All my grand parents have it except for one of my grandmothers. This increases my chances of having it right?
It was scary when my mom brought it up yesterday, and I dont think there will be a cure in my lifetime. Is their a way to ensure that I am killed when I lose the way I am?
[ August 20, 2008, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: T:man ]
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
They are learning more and more about it and there are over 400 drugs they're testing for it. So they very well may find a cure or treatment for it in your lifetime.
Certainly, just worrying about it will harm your life more than help you. You aren't completely helpless. There are lifestyle things that might help, such as diet, exercise and brain exercise.
My thoughts on wanting to be killed rather than suffer mental degredation are philosophical and religiously based so I won't get into that.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Two of my grandmothers have had it. One died of it, or some other complication. One thing that could help is eating salmon every week, at least 2 servings and being active mentally. Learning a language, reading a book, travelling. Stuff like that should help.
I hope.
Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :
Stop eating aluminum.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Yeah, I'm not getting into that either. And I really, really hate Alzheimer's Disease.
At this point, keep your mind sharp. Do puzzles and crosswords and stay active and healthy. Don't be sloppy or lazy with your brain. I've also heard that turmeric has been know to have a positive effect.
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
It runs in my family too and was so hard watching my grandmother go through it before she died. She would forget that my grandfather had died and then when we reminded her she would grieve all over again. Or she wouldn't believe us and think that he left her for some floozy and we had to keep the phone away from her because she would try to call. It was hard. I'm really hoping modern medicine finds a cure before I'm old enough to have it hit me or even my mom.
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
I've heard that if you live alone, having a pet you can interact with on a daily basis, particularly a socially active one like a cat or dog, significantly reduces your risk.
Posted by Raventhief (Member # 9002) on :
When I was in college I read a paper connecting aluminum intake to Alzheimer's. IE, you drink soda from a can, you're at higher risk. You pour it out first, it helps.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
According to an article I read today, countries which consume alot of soy and tofu have higher rates of alzheimers and dementia.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
quote:Originally posted by Raventhief: When I was in college I read a paper connecting aluminum intake to Alzheimer's. IE, you drink soda from a can, you're at higher risk. You pour it out first, it helps.
I'm having a hard time imagining that the incremental aluminum intake from drinking soda out of a can could possibly be impactful. The soda sits there for weeks or months, slowly dissolving the metal can it sits in, and touching the can with your lips is supposed to make a difference?
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
I doubt that makes a difference. They keep deciding this or that has can make it worse, but then another study will say it doesn't or actually makes it better.
My grandmother suffered from early onset Alzheimer's, but mercifully got multiple mieloma (geez, I can't spell this late) at about the same time. Odd to think of a quickly terminal cancer as merciful, but it was! My grandmother went from being a vibrant person to almost helpless within less than 3 years, in her mid 60's. Talk about scary!
Also, while everyone stresses mental activity, I'm not sure how much it helps. That grandmother of mine loved crossword puzzles, and frequently added accounts in her head. Also, Terry Pratchett has early onset Alzheimer's, and it's hard to imagine anyone more mentally active than an author.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
I recently read about keeping your brain fit. The article (in Prevention, I think - how's that for mental acuity?) said to do different types of things. Don't just do sukoku or just do crosswords, do several types of puzzles and mental challenges that make you use your brain in different ways. It makes sense to me.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Rember and PBT2. And also recently, there has been a third study about the neurochemistry of memory retention and memory deletion which suggests that there may be another method of attack in preventing Alzheimers. I think I read about it in ScienceNews, but haven't guessed the correct keywords to google up the article.
There's been talk about a correlation between aluminum and Alzheimers since 1983. And none of the studies done since then has shown a correlation closer than both words start with "al". Might as well blame algebra.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
If we can blame geometry, I'd be all for that.
Seriously, I read something about a certain type of plaque in the brain present in alzheimer patients and other types of plaque don't seem to be harmful. Or something. But I don't remember if they said anything about prevention.
At this point, so little is known about prevention, I'd think living a healthy life, with plenty of exercise and a diet of healthy "slow food" (locally organically grown food prepared from whole food parts with few to no preservatives or additives) would be a good shot at the best you can do for yourself. And if you still get it, you get it. Worrying about it right now is not going to help, other than generally trying to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy.
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
I suspect alzheimers is similar to diabetes in that for preventative measures can be taken and they will be effective for some, probably most people. But other types might occur no matter what.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
quote: The soda sits there for weeks or months, slowly dissolving the metal can it sits in, and touching the can with your lips is supposed to make a difference?
Is the soda even in an unlined can? Cause the special on beer I watched on the History channel madea big deal about modern, lined cans that keep the beer from absorbing any metal flavor.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
*nod* Modern cans are non-reactive. Plastic bottles are actually far, far worse.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yup to the turmeric thing. It's been in the news, it's been studied, it's pretty interesting. Anecdotally, I have a friend (a doctor) who added more turmeric to his mother's diet and she had noticeable improvements after already showing symptoms.
The whole thing about turmeric came about, from what I read, because India was known to have lower incidences of Alzheimers and someone somewhere wanted to find out why. Turmeric is in many, many dishes in this region. Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
quote:Seriously, I read something about a certain type of plaque in the brain present in alzheimer patients and other types of plaque don't seem to be harmful. Or something. But I don't remember if they said anything about prevention.
Yeah. Alzheimer's is a physically verifiable condition which involves the degenerative buildup of very specific beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Coffee and Advil are supposed to help too. Those are two things I have a lot of in my life.
Both Alzheimer's and Heart Disease run in my family. mmm I think I'll have a big ole cheese burger for lunch....
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
My grandparents' medical records read like a who's who of medical maladies. My paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother both died of heart attacks. My paternal grandmother died of cancer (though she was a heavy smoker). My maternal grandfather is the only one still alive, and he has had several heart attacks, multiple bypass surgeries, is diabetic (as was my maternal grandmother), has early onset Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and a plethora of other problems held at bay by a massive quantity of pills that he takes multiple times per day.
I guess part of me figures that regardless of what happens I'm probably screwed just based on genetics, so I don't think about it. I'm sure when I get into my 30's and 40's I'll probably think about it a lot more and take an active role in preventing my impending doom, but I'm in my mid 20's; spending every day worrying about dying in my 80's of whatever particular disease seems kind of pointless.
On the bright side, my mother's side has a lot of long lived people, despite their problems. My grandpa is in his 80's, as as all his brothers and sisters still living, including my great aunt Lucy, who is in her early 90's. So I guess if I survive the medical gauntlet that awaits me, I could make it into the 2070's. My goal is to live until I'm 92. I want to be alive for America's Quadcentennial.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
This thread annoys me more every time I see it. I think it is asking the wrong question. Judging by the general quality of your posts, the correct question would be "Alzheimer's: Do I have it?"
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: So I guess if I survive the medical gauntlet that awaits me, I could make it into the 2070's. My goal is to live until I'm 92. I want to be alive for America's Quadcentennial.
So you're not only going to live another 68 years, you're also going to leap forward in time by 100 years?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Whoops, tricentennial!
Damn. Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :
Worrying about this stuff isn't worth it. You could be run down by a cement truck tomorrow. Spend your money on hookers and blow. Have a little fun before the end.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
My hookers and blow budget is already factored into my cost of living.
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
There KOM. geez
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
Luthe getting run over is not as scary as losing my memory. When you die your memory is erased immidiatly while Alzheimers decays your mind slowly.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
quote:When you die your memory is erased immidiatly
Or wonderfully refreshed. When you find out for sure, be sure to let us know which.
Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :
I am well aware what Alzheimers does. A FWIW as degenerative diseases go there are worse things than Alzheimers. The point is worrying does nothing to help. The doctors are unable to predict who will get it, why they get it, or what you can do to prevent getting it. You have as much control over getting Alzheimers as you have over that cement truck.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by T:man: Luthe getting run over is not as scary as losing my memory.
Well sure it wouldn't be as scary to you--you've never even met luthe. I'm sure that you wouldn't be happy about it, but luthe getting run over would have to be kind of abstract for you.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by HollowEarth: Stop eating aluminum.
The connection between aluminum and Alzheimers disease, which was quite widely publicized a couple decade ago, has now been thoroughly discredited.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by HollowEarth: Stop eating aluminum.
The connection between aluminum and Alzheimers disease, which was quite widely publicized a couple decade ago, has now been thoroughly discredited.
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