Is my husband getting Alzheimer's slowly , my father in law had it please advise

Senior health
1

I really want to know if Alzheimer's can be passed on to children from parents who've been diagnosed then suffered from it and eventually passed away from it . 

My father in law had Alzheimer's for 9 years . Now I'm seeing symptoms in my husband eg he's forgetting people's names can't recognise people , constantly forgets where his keys are ( then finds them ie in his pocket or where he put it last ) and blames me or the kids we've hidden it . Recently what surprised me is he asked me " what did we do yesterday"? I replied we went to town , can't you remember , he said no.nowadays mostly I can't remember what I just said a few minutes ago or what I did yesterday etc .... He isn't stressed no financial or any other worry . 

It it really scares me to think he maybe getting it slowly ....... To me he's giving off all the obvious signs . Just like my father in law did . 

Please sed can anyone advise me 

regards 

2

Not to sure on this one though my dad dig get I am amin my 70th now and sometimes I wonder, but I doubt it as we age we do sometimes miss place thinks.

The only real way is to take your husband to see a GP/ Specialist you need to know now.

Good luck Alexander.

3

Anna,

Alzheimer's is a slow, progressive medical disease that do affect young and old alike - but mostly the elderly.  Do suggest you make an appointment with a competent medical doctor, and allow him to make the appropriatement diagnosis, and begin treatment, if it is found that he does have the disease.

Wish you and your dad the best!

 

4

Sorry Anna,

My remark should have been for your "husband".  As a 68 year old male, I go through the same "scattered brain" at times, but I carry a whole lot of emotional baggage, stress, anxiety, upon my shoulders.

I am not with Alzheimer's, but I do have a rare disorder.  I have a calcium growth, growing upwards into my brain, that is attached to my basal ganglia. It may be this is the reason for me, at least, why I seem to be "scattered brained", that also affects my ambilation.  No cure, no known operation, no medical procedure that will correct this for me.  I know the writing is the wall for me.  And, yes, it comes also with same and similar symptoms as Alzheimer's.

 

5

I've read good things about new scientific research that says a ketogenic diet and supplementing with MCT oil (found in coconut oil) can have a beneficial effect on Alzheimer's.  A simple google search will give you information.  Good luck!

6

The genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's is passed through the female line so your husbands children will not be at increased genetic risk of the condition, however its possible the diet/lifestyle factors that triggered or brought forward the diagnosis also apply to his children, so although they wont be at increased genetic risk they may suffer the same environmental triggers.

The disease course for Alzheimer's streches back many years (20+) before the symptoms that may give rise to a diagnosis now. So although we can't turn the clock back it may be possible to slow progression and reverse some of the current symptoms.

It's important to recognise that many of the current problems stem from a reduced ability for the Alzheimers brain to process glucose (from sugar/carbohydrates) so reducing refined carbohydrates and eating a LOW CARBOHYDRATE HIGH FAT diet gives Alzheimers patients an alternative fuel (fat) to use.

Here are a couple of papers that help explain the importance of an alternative fuel source for brains that have faulty glucose metabolism.

"Role of Medium Chain Triglycerides (Axona(R)) in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease". You can also find Medium Chain Triglycerides in Coconut Oil and Butter.

and

"Ketone body therapy: from the ketogenic diet to the oral administration of ketone ester."

We should also be aware that

"Vitamin D, Curcumin May Help Clear Amyloid Plaques Found In Alzheimer's Disease"

Lifestyle changes have also been shown to reverse disease progression including all of the following were appropriate.

eliminating all simple carbohydrates, gluten and processed food from diet, and eating more vegetables, fruits and non-farmed fish

meditating twice a day and beginning yoga to reduce stress

sleeping seven to eight hours per night, up from four to five

taking melatonin, methylcobalamin, vitamin D3, fish oil and coenzyme Q10 each day

optimizing oral hygiene using an electric flosser and electric toothbrush

reinstating hormone replacement therapy, which had previously been discontinued

fasting for a minimum of 12 hours between dinner and breakfast, and for a minimum of three hours between dinner and bedtime

exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes, four to six days per week

7

The full text of the paper referred to above is available free full text from the Journal Ageing 

Reversal of cognitive decline: A novel therapeutic program

Dale E. Bredesen 

I think it's important that everyone concerned about preventing Alzheimer's incidence and progression makes the effort to read the paper through and apply the suggestions in the paper whereever possible. 

The sooner these changes are implemented the better.

The damage that leads to cascade of progressive deterioration starts at least 20 years before there are any symptoms that could lead to a diagnosis so if prevention is going to work we have to introduce all the 25 suggestions as early as possible and we have to ensure they are in the context of all the other suggestions. 

I'm pleased to see they suggest Vitamin D3 25(OH)D levels of 25OH-D3 = 50 -100ng/ml that's 125~250nmol/l as we know from other research Vitamin D3 resolves inflammation best above 125nmol/l (50ng/ml) but there is little point in raising Vitamin D to an effective level if at the same time you continue to consume a diet, live a lifestyle, that promotes inflammation.