I wanted to post this poll and see how many of you out there have blood relatives diagnosed with Alzheimers or other types of dementia. My father was stricken with Alzheimers related dementia in 1998 at the age of 64. There seems to be a strong genetic link as several of his brothers showed signs of dementia ( my dad is the youngest of twelve). I also belive that my father has ADD and just was never diagnosed. Is there a link between ADHD and dementia later on in life? Please vote in this poll. Capt Kylos

Longevity runs in my family and so far, no signs of dementia or Alzheimers. Alzheimers is a cruel affliction and we need to find a cure fast.
L.

I hope I havent Offended any one with this poll As only one has voted . I am just doing some research and want to look at any possibilty of correlation in this unique little subset population we have here. Capt Kylos

I didn't see the answer that fit me...... I know of one my great grandfather had dementia. He did at 94 years old but had problems yeasr before he died

About half of people if the live long enough (80 +) will develop some sort of dementia. If you only have one relative that has developed dementia I would call that sporatic. Capt Kylos

I wanted to post this poll and see how many of you out there have blood relatives diagnosed with Alzheimers or other types of dementia. My father was stricken with Alzheimers related dementia in 1998 at the age of 64. There seems to be a strong genetic link as several of his brothers showed signs of dementia ( my dad is the youngest of twelve). I also belive that my father has ADD and just was never diagnosed. Is there a link between ADHD and dementia later on in life? Please vote in this poll. Capt Kylos

I work in a long term care facility were most of my time is spent in the "Special Needs Unit". A lot of people believe mind you its a belief and no real substantial supporting information that ADD and Alzheimers are related and if you have one disorder you will have another. ADD is when certain brain functions or nuerons are misguided or don't reach their directed port. Alzheimers is in fact the death of the brain. I believe the "misgivings" come from the second stage of Alzheimers were victims display a lot of the ADD symptoms...short term memory loss, forgetfullness, irritability, in-ability to get feelings across, mixing emotions, rapid change in emotions. The difference is that ADD can be improved with meds and hard work, Alzheimers cannot. I can get a lot more technical if you like as I've been to many inservices were ADD and Alzheimers were compared but to say that if you have ADD you will get Alzheimers or it increase's your chance I've never seen any real substantial evidence.

p.s. I'm sorry about your father
Cherity

Thanks for your kind and informative responce Futs. It takes a special person to care for those who can not care for themselves, bless you. I realize that any disease state is a very complex and multi faceted issue. Here is a exerpt of a research paper I did on the relationship of protein folding and Alzheimers and prion diseases for a cell and molecular biology class.

Even though the different sciences have discovered pieces of the intricate puzzle of protein folding and misfolding, the diseases are probally more complex. The geneticist are focusing on such problems with protein folding as mutations in functional genes and genes that may not be functional at all. Cell and molecular biologist along with biochemists are studying structures of protein folding and interactions between enzymes and protein function. The ability to produce or degrade proteins in vivo is another hot bed for research in this area of disease. Stem cell research may prove to hold an important key for treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of those stricken with neuro-degenerative diseases. The triggeres and causes of protein misfolding diseases are varied and inter-related. Genetics, environmental triggers, cellular processing, the aging process and infectious agents may all intertwine to produce what we know about the disease state. Capt Kylos

Interesting I'll give you that. I've never gotten into the cause only how it effects the brain and what parts of the brain cells it affects first. The classes are to better prepare ourselves and family members for the next step. In the past we were forced to use a form of re-orientation which I hated with all my heart...I hated being the one to tell an 80 year old woman that her mother was gone and wouldn't be coming to save her. We are now allowed to re-direct the behaviour...for instance I will say until your mother gets here why don't we get you ready...we'll paint our nails or watch a little tv until my resident moves onto something else. For a caregiver the second stage of Alzheimer's is devestating because they know something is wrong with them, they know they are losing their mind and they are scared. During the third and last stage it becomes the caregivers and families disease, the resident no longer experiances the anguish of losing their mind and independance because what they know now is all they remember (if that makes any sense) often leaving families and caregivers with the sense of loss. Everyday I work with the same people, everyday I love them a little more and everyday I have to introduce myself I cannot even begin to imagine what that must feel like for an adult child or wife and then to add grandchildren who are generally too young to understand. My advice is to join if you have not already an Alzheimer's support group it only gets harder with time and you will need the support for the long haul. If your father is not already institutionalized I would start the investigation now...there are many participants to wonderful programs such as Hannah's family that place focus on the resident and their family ensuring both get the support they need. I'm a Hannah's family member and am trained in the belief. I do my best to ensure the safety and well being of my resident while allowing them as much freedom as possible. In other words I do not chose when they get out of bed but rather make their meals in the unit when they arise, I do not chose their activities but allow them to direct me to what interests them, we have fish, birds, dogs and cats, we allow the residents if they want to help clean tables, help with meals it is after all THEIR HOME not mine. The ultimate goal is dignity in all matters. If your not a part of a support group you can easily find one by asking the nearest long term care facility, most have in house support.

Sorry for the ramble I'm just used to educating family members on what steps need taken and what the next phase may bring. I'm here if you need me or have questions on a day to day basis and even if you just want to yell at me and tell me how unfair it all is, I'm used to that as well.
Cherity

Thanks again for your knowlege and advice Futs. My father has been in a nursing facility for about 18 months now. You always start the journey of Alzheimers thinking hey I can be the caregiver for the whole disease process. The comes the wandering, then violence and finally incontinance, and then you realize that you can't give this person that you love the help and resources that they need. This is a disease that not only destroys the person who has it, but can destroy those close to that person. It takes a toll physically and finacially. I think my father is happier now that he is being cared for by people like you that are trained for this. The only problem is that I am the only one who visits him now, it's like now that he is institionalized my siblings see him as the nursing homes problem. They are missing what I see as a special time. Capt Kylos