Mayo Clinic medical information and tools for healthy living

Connect with an expert

Alzheimer's blog

With Mayo Clinic health education outreach coordinator Angela Lunde

Back to posting index

September 20, 2007 4:30 p.m.

Alzheimer's: Welcome to our new blog

174 comments posted

Read comments | Post a comment

By Angela Lunde

Welcome to our new blog from the Alzheimer's Center at MayoClinic.com. I am excited and encouraged about the possibilities we can create by this endeavor.

For many years at the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, I have been fortunate to facilitate groups for persons in the early stages of a dementia, as well as groups for their care partners.

Most often these care partners are husbands and wives, daughters, daughters-in-law, and sometimes sons, grandchildren and friends. Through this experience, I have discovered that the statement "about 5 million people are affected by Alzheimer's" is, in part, a myth. In truth, 5 million people may have the disease, but millions more are affected through the gradual loss of their spouse, partner, friend, confidant, and loved one.

Dementia, devastatingly, is a disorder that isolates those affected (both the person with the disease and their care partner). But in the modern world of MySpace, Facebook and other blogs, there is a new way to make connections, to reach out, to share common experiences such as grief, humor, despair, and hope. My belief is that this new blog can serve to bind us together on the shared journey we call Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. I invite you to share some part of your story and hear from others that you are not alone.

Add to del.icio.us

Digg This

Add to Technorati

Stumble It!

174 comments posted

Read comments | Post a comment

Back to posting index

November 6, 2008 9:37 p.m.

I just put my mother in an Alzheimer's facility today. She cried and screamed and collapsed on the floor as I left. I feel so horrible and guilty.

- S. Baker

November 4, 2008 2:53 p.m.

Thought some of you may be interested in choosing Alzheimer's Association to receive a percent of all your holiday gift sales. You can do this by going to www.nonprofitshoppingmall.com and shopping from their list of over 250 retailers. Easy way to fundraise just by doing your usual holiday shopping!!! ENJOY + Pass it on...

- katie

November 2, 2008 5:10 p.m.

I have a close family member who is suffering from Alzheimers and is having a hard time dealing with it. I am always reading articles about dealing with alzheimers. The articles would be useful to anyone who is or knows someone who is suffering from the disease. Feel free to check it out. http://www.thirdage.com/alzheimers

- Jeff D

November 2, 2008 7:25 a.m.

Amber, there is a genetic test for persons who have had two immediate family members with early onset Alzheimer's. It doesn't have anything to do with ApoE (Late Onset Alzheimer's). I am 46 years old and am currently waiting results of this test myself as my father died of dementia in 1971 at age 50 and now my 60 year old sister is in a nursing home with ALZ. I've been under a neurologist care for over a year. I am very nervous about getting the results. It takes three weeks from the time the blood is drawn to get the results. There are three markers this tests for and if found you're considered to be destined for early onset alzheimer's. I did not have counseling prior to my test, at this point though, I've spent 40 years wondering if my dad's condition was hereditary so it's time to find out. I have an autistic 19 year old and a 15 year old. I had another sister who died of ALS 10 years ago.I can't help wondering if the Autism, ALS, Alzheimer's are all related. I'm a single mom. I'm scared and need to know how to proceed.

- Kris in Illinois

October 29, 2008 10:57 p.m.

Kathy, I am in a similar situation, I am 49 and my husband 50 was just diagnosed with ALZ in September. It is tough to deal with this disease at any age, but I find it is really hard when we are relatively young. We have 2 kids,16 & 18 and my Mom lives with us too. I find I can't let myself think too far ahead, just think day to day. Luckily he is still working. Sending good thoughts to you, stay strong and just make it through the day.

- Deirdre in Minnesota

October 24, 2008 8:28 p.m.

Amber make sure your client has had all the blood work to rule out anything else that could cause dementia. B12 deficency, syphilis, heavy metals, parkinsons, carbon monoxide. The only real way to dianose Alzheimers is by process of elimination of everything else and tracking of decline, "MME" Mini Mental exam, our neurologist pretty much suspected alz right away then it was just a process of elimination, best of luck

- Kathy in Indiana

October 18, 2008 5:51 a.m.

Not a comment but a questiion from a first time user of this blog. My 75 year old wife was diagnosed 3 years ago with Alz and rapidly declining. Of great medical concern, she has lost 20% of her weight (22 lbs) in the last 4 months. Doctrs tell me weight loss and diminished appetite are common and 'there's not much we can do'. Has anyone out there experienced this and have some suggestions?. I'd be really grateful. I'm challenged at how to get her to eat. Thank you , anyone.

- Bill - ON Canada

October 10, 2008 10:12 p.m.

I am a social worker and I have a client who is 47 years old. She was diagnosed with Alz. when she was around 43. We live in Idaho and there doesn't seem to be any specialist who have a strong emphasis in treating or diagnosing Alz. She, as well as myself, wonder if she has been misdiagnosed. All of the Drs. she has seen give her these answers or opinions that are not certain and are "swishy washy". Are there any tests (besides MRIs and EEGs) or genetic testing she can have done to ensure she has been accurately diagnosed? Can medications cause symptoms of Alzheimer's or are there other health problems that could resemble early onset Alz? Any help would be great!

- Amber

October 2, 2008 9:21 a.m.

Hi everyone, I am not sure how this might fit in with all of the other blogs, but I felt a need to share my recent experience. I (in my twenties) had to put my elderly father (79) into a nursing home after my mother battled cancer and could no longer care for him. He was recently transferred to a new home after the one he was in closed down. He was there barely two months when I just got a call that he had been attacked in the middle of the night by his roommate-another elderly man in the same condition. He apparently was struck many times in the face with a piece of a wheelchair and did not survive in the emergency room. The roommate is now awaiting sentencing on charges of homicide and no other home/place wants to take him in. He may end up in a psych unit of a prison till he dies. The home was a very good one and I never thought this would happen-never occurred to me that another patient would do something. We always worry about the staff hurting our loved ones, but we shouldnt assume that other patients are never a danger either. It was shocking for everyone and quite an eye-opener for me. Maybe someone can take something away from this-I don't know! But thank you for letting me post.

- Sofi

September 21, 2008 11:07 a.m.

I am 45 and my 53 year old husband was just diagnosed a month ago. He is now out of work and cant drive. I need to chat online with someone in my situation. I dont mean to offend any one, but, everything I read is Elder care, aging parents and so on. Im having trouble relating and feel alone. HELP

- Kathy in Indiana