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• March 21, 2011 10:01 p.m.

  It was a inspiring post and it has a significant meaning too and thanks for sharing the information.Would love to read your next post too...... Thanks Regards wheelchair

  - wheelchair

• March 19, 2011 12:48 a.m.

  I have had many surgeries, can this have anything to do with memory loss? I have two sisters one in late stage alzheimers. I have began having to grasp for the right word or loose my train of thought. One thing that hurts me the most is my children do not understand and looses patience with me. They can't stand me saying something more than once. They can not understand that this is something that I can not help. They just get angry. It hurts so much. People should have patience with anyone that is struggeling for words to say. It's is so scarry and the doctors doesn't seem to want to help at all. I also have an Illiostomy and have to care for my self. At times, it makes you want to just die.

  - kelly

• March 7, 2011 8:30 a.m.

  My parenter for 26 years and I have seperated. He went to live with his family. we haven't seen each othe in 6 months but we do tak on the phone. I'm planning on going to visit him . Is this a good idea? I don't want to upset him.

  - GeorgeAnn

• March 3, 2011 11:27 p.m.

  I really appreciate your post and you explain each and every point very well.Thanks for sharing this information.And I’ll love to read your next post too. Disability Products

  - Disability products

• March 3, 2011 9:48 a.m.

  My mother's disease seems to be progressing - she now gets easily agitated in the AM after I leave for work even though the same caregiver is with her that she has been with for months. Any suggestions on how to calm her agitation? We have tried following the exact same routine, offering the same "projects" to keep her occupied, but nothing seems to help.

  - Pat

• February 27, 2011 7:35 p.m.

  We had to put Mom in a nursing home 1 year ago which was extremely difficult but my Dad and I could not take care of her any longer. She was very abusive to my Dad to the point I thought I might lose Dad. It took time but she has adjusted and seems to be happy but is still confused. I am in my 50's I am noticing that I will be driving down the street and just not know where I am for a minute or two. Other than that I feel like most people just forgetting certain things. My question is has anyone with a parent with alz. been through any testing to see if you have "the gene" and if so would you advise doing so? I would really appreciate any comments. Thanks!

  - Gail

• February 24, 2011 12:07 p.m.

  My husband is in the early stages of Alzheimer's regarding his dementia however, he is falling very frequently. His last 4 falls, he has fallen backwards.This concerns me because he has Osteoporosid and has fractured a bone in the last 2 falls. He uses a cane and a walker. Any advice?

  - Lois

• February 9, 2011 8:12 p.m.

  My Father has Alzheimer’s and experiences episodes of wandering and fear of him becoming lost is a family concern. Recently, I coordinated an independent test of a tracking technology by EM Finders Frisco Texas; the test was watched by 10 credible witnesses. My father wears a wristband that utilizes cell phone technology and interfaces in the recently upgraded 911 system. In the event of a loss my mother notifies 911 to report my father missing and then places a second call to an 800 number for device activation. Once activated the device location appears on computer maps within the 911 control center. A 911 dispatcher then sends emergency personnel to the location for recovery. The group witnessed two tests. In test one “a device purchased by my family” was located in 10 minutes within 100 yards of the device location. In test two, “a police officer controlled device” was located within 20 minutes and within 100 yards of the device location. There are other products on the market that use GPS technology and there is also a law enforcement offered solution through Project Life Saver. Improvements in wandering technology can improve quality of life, allow Alzheimer’s patients to stay home longer and save recovery dollars. I encourage families of Alzheimer patients to discuss technology option with your local police and emergency personnel. My research indicates many of these professionals don’t know these tools are available.

  - Rod

• February 5, 2011 11:43 p.m.

  In 1997, researchers found that there was widespread peroxynitrite-mediated damage in Alzheimer's disease. Among the myriad of factors that lead to peroxynitrite formation are high glucose levels, high blood pressure, bisphosphonate osteoporosis drugs, mercury, aluminium fluoride, and stress. Polyphenols in various fruits, vegetables, and spices, and polyunsaturated fats (such as fish oil) help prevent the formation of peroxynitrites. In 2007, investigators discovered that rosmarinic acid, a natural scavenger of peroxynitrites, protected against memory impairment from the amyloid beta protein in mice. One year earlier, the researcher Yoshifumi Irie concluded that another phenolic compound--eugenol--inhibited the excess influx of calcium into neurons thus preventing neuronal cell death. He stated that eugenol is a good medicine for Alzheimer's disease. Eugenol is found in a number of essential oils such as cinnamon leaf, clove, rosemary, and sage. Thymol (in thyme), carvacrol (in oregano), and perhaps limonene in various citrus oils similarly scavenge peroxynitrites and partially reverse their oxidative damage to receptors involved in smell, mood, sleep, and short-term memory. In 2009, Japanese researchers treated 28 dementia patients (17 of them with Alzheimer's disease) with rosemary, orange, lemon, and lavender essential oils (via aromatherapy) for 28 days. All showed significant improvement in cognitive functions. This disease can be treated now.

  - Lane

• January 30, 2011 3:42 p.m.

  ALZHEIMER and ALUMINUM Is there any discussion on these ever increasing blog and info web site on alzheimer regarding the current ongoing research that claims. Although aluminum is not a heavy metal, it is contained in all kinds of consumer products and household items. Studies suggest that aluminum might have a possible connection with developing Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum toxicity affects the central nervous system, kidney, and digestive system. There is a strong connection between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease. Research clearly demonstrates abnormally high accumulations of aluminum within the brains of Alzheimer's victims. The connection between aluminum in the brain and Alzheimer's Disease is so convincing that various studies are under way to explore whether aluminum in the brain can be removed, and if so, to determine if this would be beneficial for Alzheimer's patients. What are the sources of aluminum that contribute to toxicity? Aluminum is an ingredient in a wide-range of items that many of us use every day. Some of these products include processed foods, medications and even personal hygiene products. Aluminum sulfate is used to purify water. Processed cheese (please note the word processed) contains the emulsified sodium aluminum. Table salt (again processed) contains sodium silicoaluminate and or aluminum calcium. Cake and flour is whitened (again processing ) with potassium alum. Unfortunately aluminum is easily absorbed into the body I do appreciate t

  - Sharon

• January 20, 2011 4:48 p.m.

  I recently received an e-mail from a friend of the family about taking small amounts of Lithium Aspartate to stem the tde of Alzheimer's. I did some research on line and read several articles that seemed hopeful. What is your take on the use of Lithium Aspartate or Lithium Orotate?

  - Mike

• January 20, 2011 12:13 a.m.

  For as long as I remember I have always written about my grandpa. My grandpa suffered from Alzheimer's Disease for many years. It was absolutely debilitating and the worst part was that I never saw it coming. He died on December 17, 2010, the day after I came home from college. My creative writing teacher told me that sometimes you write about the same thing because you aren't finished with saying all that you want to say. I wrote pages and pages of every form or poetry, short story, essay, speech you could think of, but it never came out right. The day I wrote his eulogy, however, I felt that the need to write the perfect story about my grandpa was put to rest. So, from now on, instead of writing about my grandpa, I will write to him, detailing as much as I can about my life. I want him to be in my memory always because I wasn't always a part of his. In his memory, I have created a blog (www.deargrandpa1.blogspot.com). Included in this blog are advertisements that earn money through clicks, traffic of the website, etc. Every penny that I earn will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) to fund research towards curing this terrible disease. Please help me make this dream come true. Every visit and comment helps.

  - Lex

• January 16, 2011 7:33 p.m.

  This is to Donald. Thank you for your beautiful post about your wife. I went on a hike once with the Sierra Club and the leader told me he'd taken care of his wife for 8 years. Now several years later and in his late 70 or maybe early 80s he's still climbing and hiking to above 10,000 feet. I agree that without faith and outside help and support it's just not possible. A friend of mine put it like this: "stay connected".

  - Kate

• January 5, 2011 11:17 a.m.

  My husband was diagnosed a year ago at age 61 as having early Alzeimer's. Now he has recurrent prostate cancer after a prostatectomy 3 1/2 years ago. How (or WHO can help us) can we evaluate whether he is likely to die from Alzheimer's before prostate cancer? At this point he is still working and active. We live in SE Wyoming - is there a doctor located along the Front Range of Colorado who is an "expert" in both conditions?

  - Sherry

• January 4, 2011 3:44 p.m.

  Hi, Angela and Fellow Readers--I just discovered this resource and look forward to reading/conversing. I've just started writing about my experience with dementia in my mom and would love input. Here's my URL: http://mytaffypull.wordpress.com/. Welcome, all.

  - Tinky

• December 28, 2010 11:21 a.m.

  Where can I find accurate layman information on Atypical Alzheimer's Disease? Looking for as much information as possible on what it is, causes, coping and potential treatment options in the future (studies, etc).

  - Carol

• December 23, 2010 8:33 a.m.

  >Namenda is known to cause stomach distress. We have this problem every morning; it seems to disappear in an hour or so. What have you found to overcome the feeling of nausea at breakfast time?

  - ed like in fred or ted

• December 21, 2010 11:52 p.m.

  A lot of people have a difficult time taking cares of their loved one's needs. This is especially true with helping our loved ones use the bathroom. The COCO Bidet makes it so much easier to help clean our loved ones after they use the toilet. The COCO Bidet helps making the whole ordeal of using the bathroom much more pleasant for everyone. Please visit at http://www.biolifetechnologies.com

  - John

• December 21, 2010 3:28 p.m.

  Our mother is in late stages of Alzherimers. They are now in a retirement facility, been there one week. Mom is being extremely mean to dad when it comes to living there and sleeping there. Always arguing, refusing to sleep, but always nice to visitors. This is tearing me up. I know it's the 'right' place for them, but the guilt is making me depressed and stressed. Going to seek professional help is not an option, money is tight. Just hope I can make it another day, week, etc., Christmas this year is very sad.

  - Carol

• December 21, 2010 2:42 p.m.

  Our mother is in late stages of Alzherimers. They are now in a retirement facility, been there one week. Mom is being extremely mean to dad when it comes to living there and sleeping there. Always arguing, refusing to sleep, but always nice to visitors. This is tearing me up. I know it's the 'right' place for them, but the guilt is making me depressed and stressed. Going to seek professional help is not an option, money is tight. Just hope I can make it another day, week, etc., Christmas this year is very sad.

  - Carol

• December 19, 2010 8:40 p.m.

  This past week, my dear wife passed away after living with the ravages of eleven years of AD, ten of which was in our home. I was the sole caregiver as she was mostly cooperative. There was some aggression but the incontinence was the most difficult to deal with. I want to encourage caregivers to recognize their limits in their caregiving. I was extremely blessed to find a care facility close to my home (4 miles) where she received excellent loving care. Don't think you are the only person capable of giving your loved one proper care. My wife had begun to fall and continued to do so in the care facility. I am grateful that we were able to qualify for hospice care. They did a wonderful job. Over these years, I've discovered that there certainly are worse things than dying. I began to pray that my wife would be healed as I knew that the moment she breathed her last she would be healed and in heaven which she desired. I also encourage you to have an active faith in God as this is what has made it possible for both my wife and I to endure Alzheimer's disease to the end. She is now going to have Christmas with Jesus. What a gift for enduring to the end. I'm not sad but joyful as my wife is no longer trapped in her body with a mind that didn't work. She is now healed. Merry Christmas..... my best to you caregivers. You are doing God's work!

  - Donald

• December 14, 2010 8:33 p.m.

  I am a fulltime caregiver for my mother. This is in response to Mary, a caregiver (post: 11-22-10). I had the same problem. I tried bandages, but found I had to apply them 4 times a day to no avail. My caregiver suggested a white cotton glove) available at any drug store). This has been a huge success for us. While we use only 1 glove, others may need 2. You might also consider retro gloves(circa 1950). Mother seems to enjoy "putting on her gloves". Good luck and God Bless!

  - meg

• December 14, 2010 5:35 p.m.

  This morning after months of waiting we finally have an appt. at the Mayo Clinic. Even though the appt. date is months away it still gave us hope.I cried just at the thought of having someone to speak with and have my questions answered,. My husband and I are alone as caretakers for my mother-in-law. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 73 yoa. The sad thing is that her body is in such wonderful shape. I feel guilty even saying this but anyone who deals with this disease knows how devastating it is to watch the mind go while the body pushes forward.We sold both our homes and all possessions just to get her to a wonderful treatment facility. I know there is no cure but still we needed hope and a support system. She is currently living with us and we find every day to be more challenging than the next. Sometimes I question if it is really Alzheimer's or behavioral problems from depression. These are questions we need answered so badly. We are in the worse stage where it seems that everything we do is wrong. She gets so mad and irritated at everything.If she told me to turn right and I did she will say why didn't you go left. Or my favorite is "you think I can't do anything" this was said after asking which sponge she had used to wipe a counter off. Is this normal? Or as normal as it gets? We feel like we are the ones needing treatment. Is there a support group in the Fernandina Beach area that anyone knows of? HELP!

  - Laura

• December 13, 2010 12:19 a.m.

  Ann..... My heart sank as I read your comments. I've been in this caregiving role for eleven years so I know how cruel the disease can be. You need a support group of people around you. They are out there, you just have to reach out. I would start at the Alzheimer's Association and find a local support group to join who can listen to your frustrations and concerns and give you advice from their experience. You need to educate yourself about the disease. You are only one person and you are not superwoman. Your description sounds like it is dragging you down rapidly and you cannot allow this to happen as you are the last line of defense. It sounds like you may be reaching the limit and should have professional help. Don't feel guilty. Your duty is the health and safety of your Mom. You do not have to be the 24/7 caregiver. There are loving wonderful caregivers in care facilities but make sure you choose wisely. You need to talk to your doctor about your mental and physical health because stress can cause you to fail yourself rather quickly. May God give you strength and wisdom as you deal with the declining health of your Mom and your sense of responsibility to care for her.

  - Donald

• December 12, 2010 9:57 a.m.

  My mom has alzheimer's - it's really tough being the only daughter taking care of her. She wakes me up during the night and sleeps all day. The toughest part of it is that there is no family support -- and I feel like I'm in this alone --I'm always tired and it seems that no one cares. There are times I just don't know what to do. I'm trying to keep her at home as long as possible but how do I know if I'm keeping her at home for my benefit or hers? It's such a cruel disease.

  - Ann