My Mom had the Early Signs of Alzheimers – And it Changed Everything.

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This is a personal story. And because it is, it may be rough around the edges. I’m so close to the subject that it’s sometimes tough to write about, tough to wrap my head and heart around. But I believe it bears telling. I hope in my heart of hearts that sharing it helps at least one person. When the early signs of alzheimers emerge, it’s difficult, painful, frustrating. But, let me back up a little.

(To learn about the great program I found to help prevent and possibly reverse Alzheimer’s immediately, you can visit this website now.  Otherwise, please read on.)

About eight years ago, my family started to see signs in my mom, early signs of alzheimers, though we didn’t know it then. We noticed that she would forget conversations we’d had or not remember being invited to events. It was a little more than typical forgetfulness.  At the time, it wasn’t too noticeable and didn’t happen too often.  Over the next couple of years, things grew more apparent. She often told us she wasn’t a good listener and that she didn’t focus well. Those were her excuses and for a while, I think we bought it.
Then about five years ago, I listened while she told me about a recent trip she had taken. She told me of how she found some lemon drops she could buy at a restaurant, the kind you’d find alongside a highway. She couldn’t remember the name of the restaurant and gave me some clues. I guessed where she was talking about and we then moved on from the topic. Not two minutes later, she began the very same conversation over again. Even down to giving me the same clues for the restaurant that she still couldn’t name without my help. It was like we hit the rewind button on our conversation.

My heart sank with the realization that something was truly wrong.

After that day, we talked more about getting her tested. We knew something was going on but none of us dared to think it could possibly be Alzheimer’s. We just thought something wasn’t clicking quite right.  We did finally manage to have her undergo testing, though she believed she was being tested to get a baseline done and to support her husband who had a family history of Alzheimer’s.

The testing process involved several steps and several appointments. There was an MRI, psychological evaluations, exams and batteries of test questions. All of it extremely stressful and frustrating for her.  In the end, we were handed a report that said she had non-age related dementia most likely of the alzheimer’s disease variety. She was 69 years old.

It’s really difficult to describe the feelings I had in the first few weeks after her diagnosis. First came shock. She was too young and it didn’t seem possible. Then sadness and grief and all the wondering about what would happen and how soon and how much time we had. Although I didn’t know a lot about alzheimer’s disease, I did know eventually she wouldn’t recognize us. That was (and still is) really hard to think about. I found that I couldn’t read a lot of reports or studies or stories about the disease at first.  Partly because I didn’t want to hear about the horrible things to come, partly because I was denying that they could possibly be part of our reality down the road. I think that was true for my step dad too and maybe my siblings to some degree. The doctors did tell us about the medications she could take, though they were quick to tell us that they would not cure her, they would not stop the disease, they MIGHT simply slow down the progression of things. Might. All we had to look forward to was a slim possibility of prolonging the course of things and keeping her with us in some small way for a little longer. And we would never know for sure if the drugs were working to slow things down or not. There is no control group here, this isn’t a scientific study. This is about my mother. The woman that gave me life. And the best we had was “might help give you more time.” Time for what?

Part of my natural inclination as an adult has been to seek out alternative methods of healing for all kinds of conditions. Please understand, I’m not a doctor, I’m not an expert.  I’m someone that has read a lot, learned a lot and thought a lot about health and wellness.  So, instead of researching what the medical establishment had to say (THERE IS NO CURE), I sought out other opinions. As I did that, I didn’t know if my mom and step dad would be interested in stepping outside the box of western medicine. I’m flying solo mostly with my desire to avoid pharmaceutical drugs and to use natural remedies.

I read about niacinamide (from Dr. David William’s Alternative’s newsletter), coconut oil, snowdrop, gingko biloba to name just a few.  I read enough to know there were possibililties, but not enough to feel confident in making suggestions to my mom. I mean, this is my mom we’re talking about. I didn’t want to be grasping at straws or seeking out dead ends. I didn’t want to give myself or anyone else false hope either. But had it been me or my husband, I would have tried every natural alternative I could get my hands on. I think the biggest thing that has held me back though is the lack of a clear plan. I had the names of some supplements and herbs and oils that could possibly help, but no clear direction on how much to take, how often to take them or anything like that.

But I’ve recently found a program that I’m excited about. It’s from Frank Mangano, a health researcher from New York. He has a program he’s spent quite a bit of time researching and putting together. You can find it here and look into it. Here’s some of what you’ll learn from his ebook:

  • What medications are worthless in treating Alzheimer’s and what works almost like magic.
  • His all natural blueprint to naturally prevent and treat Alzheimer’s
  • Which 2 alphabet Vitamins are absolutely crucial to your mental well-being and why
  • The mineral that is believed to improve memory function
  • Which B vitamins are vital in the treatment of Alzheimer’s

And that’s just the tip of all the information he shares.

Thanks for reading my story and may you and your loved ones live vibrantly healthy long lives.

Blessings,
Laura

Now I can’t guarantee that Frank’s methods will work for you or your loved ones. Everyone is different. However, I can tell you you have absolutely nothing to lose and potentially huge amounts to gain by visiting his webpage and taking a look for yourself. Feel free to click on this link to learn more now.

 

 

Can Coconut Oil Help Alzheimers Patients improve?

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I came across this article while on an alzheimer’s blog.  It’s a few years old but I really loved reading it.  A doctor whose husband had alzheimer’s ingested 2 tablespoons of coconut oil for a while and began to see improvement in cognitive functioning.  The amazing thing is it seems they saw results immediately.  Not after months. Right away. The article speaks for itself.

The only issue I have with it is that there is so much talk of the ketone diet and it doesn’t seem that the doctor put her husband on such a diet (a low carb, low protein, high fat diet) as she gave him the coconut oil mixed in with his oatmeal (not low carb!).   I believe she simply added coconut oil to their existing diet.  I would imagine that researchers and drug companies would prefer to have a specified diet (that could be marketed and use marketable food items) and to use some sort of pharmaceutical medication as there is more money with that.  And I think they are kind of missing the point.  It’s the simple food substance, coconut oil, and the medium chain triglycerides that may be making the difference here.   Keep it simple (although much less profitable, I realize!).  I’m so excited to see more things like this…more turning to and trusting nature.

Initial finding of new drug Gammagard revealed

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Researchers have just announced an initial report on the drug Gammagard made by Baxter International Inc. The report indicates that the drug may help stabilize the cognitive ability of patients with Alzheimer’s disease for up to three years. However, the study was limited to 4 patients who received the highest medicinal dosage for a three year period. Additional testing in in progress and the results may be available in a year or so.

As always, it is nice to hear of something new that may help control the cognitive decline of those with this disease, but these drugs still need to be thoroughly tested for efficacy and safety so a cautious optimism is in order. It will be interesting to see the results of a larger study and see how the drug performed.

I would still like to see a focus on preventing the factors that lead to the disease in a more natural holistic manner with attention to lifestyle and diet. The body is an amazing machine and can perform incredible feats if given the proper care.

Stages of Alzheimers Disease

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Most of the information that is out there regarding the stages of alzheimers describes 7 distinct stages that someone with this disease may move through during its progression.

  1. Normal Function – This is when there is no apparent outward signs of the disease displayed. There may be mild internal changes, but the person is not showing any signs of impairment.
  2. Very Slight Decline in Cognitive Ability – The is when some signs are showing, but these signs could either be the early signs of alzheimers or they could be due to the normal changes of aging. This can include general lapses in memory like forgeting where something is located. Testing would not show evidence of any impairment at this stage.
  3. Mild Decline in Cognitive Ability – This is the stage where others around the person start to notice that there may be something wrong. There is an increased difficulty in remembering where objects are, new peoples’ names, performing daily activities, or remembering what one has just read. Testing at this stage may indicate impaiment.
  4. Moderate Decline in Cognitive Ability – At this stage the cognitive impairment is even more noticeable and testing should be able to detect the symptoms. The person may start to forget recent activities or events from the past, performing math  or calculations may become difficult and there may be a change in the person’s mood or behavior.
  5. Mildly Severe Decline in Cognitive Ability – At this stage a person might require assistance with performing some activities of daily living. Symptoms may include increased forgetfullness including forgetting things like home address and phone number or becomming confused about where they are or what day it is. Activities like financial decisions and paying bills may become to difficult to handle.
  6. Severe Decline in Cognitive Ability – The person will need help with most activities of daily living at this point. There may be noticable personality changes and possible issues with dillusions on compulsions. Other symptoms may include starting to forget personal history, needing assistance with dressing, preparing food, or using the toilet. The person may also start to wander off or get lost.
  7. Late Stage or Extensive Decline in Cognitive Ability – At this stage the person looses the ability to interact with their environment. Assistance with daily activities such as eating and using the toilet is needed. The body starts to have a major decline in function including things like increased muscle rigidity and difficulty swallowing.

New Preventative Gene Mutation A Great Find for Alzheimer’s Treatment

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A potentially very important find has been made for the treatment of Alzheimers disease. Prior research had uncovered gene mutations that were thought to be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Now they have discovered a mutation that is believed to prevent the disease. The researchers believe this is a very significant find and may have a major role in developing treatments.

Those with Alzheimers produce excess amounts of beta amyloid in their brains, but those with the preventative gene mutation seem to produce much less of the substance. This indicates that excess beta amyloid is a key factor in this disease.

The discovery was published online in the journal Nature on July 11, 2012.

Here is a link to an article on the discovery that was published in the Minneapolis, MN Star Tribune newspaper online. http://www.startribune.com/nation/162147915.html

Keep up hope for a cure!

Can Family Detect the Early Signs of Alzheimers Better than Medical Tests?

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I just ran across this article that indicates that yes, family and friends do often detect early signs of Alzheimers in their loved ones.  Extensive medicatl tests are not always feasible and loved ones can answer simple questions that can indicate if follow up testing is necessary.

For the full article Visit Here.

Hope this helps,

Laura

Fighting the Early Signs of Alzheimers Naturally

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Fighting the Early Signs of Alzheimers Naturally

For more information on naturally improving and reversing the early signs of alzheimers  Click Here!

It is estimated that close to fifty-percent of people who reach the age of 85 will experience the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. There are drugs and therapies available to help manage the disease, but medical science has yet to find a cure for this ailment. While doctors all say that you cannot cure this devastating disease, many people disagree. Numerous patients have found relief by using natural remedies – the kind your doctor won’t tell you about. It’s best to start these natural treatments as soon as the Early Signs of Alzheimers appear.

Before venturing into natural remedies, you must first understand what Alzheimer’s does to the brain. The disease interferes with brain neurons, causing them to misfire. This leads to the common symptoms of the illness. Scientists have learned that all patients with Alzhimer’s have a significant reduction in the chemical acetylcholine. This chemical is vital to everyday brain function. Without adequate production of acetylcholine, the brain cells cannot properly send and receive messages.

The goal of natural Alzhimer’s Disease remedies is to slow or stop the progression of the disease by allowing the damaged cells to communicate normally. Free radicals may be to blame for the reduction of acetylcholine. Antioxidants may help fight these dangerous free radicals. One of the most promising remedies is Ginko Biloba. This powerful antioxidant has been shown to improve cognitive function with regular use. It also improves circulation. Several other antioxidants have also shown hope in treating the disease. Among these are alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E. All of these antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals in the body. B vitamins are also necessary for healthy mental functioning. All of these supplements are widely available for purchase.

In addition to antioxidant supplementation, patients who are showing the early signs of alzheimers should also make some changes in their lifestyle. Exercise has been shown to slow down mental decline in both Alzheimer’s patients and those with other forms of dementia. It is recommended that patients exercise at least three times a week. Adopting a healthier diet is also important. Patients should reduce their intake of saturated fat. Adding fish oil supplements may also improve cognitive response. It’s best to begin these natural remedies as soon as minor symptoms of the disease appear.

For more information on naturally improving and reversing the early signs of alzheimers  Click Here!

10 Early Signs Of Alzheimers To Watch For

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10 Early Signs of Alzheimers to Watch For

The thought of having Alzheimer’s Disease is one that is very scary. If you suspect that you or someone that you know and love has this disease, there are some Early Signs of Alzheimers to watch out for. If they are detected early, there are some things that can be done to possibly slow down the progression of the disease. Here is a list of the most common early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

  1. Memory loss that is severe enough to disrupt daily life. Alzheimer’s disease usually starts out by affecting ones short-term memory. People with this disease may have trouble remembering recent events or conversations.
  2. Having a hard time performing tasks that are routine and familiar. Some examples of this include using the telephone or tooth brushing.
  3. Becoming disoriented in familiar places. People with Alzheimer’s disease may get lost even when they are in familiar places. They may also place objects in places where they do not belong.
  4. Problems with planning and management. Alzheimer’s can make it difficult for one to pay bills, write out a simple shopping list, or follow a recipe.
  5. Trouble with language and speech. This disease may cause people to have trouble recalling words for everyday things (car, desk, table). They may also repeat themselves during a conversation or stop in the middle of talking without being able to continue.
  6. Confusion about time and place. People with this disease may forget important dates. They may also lose track of seasons and the passage of time. They may also forget how they got where they are.
  7. Visual changes and trouble with spatial relationships. Alzheimer’s may cause one to have trouble reading. It can also make it difficult to determine different colors. People with this disease often mistake their reflection in the mirror for someone in the room with them.
  8. A lack of good judgment. This disease may cause people to have issues with judgment, especially when it comes to money. They may pay more for things than they should.
  9. Withdrawing from work or other social functions. It is thought that the issues that go along with this disease may cause people to avoid being around people.
  10. Changes in mood or personality. People with this disease may become suspicious, paranoid, confused, or anxious. Depression is also one of the Early Signs of Alzheimers that is common.