Reagan Focused Attention on Alzheimer's Research (since 2003 #6 death cause in the US !)

reuteres ^ | Sun Jun 7 | Sarah Tippit

[Truth666]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - One of Ronald Reagan 's greatest legacies is one he may not have been fully aware that he created: focusing attention on the disease that took his life, a researcher said on Sunday.
"We're mourning the loss of an extraordinary man, a man who finished the second term of his presidency at the age of 77, but who still was not able to conquer this devastating disease," said Dr. Gary Small, an expert on Alzheimer's disease (news - web sites) and the author of two books on the subject.
People are now receiving earlier diagnoses and better treatments for the incurable brain-wasting disease partly because Reagan supported Alzheimer's research as president and because he went public with his diagnosis in 1994, increasing awareness of the need for more research, Small said.
"What his illness has done is brought the world's attention to the necessity for accelerated research. While a cure is still far away, we now have the technology to detect, and ... at least delay, onset, and that to me is very close to a cure that is foreseeable within the next decade," Small said.
Reagan, 93, died on Saturday after a decade-long battle with the disease.
During that time, his health slowly deteriorated. Eventually, he did not even recognize his devoted wife, former first lady Nancy Reagan.
But while he was able, the former president was an advocate for Alzheimer's research.

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FEDERAL FUNDING

In 1995, the Reagans joined with the Alzheimer's Association to create the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute, dedicated to accelerating the progress in Alzheimer research, said Kathryn Kane, a senior vice president with the Alzheimer's Association. Today the institute awards $15 million in research grants each year.

"The two greatest contributions the Reagans made in Alzheimer's was hugely raising public awareness of the disease and making it okay to talk about it. It's a disease where there's a lot of denial and shame attached to it. Ronald Reagan brought it out of the closet," she said.

As her husband declined, Nancy Reagan spearheaded public awareness campaigns and described what it was like to be a caretaker for an Alzheimer's patient, which she referred to as "the long goodbye." She publicly advocated for stem cell research as a way to help others with the disease.

Maureen Reagan, the former president's daughter with actress Jane Wyman, served on the Alzheimer's Association's national board, organized fundraisers and asked Congress for more funding before she died in 2001.

The Reagans' efforts resulted in a huge increase in federal funding, from $22 million annually in the early 1980s to $680 million per year today.

Doctors now are better able to diagnose the disease early, and provide patients with drugs and other measures to delay its progression.

Research has shown that various lifestyle choices can stave off the progression of Alzheimer's, just as they can slow cardiovascular disease and the onset of diabetes, said Small, whose new book, "The Memory Prescription," outlines a program for improving brain health.

One-third of the risk for Alzheimer's comes from a person's genetic makeup, Small said. "That means two-thirds has to do with nongenetic factors. Lifestyle choices make a huge difference."

Sticking to a diet that keeps blood sugar levels in check can help keep the brain healthy, he said. Maintaining a normal body weight, exercising, reducing stress and performing brain-stimulating tasks can also help protect the brain from deterioration, Small said.

[snopercod]

My mother was in her late 60s when it started, and died at 80.

The time in her life when she should have been out traveling the world and enjoying her friends and grandchildren was cruelly stolen from her.

[snopercod]

I didn't realize that I had the diary we kept on Mom here on this computer. Here is a chronology of teh beginning of her descent.

May 15, 1995 - Handwriting sample normal

May 15, 1995 - Dr. _______ - office visit complaining of wheezing: ECG, respiratory flow volume loop blood/urine tests (found and removed bloody mucus plugs in her nasal passages?)

May 22, 1995 - Dr. _______ biopsy roof of mouth

May 22, 1995 - Dr. _____ (pathologist) tissue exam

May 29, 1995 - Dr. _____ (pathologist) - tissue exam of mouth ulcer

Handwriting sample deteriorated somewhere during this time period

May 30, 1995 - Dr. _____ - another biopsy of roof of mouth

Jun 1, 1995 - Dr. _____ - office visit

Jun 30, 1995 - Dr. _____ - UCLA consult and laryngoscopy he prescribed Ketoconazole 200mG

July 3, 1995 - Fall at (retirement home), hit head on wall - Taken to _____ Hospital Emergency room complaining of shakiness and dizziness. Temperature 98.2. Pulse 77, BP 148/78. EKG was normal. Blood test indicated WBC=11.7 (high), RBC=3.26(low), HG=10.2(low), HC=29.4(low), and Lymphocytes=1%(extremly low). Neuro: Mom was observed to be "oriented" (not confused), with normal verbal and movement of extremeties. The possibility of stroke was not mentioned in the ER report. Mom was discharged in fair condition to her primary care physician. Attending: Dr. _____ .

Jul 7, 1995 - Dr. _____ - office visit

Jul 11, 1995 -Dr. _____ - Blood test - similar results to previous test, but with bands now=15(high)/were=1 last week, glucose=115(high), Ca=8(low), P=2.2(low), total protein=5.6(low), and albumin=3.1 (slightly low).

Jul 17, 1995 - Dr. _____

Jul 19, 1995 - Dr. _____ - CT Brain with contrast - at Valley Hospital, ordered by Dr. _____. Prominant Cisterna Magna vs. retrocerebellar fluid collection and/or cerebellar atrophy. Posterior horn of the left lateral ventricle larger than the right. Mild generalized ventricular enlargement. "These findings are nonspecific and can represent deep white matter changes of aging, although these findings are also sometimes associated with normal pressure hydrocephalus." MRI recommended if clinically indicated. Read by ______, radiologist. Weakness and Jaundice - transfer to _____ (SNF) Dr. _____- positive Hemocult - taken off all medication except estrogen and Xanax?

Jul 24, 1995 - Dr. ____ - office consultation

Jul 25, 1995 - Dr. _____

Jul 29, 1995 - Dr. _____ - Blood test - Colonoscopy?

Jul 31, 1995 - Dr. _____ - Blood test - Lower G.I.? - negative results

Aug 4, 1995 - Echocardiogram - negative results - ______ Hospital

Aug 5, 1995 - Blood test at _____ , ordered by Dr. _____

Aug 7, 1995 - Endoscopy ordered by Dr. _____ and performed at Valley Hospital - small ulcer found in stomach - Zantac prescribed.

Aug 8, 1995 - Mom was examined by Dr. _____ , a neurologist. No diagnosis was made. He was asked if mom should be taken off estrogen, and he said he would check with Dr. _____ on this, and talk with the radiologist regarding the CT brain.

Aug 8/9, 1995 - personality change. Mom became "nasty" and combative. She insisted that she be given her car keys and her checkbook so she could drive to _____ .

Aug 12, 1995 - Slip and fall at ______ (SNF) - examined by Dr. _____[the doctor who wouldn't give her the carotid ultrasound]- right leg bruised/sprained (later her right hip was found to have been broken).

Aug 15, 1995 - EEG at Dr. _____ office

Aug 16, 1995 - Office visit with Dr. _____- followup on endoscopy

Aug 17?, 1995 - Office visit with hemotologist, Dr._____. Blood taken and analyzed in his lab. He said Mom's blood was "getting better".

Aug 17, 1995 - Mom returned to (retirement home) from _____(SNF). Walking with her walker.

ug 21, 1995 - Mom had been complaining of pain all night (and making lots of phone calls to the front desk), and was taken to the ER, where it was determined that her right hip was broken when she fell on Aug 10th. Dr ______ recommended hip replacement. Dr. _____ examined Mom while at the hospital. Negative hemocult.

If you have an comments on this, I would like to hear them. I promise not to sue anybody ;-)

[snopercod]

cross linking

[Mo1]

Also, telling people they have Alzheimer's is a terrible diagnosis. They lose hope. Until a few years ago, it couldn't be treated, so why scare people who would probably die before they got very bad?

We didn't tell my mother that she had Alzheimer's .. I guess because it would have been to hard for her to handle

She knew she was losing her memory, but just blamed it on old age.

She passed away before it got really bad .. but her short term memory was gone .. all she could remember were things that happened when she was young.

[Mo1]

But the doctors would never diagnose her with Alzheimers, even though there are supposed to be tests now that are fairly accurate (other than a frozen slide of the brain).

I don't think there is any test that determine for sure that a person has Alzheimer's. It's pretty much an observation of the person and tests to rule out possible other problems

At least that is how it was for my mother

[snopercod]

PROGRESSION TO ALZHEIMER’S DEMENTIA CAN BE PREDICTED from NeurologyReviews.com

[Mo1]

Thank you for that link

[goldstategop]

This is incorrect. Presdent Reagan did not die from Alzheimers but from pneumonia. The #1 killer is that respiratory disease that claims the aged and those with weakened immune systems. All this being said, Alzheimers is a cruel and twisted disease that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. You don't want to live with a loved one til everything you knew about them is gone. If Nancy Reagan looked so frail, its not so much from age as it due to the burden of trying to reach someone who disappeared. Hopefully they can find a way to either prevent the onset of Alzheimers to stop it from progressing to the point where it could inflict serious damage on a person's mind.

[SupplySider]

Thank you for the link.

[SupplySider]

I have read of recent research about the spice turmeric. They are saying that the active ingredient curcumin may work against the formation of plaques in the brain. I have also read that omega 3 fatty acids, as found in fish oils, walnuts, and flax, are being looked at.

I figure it can't hurt, so I give my mother (and myself) regular hits of turmeric heavy curry spice with the veggies, and walnuts with the morning coffee. It's tasty.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Link to Princess Yasmin Aga Khan's comments on Reagan.

[snopercod]

Tumeric? Glad I like pickles :-)

I also read where vitamins C & E in combination may help prevent Alzheimer's.

But I keep forgetting to take them (really).

[Hildy]

Here's one of these headlines which I hate. OK, it's the 6th leading causes of death. So, let's talk about what are probably the 5 leading causes of death before this one:

1) Heart attacks
2)Cancer
3)Lung Disease
4)Accidental death
Can't even think of a 5th.

So what I'm saying is Alzheimer's is very low on the list. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but people don't die of Alzheimer's per se. Don't get me wrong, I know it's a terrible disease, my Mother is borderline, but I just hate any headline that misrepresents what it's trying to do.

[AD from SpringBay]

But remember boys & girls - Reagan was responsible for AIDS.

[Truth666]

5)suicide

[Truth666]

4)Accidental death - not in top ten