ADD/ADHD and the relationship to Alzheimer's Disease
- lodge
- bpsibley
- lodge
- bpsibley
- dutch4now
- bpsibley
- lodge
- Sincere
- TLHank
- bpsibley
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» lodge - Re: Re: Re: Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD and Alzhe
In response to message posted by bpsibley:Doctors fear AD like it's the plague. Best to diagnose ones self. Have been researching this subject for 5 years after my wife showed early signs of AD. Have developed self test to assist in learning ones vulnerability to AD and preventative methods to take control. The two year obsession trying to reverse the signs of AD in my wife has lead to a book, soon to be published entitled "ARRESTING THE GREAT MIND ROBBER". and a huge research project soon to be undertaking to prove my theories.
-- posted by lodge
» bpsibley - Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD and Alzhe
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you on that. There are good doctors, even doctors who specialize in AD, and medical research has resulted in medications that do help. I respect your opinion but I also deeply respect the medical profession.In response to message posted by lodge:
-- posted by bpsibley
» lodge - Re: Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD and Alzhe
In response to message posted by bpsibley:Lost most of my respect for medical profession after wife saw 5 doctors only to get 5 different opinions. One of those opinions being menopause, but we fooled them all when she got pregnant and had her first baby naturally with no problems for 9 months. Two other were C-section 21 years ago and two were terminated on the doctors advice, do to high risk. High risk to there pocketbook.
True there are some great AD doctors out there, but you first have to get a referral from a local doctor. And most won't get that until its to late to reverse it, just treat it, as prevention is not in there vocabulary, only meds. AD is a progressive disease that starts early in life, well before the 10 major signs the doctors use to diagnose. Who better to see changes and signs then ones self or spouse. That is when you want to treat it. I once had much respect for the medical profession, before it turned into a medical business that had tied the hands of most professionals.
-- posted by lodge
» bpsibley - Re: Re: Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD and Alzhe
In response to message posted by lodge:I'm sorry about your bad experiences with physicians. But I wouldn't throw them away and try to treat something as serious as Alzheimer's myself. At a recent local Alzheimer's support group where I gave a talk, the leader answered my question (asked by another caregiver daughter at the meeting) about how to seek a diagnosis if you suspect Alzheimer's. She said to get in contact with a university medical center, like ours at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham), and perhaps to volunteer for a study. I thought that was a very good suggestion that I hadn't thought of. True, I'm in a smaller town, too, and it's a couple of hours away from Birmingham, but I think it would be worth the trip and I plan to keep that in mind (maybe write about it in articles, maybe publish it in a book, so I will read it later and not forget it if the time comes when I need it).
-- posted by bpsibley
» bpsibley - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD a
In response to message posted by dutch4now:Thank you for posting. My first book, published in 2001, "Waiting for the Morning" includes my caregiving journal and poems I wrote about my mother's Alzheimer's. My second book, "Help for the Caring", published in Dec. 2002, is a bibliography and filmography of Alzheimer's for caregivers.
Someone sent me this link recently about ADHD and Alzheimer's (click on the center top link):
http://www.autismhelpforyou.com/
The person who sent me this link has written a couple of books on the subject.
I have searched and so far have not found much on the topic by the more reliable sources of health information online. I will continue searching and will post here what I have found.
I am not a health care professional, but rather I'm a librarian who has been a caregiver for a mother with Alzheimer's. The Alzheimer List from Washington Univ. at St. Louis is an excellent place to ask this question, as there are professionals on this highly respected list:
http://www.adrc.wustl.edu/alzheimer/inde...
You can search or browse the archives here:
http://www.adrc.wustl.edu/hyperlists/alz...
and can subscribe here: http://www.adrc.wustl.edu/alzheimer/subs...
I hope this helps.
Brenda
-- posted by bpsibley
» lodge - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD a
In response to message posted by dutch4now:You can find out more about the book Arresting The Great Mind Robber at http://www.epersuaders.com/ It is still under construction and nearing completion but still full of info. on both me and the book.
There is very little info out there on ADD and the relationship with Alzheimer's. I started my research in the field of ADD, ADHD and Attachment disorders 10 years ago after working with Foster children. A common disorder many of them have. After years of research, started to find many links between ADD and Alzheimer's as much of the damage takes place in the same section of the brain. Started to write first book on the subject but was side tracked when wife started showing signs of Alzheimer's at a very early age. And have stayed in the Alzheimer's writing and research mode ever since.
Many consider me as being ADHD, but it is a disorder I have learned to use to my advantage. Started a book on the subject and should finish up later this year.
-- posted by lodge
» TLHank - Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD and Alzheimer's?
In response to message posted by Sincere:I'm over 50, trying to cope with ADD (diagnosed 10 years ago), and caring for my mother, who has Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's, oh joy). I haven't come across any "official" conclusion about a link between ADD and Alzheimer's, but I've seen a lot of similar advice about nutritional support: mixed essential fatty acids, broad spectrum of antioxidants, and extra B vitamin complex. Also, both physical and mental exercise are supposed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's and improve ADD problems. (In addition, I'm on a modifed Atkins diet for life; carbohydrates really make my ADD hell to live with. OTOH, my mother can't eat much protein, because it mucks with her Parkinson's meds. Don't that make meal times fun times....)
It seems to me that, although some of the symptoms of both diseases are similar, the proximate causes are quite different. In Alzheimer's, it's the creation of plaques, which clog synapses and kill brain cells. In ADD, it seems to be a dysfunction of glucose metabolism in the brain and an insufficiency of neurotransmitters. What I don't know is how poor glucose metabolism turns into protein plaque, or if the neurotransmitter problem leads to the formation of the plaques. (Anyone got any mental floss? Mint flavored? :-> )
-- posted by TLHank
» bpsibley - Re: Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD and Alzheimer's?
I am almost 50, never been diagnosed with ADD (but wouldn't doubt it--ex-husband said my hearing problem was more that I just didn't listen, didn't pay attention). My mother had Alzheimer's and also Parkinson's symptoms. My sister, now 69, has also been diagnosed with Parkinson's in the past couple of years. Been wanting doctors to test me for AD for years, but still, at 49, they say I'm too young--did an online test recently and it said I had a memory problem. Don't tell my boss, still got to work for a few more years, absolutely necessary as I'm just divorced and got to pay my ex alimony for a couple of years, as well as a hefty house settlement. Not sure what I'm saying here, maybe that I feel for you, been there, done that, wondering when it will end in my family, perhaps with me getting Alzheimer's as well--yes, hand me some mint flavored mental floss, please. ;-)In response to Re: could there be a link between ADHD/ADD and Alzheimer's? posted by
-- posted by bpsibley
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