A friend very close to me has Alzheimer’s disease. I have known others in my life that have had the disease, but this one sticks particularly close to my heart. I find myself reading every article on the topic that crosses my path.
Experts say there are 7 steps to the disease. My friend is at a 6. She is holding her own, thanks to her husband. He works his tail off to take care of both him and her. We should all pray that we have someone in our lives that will ensure we live a good life if we are someday diagnosed with this horrible disease!
The latest article that I stumbled across indicates that studies are showing the development of Alzheimer’s may be linked to a lack of sleep. I am not crazy about the studies done on rats, but they are what they are. And, sadly, there are medications that work well on rats but not so much on humans. Alzheimer’s is one of those medical conditions (such as diabetes, cancer) that all of us hope for great strides towards a cure!
Another reason to really work hard at not living continuously on a lack of sleep!
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It’s hard to see loved ones with that disease, I know my Grandma doesn’t have the disease now at first that’s what we thought she had but since moving her into an Assisted Living which she was giving us a hard time going but she is doing wonderful there and has made new friends, she knows who we are now whenever we go visit her though but when she was living with us, she would get confused to who we were though, going back and forth from our place and my Uncle’s place but now she does the activities at the Assisted Living and she gets her nails done, it’s one of their activities they have for the ladies to have manicures and she is even playing Bingo there, etc. Hugs to you Mary!
Amy
I did not need to read this.
Or maybe I did.
I don’t sleep well. Guess I better start figuring out what’s waking me up and fix it!
The people who have known that came down with it were:
thin woman who had always taken care of their health which is odd, I realize
What is interesting is that there are also many famous people who have accomplished much who don’t sleep more than 6 hours a day. Martha Stewart for one. Our local news stations did some reports on people risking their health getting TOO MUCH sleep. Go figure!
Kind of like the headlines proclaiming coffee intake hazardous to your health, then the next year proclaiming the opposite. I guess moderation is always the key. We all need good sleep, and for me , coffee helps me wake up and start my day….maybe I should get to bed before 3;00 a.m.
Interesting Mary, I look forward to more.
p.s. How sad for your friend ,her family, and friends. Is she taking those new drugs that are supposed to slow down memory loss? Does she know you still?
Amy, I did not know the diagnosis for your grandmother had changed. One of God’s miracles…it sounds like she is doing very well!
Becky, it seems to happen to all of us. I do no sleep well many night’s myself!
Joanna, one of the people that I knew directly that had the disease was a hand surgeon. Before he was diagnosed, he would sit in his office and stare off, looking like he was lost. He was in perfect shape…always had been. Very sharp! The friend that I love so much with the disease is not a thin woman, but she has always been active, always on the go. I believe a lot of what we are seeing is more related to chemicals that we come in touch with, those deemed safe, but over many years of use really can bombard us.
Kathy, I agree! Eggs are bad for you…now they aren’t (in moderation)…coffee was bad for you…now it isn’t. But it is always interesting to read something like this.
My friend does still know me. The specialists that she sees have changed her medication a couple of times. Nothing seems to be slowing the progression of the disease. Her body actually has its highs and lows. The last MRI showed more dead tissue in her brain. If it weren’t for her husband, she would not be who she is. He is beginning to tire from it.
My grandpa had Alzheimer’s. He was in his 60’s when they figured it out.. Its heartbreaking to see someone you love suffer from any disease but this one is very heart wrenching. He would look at me and remember he knew me but couldn’t remember exactly why he knew me.. He passed away around 75 from Pneumonia. He also had Emphysema(sp?). My grandma didnt do so well with caring for him and despite protest from my dad and mom who would have cared for him they put him in a nursing home(when my parents were gone for the weekend) where he went down hill very quickly…
I also worked in an Alzheimer unit in a nursing home for a little while.. I didnt last long…
He was relatively healthy up until he his late 50’s.
So sorry about your friend…
Oh boy, Tonia, that is not a good story about your grandfather. Such a sad disease. It is one of those I wish they could find a cure for, or at least a better treatment.
My friend, she is doing worse. She is still with us, but never carries on a conversation. Her husband, bless his heart, is worn out, but he is still working with her.
Does your friends husband have help? I know my parents contacted the Alzheimers Foundation and they would help the caretakers of the patient get help. Even if its just house work they can do. It doenst matter what your finances are like they help everyone!! Just a thought.. There was a lady in our church who cared for her husband till he died. It wore her out but she did survive and is doing well now. Thoughts and prayers to your friend and her family!