Published: March 13, 2008 03:29 pm         

YESTER YEARS: Is it Alzheimer's or dimentia?

This crippling disease becomes worse and is fatal. Today, it is seventh most leading cause of death. Patient's behavior is severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. It is a progressive and fatal brain disease. Over five million Americans now have Alzheimer's disease. I have often wondered if this affliction is new or was it what people called dementia years ago. In the past few years, my mother-in-law died from this dread disease. My best friend's husband just died after long suffering.

The most common type is defined above, but I believe there is more than one type. Each patient seems to behave differently. The life expectancy of Alzheimer's is 5-20 years. My mother-in-law in the last stages could play games, she knew me when I visited on a weekly basis, but did not know her own daughter. A week or so before she died, she sent my wife a signed birthday card I bought for her. The patients forget how to swallow and this is the early sign of death.

On the other side of the coin are some memorable events that occur, some are sad and some are humorous. A patient defined to me would dress in a suit, only leaving off his pants. He would go to the grocery store in a car and place a gallon of milk on top and drive home with it perched there. These patients usually get lost a block from home and should not drive a car.

The husband of a high school friend of mine is in a retirement home with this dread disease. He fell in love with another patient and when she died, he called his wife to bring a black suit so he could attend her funeral. He had forgotten his own wife, and must have thought she was a maid for him. She did drive him to his old love's funeral. When the plaque blocks thoughts, the patients forget most things. I did notice that they can recall things when they are young, but cannot remember yesterday.

One of my old aunts lost her bearings, and could not count. Her profession was an accountant. She obviously had Alzheimer's, yet it wasn't diagnosed in the '50s. At this time doctors used the term dementia. She had never sewn a stitch since childhood, but she began to make dresses, blouses, and other items. This is an example of brain waves being destroyed and others that do function can cause unusual events that are simply not explained.

In the retirement home, I noticed arguments occurring, yet the patients did not know who, what, or when. It seemed as if they could forget everything in 20 seconds.

One fellow had been a pro-football player; his brain had so many damaged portions that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's near the end. He could no longer talk, but he did smile constantly. I noted also that these patients look after each other. Were they recalling their sons and daughters from long ago? This disease is one of the most baffling curses doctors have to treat. There are no super drugs to treat it with, just things to make the patient comfortable. I look forward for a cure; I have lost too many friends to this tragic disease and it is growing.

Source: My observations and discussions with doctors.