T:Quick Facts , Information. Warning Signs. Alzheimer's Disease / Check it out	Q:1. Alzheimers D is a progressive, degenerative disease that detroys brain cells. . It is NOT a normal part of AGING 2. The symptoms of AD include a gradual onset and continual decline of memory, changes in judgement or reasoning, and an inability to perform familiar tasks 3. AD eventually effects al aspects of a persons life, including how he / she thinks, feels acts and reacts to their environment 4. Presently there is NO known CURE for this fatal disease 5. Medications are available to treat some of the symptoms 6. Currently there is no way to prevent AD but there is growing evidence that there ARE things ppl can do that may help to lower their risks 7. There are <num> types of Alzheimer's Disease A) Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease is the MOST commom. makes up to <num> <num> % of all cases B) Familial Alzheimer's Dominant ( FAD) AD is the rare inherited form and involves <num> to <num> % of cases . ** I will be adding more facts as well as talking about Related Dementias such as A) Creutzfeldt - Jakob Disease B) Lewy Body Demetia C) Frontotemporal Demetia ( Pick's Disease) D) Vascular Demetia Also will be posting some warning signs and statistics. THis DD is taking our loved ones daily . it needs to have more research monies allotted to help and it desperately needs to find some hope and a possible slowing down of the amount of ppl we have with this In <location> alone more than <num> ppl have AD and it is raising alarmingly In <location> more than <num> have this as well . PLease do what you can to make a difference Voluteer at local <institution> Anything especailly visiting shut ins and those in <institution> that have no visitors is the greatest gift you will ever give. Take care and God Bless <name> Input appreciated	A:Should we screen for Alzheimer's disease? Fewer than one-half of all Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are currently diagnosed; approximately <num>% are treated with antidementia compounds. Screening has been proposed to help combat underdiagnosis of AD. An emerging consensus suggest that the three keys to the successful treatment of Alzheimer's disease are early detection,  use of currently approved medications to provide symptomatic treatment,  and development of medications to slow and eventually halt disease progression. I think this would rellay be a good idea and may help with early DX of the ADAny Comments or input? <name>


A:Ten Warning Signs 1. Memory loss that affects day to day functioning 2. Difficulty performing very familiar tasks even something like putting on shoes 3.  Problems with language. getting words mixed up or forgetting what words they want to say plus other difficulties with speaking. 4. Disorientation of times and places. confusion 5. Poor or decreased judgement. ( putting self in harms way ect. ) 6. Problems with ABSTRACT thinking 7. Misplacing things and accusing others of either hiding or stealing things 8. Changes in moods and behaviours ( can go from sweet to really mean in no time) ( acting out in anger or frustration) 9 Changes in personality ( can become very introverted and shut in. not wanting to see ppl( also some have no cares about their grooming habits or eating habits )Medications forgotten or just NOT taken 10. Loss of Initiative( not wanting to do anything or be part of anything. again introverted) Medications issues again These are the ten most common SX there are other ones as well Please do add your input Appreciate it for sure. <name>


A:Thanks <name> . . . this is a great topic . . . I'm watching with great interest as I fear for my own mind. *sigh* I think it will be a great topic for newbies too. Some people just want to get a sense of what the beginning signs are. I have read that one of the earliest symptoms is inability to smell citrus or natural gas smells. Sounds weird but I actually get some degree of reassurance from this one as my sense of smell is still very good. As I remember,  my dad lost his sense of smell well before his dx. How about your mom and dad ? Thanks for working so hard to provide info for the folks in this forum <name>. I know you are struggling with your health and your spare time . . . . you do a fantastic job here!  (<name> ) Blessings! 


A:Thanks <name>,  My hubbies Grandmother had AD and it was so sad as she knew nobody for <time_period> and did not even recognize her children. My MIL tried to keep her at home but she has crippling arthritis and could not continue. Grandma went to <institution> and my MIL went everyday to spend the afternoon from lunch time on with her. We would go and see her too. She lived well into her <age>'s.  God Bless you <name> for all you do with this forum Hugs <name>


A:My parents both lost their sense of smell as wellMine is really working good My sniffer I calls it lolTHanks for all your support and kind words <name>. God BlessLuvs<name>


A:Lil <name> is one of the biggies IMHOAs posted both parents lost theirsMine is still sniffing out all the  bad  smells  lolI swear I say WHAT is that smell at least <num> times a dayTake care lil sis and thanks for your love and support. I really DO love this forum and doing what I can to make awareness and helping out others in situations they are inLuvsBig sis


A:Just heard today that taking <medicine> at an early age ( <age>'s) daily can help with the onset of Alzheimer's. it was on CNN


A:What exactly is sporadic AZ? Is this where they have spells of dementia but can revert back to their own self on occasion? I tried finding out what it meant on the net but I didn't find much.  


A:HI Yes it is where they will come into periods of Lucidity and then out again. There isnt too much on the net but from experience with dad I knew he had this from <time_period> ago and it took some time to go directly to ADTake care sis


A:Thanks for clarifying that for me <name> :)


A:NO problem <name>I have seen this in NH 's as well it is sad but it happensYES I know I worry too becuase I am already having forgetting issues but the <professional_practitioner> re assures me it is the Fibro Plus I believe for me <medicine> /<medicine> does work on making my short term memory really bad . Take careI so admire you for what you are doing with and for your GMA


A:Also there was a ? about the NON ability to smell gas and other thingsThat IMHO is so true This is the reason ( one anyways) that you really have to watch loved ones in their homes and in yours especially with gas appliances. And they tend to lean over stove with long sleeve on ( omg I thought dad was gonna burn up once) with the burner onThis was so out of character for him as he was always yelling at us kids about the stove pilot light and making sure burners were offHe still was smelling gas all the time. I would have to take him and show him it was offEventually I took knobs off the stove and blew out pilot lights it was that scary . 


A:Exciting research being done to hopefully TRY and find a cure for AD. Check out the link and see you may have to copy to browser. 


A:Keeping Your Mind HealthyIf you hope to maintain cognitive function as long as possible,  there are a number of lifestyle measures that may be protective,  according to the Alzheimer's Association:Stay socially and mentally connected . Keep tabs on your cholesterol level and blood pressure readings to keep them in the normal ranges . High levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure boost the risk of dementia. Manage your body weight . Obesity in middle age doubles the risk of dementia later. Adopt a brain-healthy diet. Eat more vegetables and less fat. Pick dark-skinned fruits and vegetables,  which have the highest levels of natural antioxidants -- for instance,  kale,  spinach,  Brussels sprouts,  broccoli,  beets,  red bell peppers,  prunes,  raisins,  blueberries,  blackberries and plums. These are the main points to help keep mind activeEspecially having a SOCIAL Life


A:I popped over here due to my grandmother's strange inability to hold on to things like her dentures and glasses. She has good days and then she has bad days where she can't remember anything. I was her caregiver until she fell. The <professional_practitioner> said she had to go to a <institution>. Now I go every weekend and she seems to be going downhill fast.  Thanks for the info. I suspect AD. I am going to watch her closer now that I know all the signs.  


A:I am so sorry my friend'It sure is hard when this happensI am really glad you are keeping up the visists with her in <institution>'HAVE you checked out that particuliar on in <institution> thread it gives you the ratings and info about <institution>'I will bump it up for you Loveand keep me postedGod Bless you and your sweet GMA. <name>


A:ALZHEIMERS is NOT a Single Gene DisorderDiseases such as cystic fibrosis,  muscular dystrophy,  and Huntington's disease are single-gene disorders. If a person inherits the gene that causes one of these disorders,  he or she surely will get the disease,  unless it is prevented by other means. AD,  on the other hand,  is not a single-gene disorder. More than one gene mutation can cause AD,  and genes on multiple chromosomes are involved. Sometimes,  <num> genes--one from each parent--are needed for a person to get the disorder. The <num> basic types of AD are familial and sporadic. Familial AD (FAD) is a rare form of AD,  affecting less than <num> percent of AD patients. It is associated with gene mutations on chromosomes <num>,  <num>,  and <num>. FAD is the result of a certain inheritance pattern called autosomal dominant. In this pattern,  all offspring in the same generation have a <num>/<num> chance of developing AD if <num> of their parents had it. FAD occurs in younger people (usually before age <age>) than sporadic AD does. More info to be added


A:GENES Like recipes,  genes provide instructions about how to make something,  indicating what ingredients go in and in what order. But,  the environment (things outside the body like food,  the air we breathe,  or chemicals we are exposed to) and processes inside the body determine which ingredients are available and in what forms and quantities. Along with environmental influences,  genes and processes inside the body combine to do more than just determine eye and hair color and other traits inherited from our parents. For example,  genes ensure that we have <num> hands and can use them to do things,  like play the piano. In almost every case,  nature (genes) and nurture (including the physical and chemical environment) work together to shape all living things. Genes alone are not all-powerful. Most genes can do little until spurred on by other substances. Although they are necessary in their own right,  genes basically wait inside the cell's nucleus (control center) for other molecules to come along and read their messages. Each of these messages is used to build a certain protein. Genes may build a protein correctly or incorrectly,  depending on the content of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) message. A gene can produce a faulty protein if it has one or more mutations (defects) in its DNA. Faulty proteins can lead to cell malfunction,  disease,  and death. You can go to a Geneologist and have self screened to see what role your genes play in the AD. I have had mom and step dad pass from this DD and I am going to be screened for sure as I have fibro and the memory loss is scaring me at my age <age> . 


A:. TTT for new members


A:BUMPING


A:I have been taking care of a friend of mine that was diagnoised with alzheimers disease <time_period> ago. She is on the medications <medicine>,  <medicine> and <medicine>. she had gotten so out of hand the <professional_practitioner>. i take her to for the alzheimers said she needed to be on <medicine> to calm her down. she would get so angry. she would walk up and down the street until the neighbors would call the police on her even though she was not doing anything. she would hit her caregivers,  she just didn't want anyone in her house taking over. since she has been on the <medicine> she is very calm. She is constantly having different symtoms and i just wanted to see if anyone else has anyone with these. <name>'s face gets very red in the evenings with no reason,  she always throws up <num> or <num> times a day. her hair is starting to come out. her teeth are decaying,  she is losing weight. she has not spoken a word in <time_period> now. her <professional_practitioner> said she has aphasia which is loss of speech. I have gotten her home health care after trying for <time_period>. she now has a great caregiver who takes great care of her. i still give her meds and buy her groceries and take her to the <professional_practitioner> and other things for her. i tried for <time_period> to get her help and even though she couldn't speak,  they said she did't qualify,  i finally wrote someone in <location> and it took me another <time_period> and they finally approved her for homehealth care. she has had this for <time_period> now. they have raised her <time_period> after i told them she is unable to feed,  dress,  clean house cook,  wash clothes or anything anymore. now she is getting <time_period> a week and we get respite care also.  they tried to tell me if she is not bedridden she couldn't get any hrs over <time_period>. this is until they saw her. now they understand. sometimes she still gets really angry,  i just wanted to see if anyone else had the same problems that i have.  I have found a <professional_practitioner> who does research on alzheimer patients. she is in the <institution> in <location>. it took me <time_period> to get her into it. her appointment is not until <date> But i will take anything i can get,  just to see if maybe she has something else. she will have a kinds of testing done on her and the <professional_practitioner> is supposed to be one of best in her field,  so i'll see what happens in <month>.  


A:Hi <name> and Welcom to HWThere are alot of sx that do not just go with AlzheimersWhat does her family <professional_practitioner> say about thisWhat type of foods is she throwing upAnger n Frustration is a biggie with many of alzheimers pplThe are scared for what they are losing and have lost. Read some of other threads hun and now you know to that you are no longer alone**I will do some checking into the sx she is having for you okayEmail me it is in envelope at sideGod Bless. <name>


A:Thank-you <name>. All of this has been very helpful. As you know,  I am caring for my Dad,  I don't really understand the stages and could use some coaching on that. The single biggest problem I have is his anger. Yes,  he has lost a lot: His wife (<institution>),  his vehicle,  his license,  and his self-respect. I have lost a lot too. My freedom to come and go,  my ability to work,  private time,  privacy,  friends,  and so on. I get so dog-gone angry when he gets angry because everything he wants and needs,  I provide for him. All the special foods he likes,  special soap,  a neck warmer,  warm clothers,  and on and on. i went yesterday to get a part to fix the muffler on the car and he had a massive tantrum. I was only going to be gone a <time_period> at most and quite frankly,  I'm worried about the exhaust fumes rising up into the car because I smell it,  it's carbon monoxide and highly dangerous. I have to have all windows open until I get it fixed. He throws a fit because he's left behind for <time_period>. while I see about this. He complains if a window is down even an inch. You see the delemma? I am gettinnng tired of him. I have to say that. It's all his way or no way. i went to pick up a christmas tree and got a madman blowing my horn in the car like the house was on fire. Aside from being irritating,  it's getting harder and harder for me to keep it together. I'm short tempered. My son is available to come up today and I caný afford the gas to go get him. He could take the pressure off for a bit. Thank-you for listening.  


A:HUn There are many threads that have great input for you to readI will bring them up for you okayNo problem my friendI am always here to try n be of help for those in needGOD BLESS
