T:<medicine> as possible treatment	
Q:I've read that <medicine> is being testing in a clinical trial to study possible effects on Alzheimers. 
 It was noticed by researchers that rheumatoid arthritis patients almost never developed Alzheimers. 
 One hypothesis that has been successfully tested in mice is that the protein GMCSF is released into the blood in RA patients. 
 This protein then gets into the brain and prevents alzheimers. 
 This same protein is in the drug <medicine>. 
 <medicine> is an FDA approved drug used after bone marrow transplants or after chemotherapy to treat neutropenia,  a side effect of the chemo. 
 My understanding is that in the US any <professional_practitioner>  can prescribe a drug for indications other than the approved indication,  off-label. 
 However in some cases this off label use may not be reimbursed by insurance. 
  Does anyone have experience or knowledge of any <professional_practitioner> s prescribing <medicine> off label for alzheimers? I'm sure someone has picked up on this possibility. 
 We just returned from another disappointing visit to the <professional_practitioner>  with my mother in law,  who has alzheimers. 
 The <professional_practitioner>  basically offered no good treatments other than what she has been taking - <medicine> and <medicine> - which he admitted don't really do anything. 
 <medicine> is in the early stages of testing and if successful wouldn't be approved until too late for us. 
 We are looking for options if anyone can helpthanksLou	
T:Father recently diagnosed with Alzheimers	Q:My Father was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's,  at first before we knew he had it,  there were some signs that we thought something maybe wrong with his memory,  but he functioned very well,  walked <distance>  every day,  was always gong somewhere,  very active. 
  Just in the last <time_period> you can see a decline in him,  he has to ask how old he is,  he repeatedly asks what the day,  year,  month etc. 
  He was in the <institution> last <time_period> for a bleeding ulcer,  and apparently he has a very rough time at night,  the <professional_practitioner> said he has sundowners syndrome,  his gets worse at night,  my Mom says he gets up and down a lot during the night checking for his wallet and check book. 
  He barely will do anything anymore,  he usually just sits by my Mom,  and repeatedly tells her how much he loves her,  and how beautiful her hair is,  he is not the same man I knew,  my heart breaks for him,  I have taken this so very bad,  I never really understood Alzheimers and the devastation it can cause,  I sure wish I never found out! 	A:Sorry to hear about your dad. 
 My dad has sundowners too. 
 It usually kicks in after an afternoon nap. 
 Supposedly,  if you turn on a bunch of lights and make the room as bright as possible it'll help with sundowners. 
 A:Do your parents dance,  or have another activity they did together?My wife has forgotten a lot of things,  but she hangs on to some things that mean the most to her. 
 One of them is dancing. 
 She has been an expert dancer since her teenaged years. 
 I take her dancing <num>  times a week and it makes her very happy because she holds on to the memory long enough for the next night I take her out. 
  If your father has one activity that he hasn't forgotten,  his wife can help him a lot by doing it with him. 
 If that activity is mainly walking,  perhaps she can join him. 
 <distance> is a long walk,  so maybe she can get him to shorten the walk to whatever is comfortable for her. 
 It will give him a chance to have happy memories with her that will hopefully last to the next walk. 
 A:Thank you for your replies,  he doesn't forgot every thing,  he knows he walked but no longer really desires doing it,  I believe it is because he is away from my Mother. 
 He does walk each morning to get his paper,  but it isn't like the walking he used to do. 
He remembers all of us,  I'm not sure how they stage it,  but he seems to forgot more things like the year,  his age,  the month,  day,  He just asked my Mother when was Christmas,  I guess he forgot we already celebrated it. 
I guess it is just tough when you see your parent in this situation,  and as I stated before I never knew really what Alzheimers was all about,  I never knew how much people lose. 
A:<name>  - the sad part is it's going to get worse. 
 You'll quickly learn to NOT argue with him. 
 If he thinks he's right about a subject - just agree with him. 
 as long as it's not a really important subject. 
  When he asks about Christmas - just tell him it'll be here before he knows it. 
 The good news here is that tomorrow he'll forget he asked about Christmas. 
 The hard part - my dad for example is three times more sharp in the morning than he is in the afternoon. 
 He knows his memory is shot and he can have quite a discussion about it. 
 In the afternoon he doesn't know where he is and who the people around him are. 
 A:Wow <name> ,  that is so sad,  My father is sharper in the morning,  but as the day progresses he gets worse,  he has good days and he has bad days. 
 It's just so sad to see someone that was so full of life become like this,  my Father is <age> ,  not sure how old your Father was when he was diagnosed. 
 I asked him why he didn't like to go out anymore,  he said it makes him nervous. 
 The last time he took me to the store(<time_period> ago) he would pace the front of the store scared to death that he lost us,  so now when he goes shopping he just stays with my Mom. 
  A:I am so sorry,  <name> ! It hurts so bad to watch the ones we love struggle. 
Treasure the good moments,  you are clearly a very loving and caring daughter. 
Do you all have lots of local support with friends and family? HUGS! ~<name> 
A:Thank you <name> ,  we support him greatly,  and my Mother is a wonderful caretaker for him. 
 I will break down on the phone when I talk to him,  because just his voice sounds very sad,  he will tell me he is okay. 
 it is just a very painful experience,  just so sad that anyone has to go through this. 
  
