Charlie Rose

ecarediary  08/12/2010 11:36 PM Report

I'm very grateful for the many interviews about aging issues that are offered on the Charlie Rose show. While early detection will undoubtedly serve to bring heartbreak to families, it WILL do some good -- even without curative treatment options at this time. How? It will empower those individuals who are identified to go down this VERY difficult path to create a PLAN for themselves -- to make decisions about care, about aging in home, about care providers. It will empower them to set up advanced directives (such as choosing a healthcare proxy (which designates an agent, chosen by the afflicted individual, who is empowered to make healthcare decisions in the event they become incapable of doing this for themself). Having these documents in place and a plan that is communicated to our loved ones IS VITAL to our life path. So while I acknowledge the destruction that diagnosis without treatment options can bring to families, as an expert in the field of eldercare, I also see opportunities to create the best lives possible for everyone in the patient's family and to create a support system of love and understanding.

Susan Baida, Co-Founder of eCareDiary

http://www.eCareDiary.com

Despr8caregiver  08/12/2010 07:18 PM Report

Here's a question that I wish Charlie had asked Gina: If there is "no treatment" for Alzheimer's why are Alzheimer's drugs such as Aricept routinely prescribed for people with dementia who cannot even be accurately diagnosed with Alzheimer's as the source of their dementia. Just in case?

These drugs have serious negative side affects that may have contributed to the ill health of my 91 year old father (recently deceased) in his later years and are quite costly. Doctors fear even suspending the use of these drugs on a brief trial basis, because they think the patient may go irreversibly downhill if taken off the drug.

Based on our experience with my father, I am eager for more reliable diagnostic procedures such as the spinal tap and PET scan. Whatever I read about dementia emphasizes the importance of an accurate diagnosis. My father may have been saved from many years of taking an inappropriate medication had these tests been available 15 years ago. I write about this at Inside Aging Parent Care http://www.desperatecaregivers.com/a-long-distance-caregiver-no-more

I hope you get another chance to ask Gina more about these issues, Charlie.

PeterMelzer  08/12/2010 10:37 AM Report

When Gina Kolata says that "there is nothing", I assume she meant that we do not know any drug therapies that work. I believe behavioral measures may help, though Gina says that we have no evidence yet.

The idea of systematically developing behavioral therapies tailored to ameliorate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is fairly new. It may take two decades to find out which strategy makes a difference. Now is the time to begin.

After a stroke, therapies that emphasize exercising the paralyzed limbs have shown improved recovery. Consistent moderate stimulation can rescue nerve cells and strengthen nerve cell connections. Nerve cells act in collectives. Use-dependent strengthening of the nerve cell network can compensate for the loss of cells which may slow the deterioration of memory. In addition, the novel diagnostic tools discussed here may help us find out whether behavioral therapies may slow the degeneration of nerve cells in Alzheimer's disease.

Finding mental challenges and keeping at them on a daily basis as well as staying physically active and adhering to a balanced diet can only be of benefit.

You may wish to read more about the value of exercise after stroke here:

http://brainmindinst.blogspot.com/2007/12/about-value-of-exercise-after-brain.html

REMant  08/11/2010 03:05 PM Report

There was a similar breakthrough announced yesterday with respect to autism. Both of them rather astonishing.

robdverity  08/11/2010 02:59 PM Report

Again. Monsanto and their ilk. Pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides, braincellides.