Alzheimer's Disease

[Gregory Matthews]

On the clinical side of life, the following article contains important information for people who have to deal with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/10/alzheimers-drug-aduhelm-medicare/

[Morwenna]

Alzheimer's is awful. This is sort of good news/bad news. Great that there are a few things that can help people deal with it, but bad that it's always a drug that they're looking at in "solving" the problem.

Best advice from someone who has already lost 2 people with Alzheimer's and is currently caring for a 3rd: enjoy every moment you can with them, make memories now, take photographs--and GET YOUR OWN HEALTH and affairs in order before it happens to you. 

You can prevent (most cases) of Alzheimer's by eating a healthy, whole-food, plant-based diet, drinking water, exercising, getting sunshine and adequate amounts of Vitamin D and B12, breathing clean air, sleeping an appropriate amount of time for you your age, taking time to worship and meditate, practicing faith, avoiding alcohol and unnecessary drugs, keeping your mind active by learning new things, forming and maintaining friendships with people of various ages, races and sexes, enjoy time with animals and get outdoors into nature. 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

My mother did all of that, never ate flesh foods.  She died of Alzheimer's.

What is your documentation for your statement as to preventing most cases?

 

 

[Morwenna]

Sherzai, D., & Sherzai, A. (2019). The Alzheimers solution: A breakthrough program to prevent and reverse the symptoms of cognitive decline at every age. New York, NY: HarperOne

[Morwenna]

4 hours ago, Gregory Matthews said:

My mother did all of that, never ate flesh foods.  She died of Alzheimer's.

What is your documentation for your statement as to preventing most cases?

 

 

Did she eat cheese, dairy, processed grains, added oils, added sugars, added salt?

[Gregory Matthews]

I repeat:  What is your documentation?

[Morwenna]

34 minutes ago, Gregory Matthews said:

I repeat:  What is your documentation?

Morwenna

Posted 58 minutes ago

Sherzai, D., & Sherzai, A. (2019). The Alzheimers solution: A breakthrough program to prevent and reverse the symptoms of cognitive decline at every age. New York, NY: HarperOne

[Morwenna]

Read it if you want to know.

[Gregory Matthews]

Morqwenna:  Your reference, as I understand it is to a 368 page book that proposes a specific program.  That is not documentation of your claim.

As I read about the book it proposes a program limited to people with "Mild Cognitive Impairment," (MCI).  MCI may be caused by Alzheimer's, or it may be caused by other diseases of cognition.  By the way, most people with Alzheimer's do not have MCI.

My mother had Alzheimer's, but it was not MCI, lit was much worse.  As I understand what I read about the book, it deos not say anything about what my mother had.  Therefore, your questions as to what my mother ate are not relevant

I will say that the authors of the book are authorities in their field.  

[Morwenna]

Read it. It may help you. I mentioned your mom because you did. Have a great day.

[phkrause]

Seeking Alzheimer’s clues from few who escape genetic fate

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Doug Whitney inherited the same gene mutation that gave Alzheimer’s disease to his mother, brother and generations of other relatives by the unusually young age of 50.

https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-memory-gene-resilience-5f7c6bfb3774d9d86c018cfcdfc3f425?

[Dr. Shane]

On 3/17/2023 at 8:23 AM, phkrause said:

Seeking Alzheimer’s clues from few who escape genetic fate

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Doug Whitney inherited the same gene mutation that gave Alzheimer’s disease to his mother, brother and generations of other relatives by the unusually young age of 50.

https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-memory-gene-resilience-5f7c6bfb3774d9d86c018cfcdfc3f425?

You have to watch out for those pesky genetics. 

[phkrause]

A rare mutation helped one man stave off Alzheimer’s for decades

It’s the second such case ever to be reported

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/rare-mutation-alzheimers-gene?

[phkrause]

New drugs show small but positive results in fight against Alzheimer’s

After years of work, there is progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, the incurable brain condition that affects more than six million Americans. Several new drugs have shown small but positive results in reducing the cognitive decline associated with this disease. William Brangham discussed these advances and what obstacles lie ahead with Dr. Richard Hodes.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/new-drugs-show-small-but-positive-results-in-fight-against-alzheimers?

[phkrause]

Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi has full FDA approval now and that means Medicare will pay for it

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials granted full approval to a closely watched Alzheimer’s drug on Thursday, clearing the way for Medicare and other insurance plans to begin covering the treatment for people with the brain-robbing disease.

https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-drug-fda-approval-medicare-leqembi-a9c8b770aa1868a59889143c3bc9d127?

[phkrause]

💊 Between the lines: New Alzheimer's drug

There are new questions about whether a newly approved Alzheimer's drug is less effective for women, Axios' Caitlin Owens and Oriana González write.

• Why it matters: Nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease are women, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

The FDA's approval of the $26,500 drug, Leqembi, opened the door to much broader Medicare coverage and was celebrated by patient advocates as a win for patients suffering from the disease, which has no cure.

• The results from Leqembi's clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that the drug slowed clinical decline by 27%.

💡 But in a supplementary appendix, analyses of subgroups found that the rate the disease was slowed was lower for women than for men in the study.

• The drug slowed cognitive decline in women by 12% compared to 43% in men.

Read on.

[Rahab]

Side effects are not so great 

not very effective 

better to change one’s lifestyle before it’s too late 

[phkrause]

11 hours ago, Rahab said:

Side effects are not so great 

not very effective 

better to change one’s lifestyle before it’s too late 

Exactly! It always amaze's me how many side effects there are with any of these "so called drugs" that help with this or that!! Personally they're not worth it!

[phkrause]

Dementia risk linked to blood-protein imbalance in middle age

Abnormal levels of certain proteins — many of which have roles outside the brain — could be an early hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease or similar conditions.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02374-2?

 

[phkrause]

Very interesting article!!

Potential Causes Of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects the brain. It is the most common form of dementia, resulting in memory loss and cognitive decline. At this time, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, making it even more critical to identify potential causes so that treatments can be developed. While there is still a lot more work to be done in this area, researchers have identified several potential causes of Alzheimer’s disease. This article will take a look at a few of them.

https://healthlifeguru.com/potential-causes-of-alzheimers/?

 

[phkrause]

Mapping Alzheimer's

Data: "Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease dementia in the 50 U.S. states and 3,142 counties." Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios The Eastern and Southeastern U.S. have the country's highest prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick writes from a new study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia. Researchers estimated the rates of Alzheimer's disease among adults 65 or older in a given area based on demographic risk factors, including age, sex and race/ethnicity. Maryland (12.9%), New York (12.7%) and Mississippi (12.5%) topped the list of U.S. states, ranked by estimated number of Alzheimer's cases among older adults. 🥊 Reality check: The researchers caution that demographic-based risk factors can only tell part of the picture. Other factors — including cardiovascular health and lifestyle — play a role. Interactive version of this map, with county-by-county data.

[phkrause]

Inflammation May Increase Dementia Risk, New Study Finds

In the realm of health and wellness, inflammation has long been a topic of interest due to its potential implications for various diseases. Recently, a new UK study has further established a link between inflammation and an increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This groundbreaking research has shed light on the role of inflammation in cognitive decline, providing valuable insights that could pave the way for improved prevention and treatment strategies.

https://healthlifeguru.com/inflammation-may-increase-dementia-risk-new-study-finds/?

[phkrause]

Nearly Everyone With Mild Cognitive Impairment Goes Undiagnosed

Millions of older adults likely have minor memory issues that can later become dementia. But only a fraction of them are diagnosed early enough for new treatments to stand a chance.

https://www.wired.com/story/nearly-everyone-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-goes-undiagnosed/

[phkrause]

Is It Aging or Alzheimer's?

Is Your Memory Slipping?

We all forget things sometimes, especially when life gets busy. You may start to notice this happening more often as you get older. Mild memory loss can be a normal part of aging. It doesn't necessarily mean you're going to have dementia. Only 1% of people over age 65 with normal age-related memory issues will get dementia each year.

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/ss/slideshow-is-it-aging-or-alzheimers?

[phkrause]

Alzheimer’s drugs might get into the brain faster with new ultrasound tool, study shows Scientists have found a way to help Alzheimer’s drugs seep inside the brain faster — by temporarily breaching its protective shield. Read more.

Key findings: The novel experiment was a first attempt in just three patients. But in spots in the brain where the new technology took aim, it enhanced removal of Alzheimer’s trademark brain-clogging plaque by 32%, researchers reported Wednesday.   At issue is what’s called the blood-brain barrier, a protective lining in blood vessels that prevents germs and other damaging substances from leaching into the brain from the bloodstream. But it also can block drugs for Alzheimer’s. Now scientists are using a technology called focused ultrasound to jiggle temporary openings in that shield.   Alzheimer’s isn’t the only target. Other researchers are testing if breaching the blood-brain barrier could allow more chemotherapy to reach brain tumors, and ways to target other diseases.

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