happen to younger people? Can Alzheimer’s disease happen to younger people that are age 12? She has gone on the website www.onmemory.ca and took at test that said that if you had over 5 things checked off, then you should see a doctor. But, she is twelve years old. Could it be that she has Alzheimer’s disease or is it just because she's going through puberty?

Answer: Alzheimer's disease is a catchall in the gereral public for all memory problems. If the site suggested that she should see a doctor, then maybe she should. There might be another medical condition that is causing her memory problems. If a person is very emotional, they really cannot think logically. The emotional brain is the right brain, and the logical/mathmaticat brain is on the left side. If the problem is as simple as just being overemotional/anxious, then that would account for her scores. She went on the website for a reason. I think you need to talk to her, and evaluate if she needs to follow up with a doctor visit.

Question: Should I tell my mom that I think she may have Alzheimer's Disease? My mother is the perfect set-up for Alzheimer's Disease. She is sedimentary, had a traumatic brain injury, spent her life popping pills, and now she is showing signs of the disease. Typically, I would say tell a person, but she has attempted suicide several times and she is finally at the point that she is stable. If she new she had the disease than, I think she may hurt herself. However, I know there are certain procedures that can slow down the process so I don't really know what to do. I don't even know if she has it, but the signs are definitely there. What should I do?

Answer: Get her an appointment with the doctor. But talk to the doctor first about why she's coming. There are specific (and small unobtrusive) tests a doctor can do in order to get a sense of whether the problem may be Alzheimer's. If she's on medications, or medication combinations, there is also a chance that these are creating the "signs" that you see. Understand that these clinical signs are sometimes quite similar to medication combinations or effects. And that the severity of those symptoms is often the first clue we have about whether we're looking at Alzheimer's or some other problem. But the important thing is that you not be the one to make the diagnosis but rather the doctor do it. And then you can support the doctor and your mother in this process rather than you taking the lead. You may also find there are other local resources for Alzheimer patient support (contact your regional/state Alzheimer's Association) that will help you with dealing with this common question and how best to go about it.

Question: What SHOULD politicians be prepared to do to fight Alzheimer's disease NOW? Second Opinion Zen and the Art of Coping With Alzheimer’s By DENISE GRADY Published: August 14, 2007 NewYork Times During the YouTube forum with the Democratic presidential candidates in July, the first question about health care came from two middle-age brothers in Iowa, who faced the camera with their elderly mother. Not everybody with Alzheimer’s disease has two loving sons to take care of them, they said, adding that a boom in dementia is expected in the next few decades. “What are you prepared to do to fight this disease now?� they asked.The politicians mouthed generalities about health care, larded with poignant anecdotes. None of them answered the question about Alzheimer’s. OF COURSE- this has nothing to do with the gov't actually curing this disease . or any other one. It has to do with what they are going to do to help those who suffer from it, their families and the country( like others) who will be overwhelmed with the boomers getting this uncurable condition in the coming decades. What will they do now to prepare for that future reality?? What will they do now for families who are struggling to care for parents and grandparents with limited resources, financial and otherwise? why wait for the crisis to Really be upon us? here's the whole article that inspired this unanswered (by politicians) question: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/health…

Answer: Survey Finds Serious Gaps in Public's Knowledge About Alzheimer's Disease and What Can Be Done to Fight It Alzheimer's Association Advises Americans to 'Maintain Your Brain' Feb. 12, 2004 - A new national survey released today by the Alzheimer's Association finds that most Americans aren't aware of the progress being made in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Fewer than half (44 percent) know that treatments are now available that can ease symptoms and improve quality of life. Even though scientists have made huge leaps in their understanding of Alzheimer's over the past 15 years, only 29 percent of Americans surveyed think scientists are on the brink of more significant advances. Only one-quarter (24 percent) believe a cure will be found in their lifetime. "The gap between public perception and scientific reality is troubling," said Sheldon Goldberg, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association at a press conference at the New York Public Library. "The Alzheimer's Association's goal of delaying the disabling symptoms and eventually preventing Alzheimer's appears to be a feasible scientific objective that we believe the research community can achieve in the next decade. The Association will lead the effort to make Americans aware of what we know and help us increase the pace of research, so that we can achieve our goal of a world without Alzheimer's disease." In addition to releasing the survey, the Association launched a national campaign designed to change the way Americans think about Alzheimer's. The campaign will especially target the nation's 77 million baby boomers (individuals born between 1946 and 1964). By 2030, when the entire baby boom generation is over 65, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's is projected to increase 70 percent, with an estimated 7.7 million people affected. Americans asked to "Maintain Your Brain" The campaign will urge baby boomers and all Americans to "Maintain Your Brain." There is increasing evidence that changes in lifestyle and health habits such as those that help the heart -- exercising, eating properly, and controlling weight, cholesterol and blood pressure -- may also benefit the brain. The Alzheimer's Association will help Americans understand what is now known about the benefits of a healthy brain and its potential for reducing risk for Alzheimer's disease. "We're asking Americans to 'Maintain Your Brain,' and understand that healthy aging is a process that should begin sooner rather than later in life in order to remain healthy of body and mind for as long as possible," said Dr. Marilyn Albert, Chairman of the Association's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council. "More research is necessary, especially in the form of prevention trials, but there is increasing evidence that managing blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and body weight contribute to healthier aging and may also decrease your risk for Alzheimer's." Dr. Albert added that "our focus on brain health is a direct result of the tremendous progress that has been made by the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer's Disease Centers, universities, pharmaceutical companies and the Association in understanding how our brain changes as we age." The survey was conducted Dec. 8-22, 2003, by phone among a representative sample of 600 Americans age 35 and older. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three (+/- 3) percentage points. Some of the key findings among those of baby boomer age surveyed include: * Nearly half (46 percent) know someone with Alzheimer's, and 23 percent had a part in caring for a person with Alzheimer's. * Only 19 percent feel well prepared to handle a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a family member. * 63 percent of boomers said they are making lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of heart disease. These habits may now also deliver an added benefit for the brain. (A full survey report can be found on the Association's Web site at www.alz.org) "These findings tell us that we have tremendous work to do in educating Americans about the disease itself, the resources available to them, and what they can do to fight it," said Goldberg. "When we ask Americans to 'Maintain Your Brain,' we're also asking them to learn what we know about Alzheimer's disease, understand what America's medical research community has accomplished and join us in advocating for a renewed commitment to research and improved care for those with Alzheimer's disease." The survey found that Americans consider Alzheimer research to be a priority; 65 percent of the total sample said that finding a cure should be a priority for the federal government. Among those over the age of 58, 73 percent agreed with that.

Question: Why can't people with Alzheimer's disease remember new information? Is it because their brain becomes so small it can not retain new information, thus proving the brain has a limit to memory? Or is it that it can not create new synapses because of decay? I am only 15, please it is for a mental health assignment, I chose Alzheimer's disease because my grandfather has it.

Answer: Ok Alzheimers is a terminal, degenerative illness. Alzheimer's disease is characterised by loss of neurons and synapses in the cerebral cortex and certain subcortical regions. Means that it basically burns neurons and bridges between them. It is caused by degeneration of the teporal and perital lobe. In most simplest terms the brain is slowly dying and usuall the memory section of the brain is killed off first, as Alzheimes starts near here. The brain is simply breaking down and getting smaller and smaller as more neurons and bridges are breaking away and what you are left with is death unfortunately.

Question: What is the genetic basis for alzheimer's disease ? I want to know the genetics for alzheimer's disease with diagrams, i.e. how the changes occur in genes due to this disease in .pdf format

Answer: I wish you luck - if you find it I would suggest providing it to scientists and doctors in any format at all... <grin> Anyway and more seriously, the origin of the disease is believed to have its roots in our genes - however they aren't sure which ones yet. Theories abound on the subject but to my knowledge no one has been able to clearly determine what is happening at the genetic level. If they had, we would have made the break through needed to finally and completely cure the disease. My grandmother had it... so I keep up. And it would be wonderful... -dh