Alzheimer's Disease Information and Help

Memory Fitness

2006-05-18T20:02:00.000+10:00

Another good book I've come across (at my local library) is "Memory Fitness" by Gilles O. Einstein and Mark A. Daniel who are well respected for their research and there popular lectures on memory.

The book gives a complete approach to understanding the different facets of aging and memory and there is an array of approaches and techniques to help with the normal memory loss that occurs with aging.

There are sections on mental exercises and memory, physical exercises and memory, another on supplements, and a section specifically on Alzheimer's disease.

It is a practical book and it gives good advice on looking after your brain and your memory. It would make a good addition to your Alzheimer's book collection.

A Book about Preventing Alzheimer's

2006-05-15T20:12:00.000+10:00

A very good book anyone concerned about Alzheimer's disease should read is "Preventing Alzheimer's" by W.R.Shankle M.S.., M.D., and D.G.Amen, M.D.

There are a lot of books that tell all about Alzheimer's disease and how to look after the sufferer. This book goes one better and actually tells how to "Prevent, detect, diagnose, treat and even halt Alzheimer's disease and other causes of memory loss". That is what I would want to know if I had or thought I might have AD. It's what a lot of other people are searching for too.

Shankle and Amen have both dealt professionally with sufferers of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. In this book they show people how to recognize AD early and how to delay its ravaging effects as long as possible.

This is one of the books I've used information from in my About-Alzheimer's website. The book is around 270 pages long and holds a whole lot more than I could possibly fit in my website. It has more more data and more detail than you'll find anywhere on the web.

I'd suggest you read it. I borrowed a copy from the library. You could do the same, or even better, buy a copy. You can find "Preventing Alzheimer's" on eBay for just a few dollars.

Alzheimer's - Challenged and Conquered?

2006-05-10T21:26:00.000+10:00

Alzheimer's - Challenged and Conquered?: The first book I want to tell you about is the inspirational story of Louis Blank.

Can Alzheimer's disease be cured? Medical science says a resounding 'No', but Louis Blank was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and is now symptom free.

He was a man of high intelligence, but his brain deteriorated to the point where he failed to recognize his own daughter. After many more lapses of memory Louis' wife arranged a doctor's appointment for him.

In 1993, at the age of 56, Louis was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

This book follows his journey into the depths of the disease and then back to normal functioning. A lot of the book is written in the first person by Louis. It's a look at Alzheimer's from the inside out, from the sufferer's point of view. Other parts of the book are written by his wife and his daughter when Louis was so afflicted that he couldn't write himself. You get the carer's point of view. You also get Louis' methods.

Louis had a lot of strength of character. He decided to fight and win, and he did just that. His methods may not work for everyone, but personally I'd be trying them.

At any rate, read the book. It's an easy read, it has humour and it's entertaining. And it might just provide the inspiration needed for others to fight and win.

There's a bit longer review on my website. See the link above.

Alzheimer's Treatment

2006-05-08T17:03:00.000+10:00

Alzheimer's and the Brain: "How Alzheimer's affects the brain"

I thought I'd better put this bit in before I got to far into Alzheimer's disease treatments. You need to know a bit about the disease and how it affects the brain before you can understand how the current treatments work.

Alzheimer's disease causes the brain to physically degenerate. Senile plaques form on the surface of the brain and blocks communication between neurons. It is thought that the plaque interferes with the functioning of acetylcholine, which transmits nerve impulses in the brain and body. The more plaque, the more damage.

Neurofibrillary Tangles are another characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Brain damage is caused by neurons being clogged with microscopic filaments which are made up of an abnormal type of Tau protein. Normally tau protein sends messages from neuron to neuron by bonding with microtubules, but the abnormal Tau bonds to itself and the message goes nowhere. "

Is there a Cure For Alzheimers

2006-05-07T22:06:00.000+10:00

What is the treatment for Alzheimer’s disease? Can it be treated effectively with drugs, can alternative medicines help or is there some other way of treating it? If you’re diagnosed with AD or if a loved one has been diagnosed you’re going to want to know the options. Can it be halted or even cured?

Medical science say it can’t be cured yet, but research is continuing at a great rate. At the moment the best that medical treatments can do is to slow the disease down. There are also natural treatments like nutritional supplements, and even eating better and exercising physically and mentally that can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or slow down the progression.

Some people appear to have cured themselves and there are medical practitioners that say they have cured others or slowed the disease down to the point that AD does not become a major problem during the lifetime of the sufferer.

As I said in my last post medical researcher Frank Mangano has an e-book The Mind Killer Defence that gives a natural treatment to slow down or even reverse Alzheimer’s.

I'll be mentioning more books on slowing or reversing Alzheimer's in my next few posts.

The Alzheimer’s E-Book I Wish I Had Written

2006-05-05T21:38:00.000+10:00

I’ve come across an e-book about Alzheimer’s disease that says what I’m trying to say with this blog, but does it better.

The main thrust of this blog is that AD can be helped by natural means; that the deterioration can be slowed down, or even stopped by doing the right thing by your body.

This book captures that spirit and then some.

It's called “The Mind Killer Defence”, and the subtitle tells it all – “Discover what you can do right now to prevent, slow and even halt Alzheimer’s disease.”

Medical Researcher Frank Mangano is the author. He’s a bit blunter than I would have been when he talks abut the way drug companies make money out of sickness and how they (and some doctors) don’t want you to be well, but it’s hard to argue with what he says.

Even the well-meaning and dedicated doctors can only do what they are trained to do, and that usually does not include nutrition or natural means of healing the body. If you want to know about that you need to learn for yourself.

This e-book tells you what you need to know. There is so much there I can’t begin to list it. What do I tell you and what do I leave out? Get on over to his Alzheimer's Defence website. The e-book is reasonably priced and there is a 60 day money back guarantee.

Mangano is worried that the big drug companies may try to muzzle him and make him pull down his website, so check it out while it’s still there.

Alzheimer’s Symptoms

2006-05-04T21:40:00.000+10:00

It’s natural as we grow older to worry that we may have Alzheimer’s symptoms. After all, thousands of people are diagnosed with the disease every year. But are those moments of forgetfulness anything to worry about? Should you see a doctor, or are those lapses just a normal part of aging?

There are indicative signs of AD to look out for.

In the earlier stages one of the classic symptoms is forgetting recent events or the names of people the sufferer knows well.

There can be trouble communicating. The easiest words can be the hardest for an Alzheimer’s sufferer to remember.

Everyday tasks can be a problem, maybe placing a phone call then forgetting why the call was being made.

Getting lost or disorientated like sitting on a bus station seat because the person can’t remember where they were going.

There can be mood swings for no apparent reason. The person can suddenly change from happy and cheerful to extreme anger over something quite trivial or even imagined.

The sufferer’s judgment can be impaired. They may try to wear bathers in the middle of winter, or a heavy jacket in summer time.

Or they may have trouble solving maths problems or a puzzle.

If you or a loved one should have warning signs of AD, see your doctor! An early diagnosis is critical to slow down this terrible disease.

Go here for more about Alzheimer’s symptoms.

What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

2006-05-02T07:30:00.000+10:00

Before we can understand how treatments can help Alzheimer's disease, we need to understand just what the disease is.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia and a brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to carry out their usual daily activities. AD is the most common form of dementia amongst the elderly. It affects the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. Unfortunately, scientists still are unable to establish the exact causes of the disease or a successful cure though AD can be slowed by medication if it is diagnosed early enough.

While medical science doesn't have a magic pill to cure this terrible disease there are people who have cured themselves and there are non-medical ways of slowing the disease. I'll have more about this later.

Dementia is a serious progressive brain dysfunction that gradually leads to an increasing restriction of daily activities. It usually begins with mild forgetfulness and ends with serious brain damage. There are many diseases that cause dementia, but Alzheimer's is one of the best known forms of the disease and it is responsible for more dementia than all other causes. In fact Alzheimer's causes 56% of the dementia in people over 65.

It must be remembered that it not only affects the sufferer, but also those loved ones who surround them.

The disease itself was named after a 19th century doctor called Alois Alzheimer. He noticed strange changes in brain tissue of a woman who had died from a curious cerebral illness which led her to become mentally deficient and to have an unusual form of amnesia.

Her brain had abnormal clumps over the entire cortex (known as amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibres (neurofibrillary tangles). These plaques and tangles in the brain are today considered classic signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Tomorrow:- Symptoms of AD

If you'd like Alzeimer's disease information quicker than this blog is getting it to you check out my Alzheimer's website. There's more info there.

2006-04-30T21:45:00.000+10:00

Welcome to my Alzheimer's Disease Information blog.

This is intended to be different from all the other Alzheimers Disease websites you'll find. Research tells me that there is hope for sufferers who are diagnosed early, and this is the main thrust of this blog and my website about-alzheimers.com.

You'll find the normal Alzheimer's Disease information will be covered, but also what you can do to minimize the effects of this devestating disease. I'll be covering both medical and more natural methods of treating Alzheimers.

This blog and my website are informational only and are not a substitute for seeing a doctor. I'm not a medical man, my degree is in professional engineering. If you suspect you have Alzheimer's, see a doctor! Early diagnosis is critical.

Stay tuned for more Alzheimer's disease information.

Until tomorrow,

Warren Newson, B.Eng.