Alzheimer's disease

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• May 21, 2013 11:24 a.m.

  I heard from very reliable sources that a "cure" would be introduced and available this year?!?!?!

  - Tina

• May 16, 2013 2:00 a.m.

  We were told our Mother had Alzheimer's by several medical MD's in 2002 and was declining rapidly. They gave her only one year. She had a professional pool playing friend and he started teaching her his own way that included 'NO DRUGS'! She had never played pool before in her life. Her late husband was a MD doctor, so they were golfer's. Lo and behold, she improved greatly!!! This is eleven years later and she still maintains independent living at the age of 85 years old. Her professional pool playing friend said he never knew anyone in his profession that ever was inflicted with Alzheimer's. Will the medical profession precribe this treatment,,, NO,,, for there is no money in it for them and they do not know what this man know's; nor will they seek or ask! This is not hype, but a true story that we view as a great blessing for our family!!

  - Sandy

• March 13, 2013 12:36 p.m.

  All I'm reading here is about meds. I live in Canada (I lived in the U.S. the first 35 years of my life) and am now 76. Meds aren't pushed as much here - thank goodness!! I'm attending a Brain Fit class and find it really helping with poor memory, etc. This class teaches Cognitive Coaching (Cognitive Fit Minds(tm)InterActive Program). Programs like this should be available to more Seniors I know there is perhaps a genetic link but this IS making a difference.

  - Connie

• June 24, 2012 4:37 p.m.

  what about the human subjects and insulin injections

  - nate

• February 22, 2012 8:42 a.m.

  My name is Rick Phelps. I am Founder of Memory People™, the largest Support Group site on FB that deals with Support. We have over 1600 Members from all over the world. What makes us different from other sites, is what is in this article. We do not talk of Cures, or the latest concoction someone reads on the internet. We want a Cure, of course, its just not we do. We offer Support. Its what we do, its all we do. We leave the Cure thing, the donation thing, the false hope to other sites. Alzheimer Sites on the internet are a dime a dozen. We deal in Support only. We have Patients, Caregivers, Family Members and Advocates. All with the same thing in common. All needing Support. We offer more Support than some Family members do, we are very aware of the Denial that comes with this disease. We no not condone Denial, but we realize it happens. We listen together, we laugh, we cry...We are Family. Please join us on Memory People™. We are changing lives, one person at a time...

  - Rick

• September 16, 2011 5:28 p.m.

  Give it a chance. for pity sakes. I have solved problems for 35 years in the Nuclear Industry and I firmly believe there is a solution to every problem mankind has to face. Do clinical testing ASAP on Alzheimer's patients in ALL of it's stages to get solid proof one way or the other. The Insulin Nasal Spray looks good as a cure.

  - George

• June 1, 2011 5:31 p.m.

  My husband was diagnosed with AD in 2003.The Research Center at our Hospital developed a State of Art Machine which tracks markers in the Brain that show the progession of AD. He was in the beginning state. Last year he had another test which showed him in the middle stage.My Mother had AD, so I have had a lot of experience with being a AD Care Giver. Since my husband was diagnosed I have done everything possible to delay the Disease until there is a Drug which will stop or reverse AD. I have the benefit of having a Doctor who has run some of the AD Trials and is Up-to-Date on the latest Research. My husband's program: 1. Meds: Combination Therapy with Aricept and Namenda. A year ago he started Axona and I removed sugar from his diet except for fruit. I saw a difference one month after the Axona. He stopped having bad dreams at night, we both got a good night's sleep. During the past 6 months he started getting a little aggressive and continued the very slow decline that he has had for 9 years.I took him again to his Dr.to see if there was anything else that could be done. He wrote a Off-Label Prescription for 500 mg Depakote at bedtime to see if it might make a difference. It is a Anti-siezure drug. A Trial just started with AD patients. On the 3rd day my husband could shave, operate the shower,no agression .His Blood Work is 100% normal now. Also does Walks and Gym 4/wk. I feel he is doing very good considering it is now 9 years!

  - Carole

• December 16, 2010 10:29 a.m.

  Previous comment on heavy metals.

  - Lane

• December 16, 2010 10:25 a.m.

  Certain metal compounds such as mercury chloride, methyl mercury, and aluminum fluoride can activate phospholipase C--an enzyme that may trigger late onset Alzheimer's disease. This enzyme exports zinc which contributes to high homocysteine levels which in turn leads to high levels of peroxynitrites. Other factors which contribute to high levels of peroxynitrites are high glucose levels, high blood pressure, the Apoe4 gene, presenilin gene mutations, bisphosphonate osteoporosis drugs, and late estrogen replacement therapy (the last two factors may help explain why women are more at risk for getting Alzheimer's disease than men). At least some metal compounds then may increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease.

  - No name given

• December 13, 2010 9:14 p.m.

  I was taught the heavy metals in the brain causes Alzheimer's ? If anyone else know's any info about the heavy metals, please do post a comment pertaining to this. Thanks, Paul

  - Paul

• November 30, 2010 7:07 p.m.

  Several small-scale clinical trials have concluded that aromatherapy could well be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. These trials along with case studies indicate the following improvements in Alzheimer's patients who receive aromatherapy: improved sleep, better mood, better ability to communicate, greater awareness, and increased alertness. I have observed all of these changes in my own mother, whom has been on aromatherapy for three years. The best essential oils for the treatment of the disease are those high in polyphenols, such as cloves, cinnamon leaf, red thyme, bay leaf, rosemary, and sage. Aromatherapy scavenges peroxynitrites which are the main cause of memory impairment, disturbed sleep, depression, lethargy, and impaired sense of smell in Alzheimer's disease. They also reverse the oxidation of a variety of receptors, transport systems, and enzymes including those involved in the uptake of choline and in the prodcution of acetylcholine--the main compound invovled in memory retrieveal. Indeed, the initial clinical trials, case studies, and research evidence all strongly point in the direction of aromatherapy as an effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease. I urge the medical community to examine this potential breakthrough carefully and soon.

  - Lane

• October 7, 2010 11:36 a.m.

  That is really devastating when people write that there has been a 'cure' for alzheimer's when that seems to be quite a way in the future. It sure would be nice to have someone write about what actually does help the Alzheimers patient. thank you.

  - Bobbi

• August 29, 2010 5:30 a.m.

  My echo cardiogram showed 'Inferior wall Ischaemia( Intraseptal), but Cardiac catheterisation did not show any blockage in either coronaries. I am being treated as a heart patient and am on Isosorbide daily with nitroglycerine on only PRN basis. I heard there could be some sophisticated test. I want/need to know. Thank you.

  - smita

• August 16, 2010 8:39 a.m.

  My wife's AD is probably at Mid-stage, still able to care for herself. I intend to try to keep her at home as long as possible, but I have begun checking out Assisted-living establishments, for what seems to be the inevitable. The first two places were new, high-end, and very much out of my league. I understand that Medicare doesn't pay for this, but what I'm not clear on, is how the Medicaid process works. I understand we would have to spend down her portion of our savings, which would leave me with some of the savings. I wonder if someone could explain the process to me, so that when I do see an attorney I understand what we are getting into. Appreciate any assistance. Thank you

  - Duncan

• January 14, 2010 1:54 p.m.

  About once a month my brother calls to tell me about some drug he saw on TV he thinks my 84 year old dad needs. I feel like a bad person, but I don't want Pa taking a bunch of drugs, especially since most of them have terrible side effects. Pa's doctor agrees with me so far. Am I so wrong letting this disease run its course so long as the doctor says okay?

  - Denise

• January 1, 2010 2:58 p.m.

  Has anyone had experience with the brain exercise program being offered by christiangoodman.com, which promotes breathing and brain exercises to supply more oxygen to the brain?

  - Gary

• August 7, 2009 4:43 a.m.

  My wife was diagnosed as having dementia associated with parkinsons disease first in 2003 at the age of 64,and was given Parkinsons medication to no effect or improvement. The specialists then decided she had AD.She was given the drugs mentioned in the article.All her symptoms got worse and she had every side effect possible and her attitude and behaviour got so bad that she was admitted to a psychiatric geriatric hospital when I could not cope any longer.The hospital stopped the AD drugs,but the damage done was irreversible.After 3 months in the hospital she was diagnosed as having Lewy body dementia.Some of the doctors agree that the AD drugs would have speeded up her decline.She is now in a dementia care home and is a complete physical and mental wreck.My contention is that the prescibing of these drugs should only be done with the utmost care and the medical professionals should never,ever, assume anything without due care and attention.

  - John

• August 4, 2009 6:50 p.m.

  Cerebrolysin....Only America doesn't use it. Works fabulously. Look it up in PubMed! It's been around since the 1990's.

  - Sha

• July 23, 2009 9:03 p.m.

  I am 64 with some form of dementia. I care for my 85yr old mother with dementia. I am fatigued trying to fight my way through all the things necessary to live with this disease. I feel my deterioration has sped up greatly. The only hope I have is that a cure is found before I end up in a care home. I believe even if they did find a cure, it would take years to reach those of us that need it.

  - Sherryl

• July 13, 2009 11:12 a.m.

  Janet, to answer you question. Yes, we are so desperate for any cure.

  - Sherry

• July 7, 2009 9:38 p.m.

  I was recently (3 months ago) diagnosed with AD. It was creeping up on me and I had discussed it with my physician. I requested a PET Scan. Its report uses words such as mild & moderate. I searched for clues for a cure for 10 yrs while I cared for my mother and watched others in her family deteriorate with AD. Sans a cure, I'm trying to alleviate my fears of who is going to care for me--now I care for my 82 yr-old-significant other with Melanoma and make medical decisions for him--my daughters watched my mother fade, but they have no concept of what it will actually do to them when they can no longer depend on me. I will be 75 soon and have a book publishing business with a friend who is 83--started last year. I still edit books, more carefully now, and hired my grandson, a budding writer and editor, to help and double check some of my work. I hired his older sister to organize my office, learn about the financial aspects of the business, learn to do my checkbooks, invoicing and many things I will be unable to handle soon. I pay my daughter to clean my house (she's widowed and no income) to get her used to helping me out. Why am I doing this & telling you about it? Because I can. I can do many things. I refuse to be a victim or just a number until I no longer have any control. I want to work. I will as long as I can. Perhaps there will be no cure but we can make happy memories for them & even a little money. This is how I want to be remembered --not as a ve

  - Lois

• June 23, 2009 6:52 p.m.

  I wonder if some of the people in nursing homes don't really HAVE dementia or Alzheimer's....I know of at least 3 people (one being my father) who showed symptoms which would seem to be one of those...when actually what was going on was that they had a Urinary Tract Infection.....which puts bacteria in your system. Which does a huge number on your body PLUS your mind. My father was 89, had other health concerns and died. One of the others was given antibiotics and was back to her normal self after about 3 days.

  - Betty

• June 23, 2009 4:24 p.m.

  My spouse has Alzheimers, and I don't care what they experiment on, as long as they can find something before he reaches the point of not knowing who I am. He has been on Aricept since 2000, and just recently increased the dosage from 5 mg to 10 mg. Please let someone soon come up with something even better than Aricept. If you are not a caretaker, then don't bother to reply.

  - Marion

• June 17, 2009 5:32 p.m.

  who is Dr. Susan Gudakunst claims several cures

  - Jean Mogren

• June 16, 2009 3:33 p.m.

  My husband was on Aricept-didn't do anything except subject him to hallucinations. In addition, he was put on the latest one-don't remember the name, but it had gotten raves in Germany. Again, absolutely no help. His Doctor commented on the use of mice and said pigs should be used for testing because their body makeup is closest to humans.

  - Alice