Dr. Manny,

Once early cognitive impairments are diagnosed using the new Alzheimer’s test, what can be done to treat the patient? My husband is in the early – mid stage of the disease and he is taking several drugs to slow his cognitive decline. What more can be done for those diagnosed early on using the test from the University of Pennsylvania?

Thank you,
Ms. Renaud

Dr. Manny,

When would this test be administed? When one starts to show signs of of dementia or in families where one or more parents has been diagnosed?

My Mother, she passed away a little over a year ago, had Alzheimer’s and so did 3 of her sisters. My siser and I are very concerned about the chance of us getting it also. My sister is 38 and I am 52. I was very excited to read this article and faxed her a copy immeadiately. However, I would like to know if there is any way that I can contact or someone could contact me about doctors or universities that are doing research and might be interested in my situation with the so many family members developing the disease. Although, maybe it is not that unusual for 4 siblings to develope Alzheimers. I just don’t know. This new test sounds like a wonderful advancement and something I’d like more info on. Thanks for your help, Debbie

Can Medication several and having it in you family are you likely to get it or not, because the needle thing I don’t do needles. But I do have adult adhd and fibromaylgia, and i have PTSD and Depression, anxiety and bipolar mania from an assault and all the meds at night time make me look like I’m doped up. But in the morning is awful. I have noticed short term memory loss and i’m forgetting alot and i don’t know if its the drugs or not i have tried not taking them for awhile and i was messed up and still forgot but my grandfather died and it and I think my father is at risk for it. Because he cannot remember to pick up things either. Can someone please help me better understand this disease.
thank you; And I always watch your videos
Sincerely:
Melinda Snuffer

My Mom, her older sister and her twin brother all had or have different degrees of Alzheimers. My mom died about 5 years ago, more of an early Alzheimers case. She was diagnosed at 65 and died at 73. Over 7 plus years She went from simply telling you stories many times to the last 2 years, being bedridden and unable to do anything for herself. My uncle, her twin, recently died but for the past few years also was showed significant signs of Alzheimers memory loss and lastly, my aunt, their older sister, is still alive, but CLEARLy has Alzheimers as she does not remember anything or anyone. She is around 80 at this point and began this decline about 5-7 years ago.

Very scary for me and the rest of my family with so many folks afflicted with this disease. I also think my grandmother, the mother of all of these children, from what folks tell me, also had some stage of Alzheimers prior to her death.

I would like to know where I can find out more about this test with regard to timing of when it may become available to people who are through family history, at risk to get this horrible disease.

None of my grandparents had dementia or Alzheimers. My dad parents lived to their mid-90’s. My mom’s dad I dont’ knwo. My mom’s Mom had heart disease. Neither of my parents had high blood pressure or heart disease. My dad died at 72 Parkinsons and Alzheimers. My mom is 85 in a nursing home on hospice care with late stage Alzheimers.

Every since I turned 50 (now 55) I’ve been very careful what I eat. Very little sugar and I take supplements. We NEVER drink non-diet pop and not much of that either. I don’t exercise enough (I know!). I probably eat too much splenda but trying switch some to natural honey and some stevia/truvia for sweet when I cook. I cook a lot, don’t buy processed foods. Trying like heck to NOT turn on the Alzheimer genes.

I’m already signed up for LTC insurance- did that when I turned 55.

Should I try to take this new test? What are the insurance implications? Dr. Manny, I hope you reply!!

None of my grandparents had dementia or Alzheimers. My dad parents lived to their mid-90’s. My mom’s dad I dont’ knwo. My mom’s Mom had heart disease. Neither of my parents had high blood pressure or heart disease. My dad died at 72 Parkinsons and Alzheimers. My mom is 85 in a nursing home on hospice care with late stage Alzheimers.
Every since I turned 50 (now 55) I’ve been very careful what I eat. Very little sugar and I take supplements. We NEVER drink non-diet pop and not much of that either. I don’t exercise enough (I know!). I probably eat too much splenda but trying switch some to natural honey and some stevia/truvia for sweet when I cook. I cook a lot, don’t buy processed foods. Trying like heck to NOT turn on the Alzheimer genes. I’m already signed up for LTC insurance- did that when I turned 55. Should I try to take this new test? What are the insurance implications? Dr. Manny, I hope you reply!!

Dr. Manny,
My Dad was diagnosed with his own strain of Alzheimer’s about 4 years ago. He has reacted positively to the medications and has been involved with some studies for Alzheimer’s. Is this early detection test intended for any strain of Alzheimer’s? Will this testing be available through the University of Michigan soon? If detected early on – then what? What is being done once someone finds out they have this – perhaps before there are even any symptoms?

Thank you,
C. Kingma

Dr. Manny,
I am very interested in this research that is being done for Alzheimer’s. My Mother has been in a nursing home for 5 years with Alzheimer’s, and my Father is in there also with dementia. My Mother is one of 12 children (6 + her Father had Alzheimer’s) and my Father’s mother had Alzheimer’s. So I think that the risk for myself and my sister and brother getting the disease is high. Any information that is available to me would be greatly appreicated. Also we live in the Philadelphia area so if there is anyone we can contact please let us know. Thanks

Where can I get this test in Jackson, MS or surrounding counties?

My mother is 79 years old and in the later stages of dementia. Her mother had alzheimer’s back in the 70’s. My sisters (we age 48 to 53) and I fear that one or all of us will develop dementia. We are all very active but so was our mother and she still developed this disease. I would be interested in contacting someone or having someone contact me that is doing research and may be interested in our families situation. These tests are very encouraging to me and I would love to get more information.
Thank you very much.
Emily

My grandmother had alzheimer’s at age 78, my aunt (my mothers sister) at 77, and now my mother who is in the midstage. I worry everyday about contracting alzheimers and would love to be part of a study or get more information on the subject.

Thanks
Linda

You have to be wary of commercial bias in tests like this. Have the researchers results been replicated by others? Where can we find published, peer-reviewed study results?

Reports like this come and go. Many never pan out. Sorry if it sounds like I’m raining on your parade.

-Steve

What good is a test for potentially early diagnosis when there really isn’t, at this time, a totally effective medical solution. It seems to me that all it will do is worry the heck from the people where those proteins are found.

Dr. Manny,
My father passed away from Alzheimer’s at the age of 90. He was the last of his siblings (10) and I cannot recall any of them having this disease. Should I be concerned about inheriting this gene? My Mother and her siblings all had heart disease. I am interested in having this test if available at this time.
Thank you very much.
M in Missouri

Like the other people who have commented on this article, I, too, would like to know if and where in the Houston, Texas, area this test can be administered. Or, if there is testing going on in this area I would be very amenable to taking part in a test.

There is a history of Alzheimer’s in my family and in my husband’s family, so this information would be greatly appreciated.

If this test is valid, would you want to know the results if there were no medications to prevent progression?

Being able to correctly diagnose Alzheimers is important. However, what do you have to offer in the way of cure??
Carol

I agree with Phil, what is the point of knowing you have the disease if there is (essentially) no effective treatment for it? My mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease at age 55, she is now 61, at her rate of decline, I don’t expect her to reach 65. The only advantage to knowing I will probably develop AD is that I can plan early for the financial security of my spouse and children. The up side is that I don’t have to worry too much about the fine lines I am developing, I won’t live long enough to see them develop into deep wrinkles, or if they do, I won’t know enough to care!

Do any of the MDs reading this know what the side affects, risks, and recovery times are for a spinal tap? Thanks in advance for any responses

I am very interested in where I go to get this test done and the price of it. My mother and sister died with Alzheimers after suffering with it for years. I would like to know if I am susceptible so I can slow down the process just to keep my children from having to go through what we have gone through with my mama and sister. Please send this information. I live in the Louisburg, North Carolina area close to Raleigh, NC. thanks

Dr. Manny,

My Mother and her Mother both had Alzheimers, I am in the Chicago area and have gone on
many hospital sites looking for a hospital running this study. Can you help me find one?

Thank you,

Mary

My Mother is 74 and diagnosed at age 72 with moderate-level Alzheimers. Her mother died at age 80 (1992) with what we suspect was Alzheimer’s, although we didn’t live near her to know more of what was actually going on with her unfortunately. And her mother died at age 83 (1970) with probably the same disease as her symptoms were on target for Alzheimer’s. I too am very concerned about the chance of my getting this disease also. My questions are: 1. What is the criteria for this test to be administed to someone? 2. How do I find out more info. about this test, pros & cons of having it administered? 3. Are there any doctors or universities in my area (southeast TN/northwest GA) doing research on family members developing this disease?
Thank you, Karen

Personally, I think if one does have the test and it indicates you are at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease – it would go into your medical history.
Your health insurance rates could/would be affected. The cost for your long term care insurance could/would go up. Risk is one thing – reality is another.
If you test “at risk” – how would it affect you mentally? Would you always be looking for it?
Maybe, if you have family members who have been diagnosed – the best thing you can do is keep up to date with what is happening with the research and change to a healthier life style.

My dad (72) was diagnosed with AD a year ago but his is already in the mid to mid-late stage of the disease already-has no short term memory and has lost more than 3/4’s of his long term memories, as well or remembers them very distorted. He still remembers his immediate family members and some of his neighbors. He is taking Aricept and another med that I can’t remember the name of. He has Macular Degeneration (wet) as well and has had that for about 15 years and has little focal vision left. My dad told crazy stories for YEARS before it became obvious that there was something more at work. He never could come to terms with his vision loss and periods of being extremely difficult and mean alternating with times of being nice and fairly normal. He refused to get any kind of help though he once acknowledged he had “a problem”. His father died of a heart attack at 45 in 1961 and had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia years before his death. His mother died in hear 80’s and not sure of what. Is there some connection between between an extreme emotional upset and the onset of AD? …like the blindness? Could the plaques in the brain have also caused the Macular Deg.? He seemed to become more mentally unstable as his Macular Deg. progressed. This has got to be one of the hardest diseases for spouses (esp. elderly ones)to deal with. Please let us know about this test as I have become paranoid about my own forgetfulness at 48….very scary, indeed.

My mother and her 4 sisters have had Alzheimer’s. Two of her sisters are deceased; one had this disease and it was bad. She is now deceased. My mother knows my step-dad,me, and my husband. She may at some times not know our names. Her baby sister has this disease and does not know who is who; except her husband who is now the care person.

I have taken it upon myself to go see my mothers’ doctor. I visited with him and he understood why I wanted to get started on medication. I am taking Arecept and have been for about 2 months now. My husband says he can tell a difference because I am not saying the same things over and over. I do feel better about myself since I have taken Aricept. I am a receptionist at a law firm. Each day and feel good that I am able to continue working.

I would advise anyone reading this to get help. Go see a doctor and visit about this dreaded disease.

Thank you for his article.

Linda Burks
Amarillo, Texas

In response to what good would it do, wouldn’t you like to know what was coming so you could make the most of the years you actually have your mental capacity? I know we say we should always make the most of our lives, but we would be more apt to if we knew what was down the line. I think it is a great thing to be able to know. You would have time to make arrangements for future care, to have important documents in place and to be able to create some special memories for your family to cherish before things got bad. My grandmother progressed slowly at first, but none of the doctors seemed to believe my mother that something was off. By the time she found one who would listen, it was very difficult for my mother (only child) to have it where she could handle all of my grandmother’s affairs. Perhaps if we had known what was coming things would have been easier. I am very excited about this test, especially now that my father is starting to show signs of dementia.

Dear Dr. Manny.

We just lost my Dad to this horrible disease. He suffered for 10 years and died at age 89 on march 15th. We also lost my Dad’s brother to Alzheimer’s a couple years back. I am now 65 years old and the thought of being at high risk to develope the disease is a constant concern. Can you tell me what you would do if you were in my shoes. I’m so much like my Father it is scary. I’m a big believer in preventitive medicine and your article has peaked my interest. What should be my next step? Thanks, John in Seneca, S.C.

Dr. Manny

Like so many of the others who have commented I too am at risk for Alzheimers. My mom has it and it scares me to think that my family will have to go through it with me. If I can get the test and come up positive is there a more direct treatment? I do hope that there will be advances due to this awsome new test. What can I do to help fend off this horrible disease? Is there any research on the benefits of nutrition and excersise? I take Juice Plus, eat very healthy except for my beer, and I am a runner.

Thank You

Jenny

Loved the article on Alzheimers. Both of my parents have it. Can you check into an Abbott Lab study in Florida that targets NNRs (?) in the brain to deliver medication and possibly reverse some of the damage already done by Alz? It’s a 12 week study and it allows the person to continue to take the drug after the trial date (which I like). It’s supposed to be not terribly invasive (other than drawing blood), but it’s NOT injecting stuff in the brain and just leaving it there, as was true in another trial we were considering.

Thank you in advance.
Janet Henderson

I could find no other place to respond to what I just saw on Fox cable news at 10:45 AM this morning. The subject was a new study showing eating red meat shortened life. The doctor arguing against the study must have a reason other than promoting good health because the evidence against his opinion, gathered over the last 50 years in solid-scientific studies, is overwhelming.

These studies demonstrate without doubt, that eating meat shortens life and eating – especially red meat – causes all kinds of cancers and other diseases. There is no question to the verifiability of these studies. It amazes me, as an x-research chemist, that medical doctors can still fight against this evidence. Either their being paid for it or they ignore the evidence because of their love of eating meat. Oh, how the truth often hurts!

National Geographic highlighted Seventh-day Adventists ( I am a pastor in the SDA Church) demonstrating an increased life span of 10 years for those who have been vegetarians all their life. Prejudice is remarkable in those who don’t want to change their eating habits – even among doctors, who consider themselves responsible for correcting poor and unhealthy eating habits.

I am a fan of Fox and have been for ever. Thank you for truly being TV’s voice of truth.

Pastor Rick Howard