Alzheimer’s Is Not Normal Aging — And We Can Cure It

I thought this was worth posting. He says some interesting things but it's a bit of an anti-climax when you realise that, as with so many new ideas that are discussed, there's still a long, long way to go. The images shown from 3.05 are very powerful:

'I hate Alzheimer's...'

(The person who posted this powerful and moving statement online is happy for it to be copied.)

I hate Alzheimer's because, many years ago, it barged its way into my dear wife's life and began the ruthless, agonisingly slow process of squeezing the life force out of her.

I hate Alzheimer's because, not only did it take away the pen with which she could write new memories but, with cold-blooded efficiency, it also began the process of erasing the memories she had already written.

I hate Alzheimer's because, even as our two sons and I hugged each other, sobbing at Brenda's bedside after she had passed away, it brazenly stood there, hands held aloft saying "Don't blame me! It wasn't me that killed her - it was the pneumonia or heart problems or loss of swallow-reflex" and yet it was the Alzheimer's as surely as any drug-pusher or illegal gun-supplier is responsible. It may not have pulled the trigger but it certainly provided the weapon.

I hate Alzheimer's because, if I had bought a punchbag on which to take out my frustration over the many years of Brenda's decline and even if I had knocked seven bells out of it at regular intervals and even if I had kicked and clawed and battered it again and again and again, today it would still look as unscathed and unbothered as the day I bought it. Alzheimer's would have simply shrugged it off with a cocky "Is that all you've got?"

But, you know, Alzheimer's, we are going to get you. Every penny we raise, every test we do, every trial we endure, every hopeful lead we see falter and fail takes us one day nearer to making you a hideous nightmare of the past and you will no longer cast that awful shadow over mankind. I truly believe that with all my heart and we will get you.

I promise.

Donating your brain

Whether they believe in life after death or not, most people do not think of the body as having much use to anyone after death, which is why it is usually burnt or buried.

For many years now the principle of removing organs for donation where appropriate has been generally accepted and, in many cases, this can lead to other people's lives being saved.

You cannot, yet, donate your brain for potential transplant  -  and it is not hard to understand the problems, beyond the technical, that would be involved with that.

But you can still donate your brain, and your gift might help in the understanding of brain disease which could, eventually lead to potential treatments and cures. Neither you nor your relatives can use your brain after you and it are dead so that it could be put to use in this way is surely worth thinking about.

I hadn't thought about it at all until dementia came into my life.  I still don't think about it much but I'm starting to consider donating my own brain.  Even if it is not affected by dementia  -  and 20% of people in their late 80s will develop dementia  -  it could still be of use to researchers.

You can find out more here:

http://www.hta.gov.uk/bodyorganandtissuedonation/howtodonateyourbody/donatingyourbrain.cfm

There's even a Brains for Dementia Research Centre.

A treatable disease that can be mistaken for Alzheimer's

I came across this online.  There's a condition called  Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) that causes, amongst other things, dementia that can be mistaken for Alzheimer's Disease:

http://www.alz.org/dementia/normal-pressure-hydrocephalus-nph.asp

In some cases the disease is treatable.  Sometimes patients can make an almost complete recovery.

Everyone interested in dementia should be aware of this disease as it is one of the few conditions involving dementia for which there is, sometimes, a 'cure'.  If someone with NPH is diagnosed as having AD, the consequence could be that they miss out on the possibility of successful treatment.

Alzheimer's 'breakthroughs'

These come along pretty regularly and are announced, and re-announced, with great fanfares.

The BBC have run with three of them, as main news headlines, in about a week. First there was the 'new' blood test (which has certainly been mentioned before). Here's an interesting take on it:

http://www.todmordennews.co.uk/news/health/blood-test-for-alzheimer-s-no-better-than-coin-toss-1-6721224 

This morning the main headline on the Breakfast Programme mentioned two tests, one which would involves cells from the eyelids and one that would test sense of smell.  There doesn't seem to be a current online link but a Google search suggests that both have been mentioned by the BBC before.

Of course, the 'small print' always tells you that the tests won't be ready for general use for years, if at all.

And it's sadly also the case that there is no cure for Alzheimer's  -  existing treatments, at best, help with some symptoms but cannot slow down the progression of the disease.  Between 2002 and 2012 99.6% of trials of drugs aimed at preventing, curing or improving the symptoms of Alzheimer's failed or were discontinued. (BBC website article)

So these really aren't breakthroughs in any meaningful sense.  Unless you regard thousands of people knowing they are destined to develop a terminal disease as a breakthrough.