I've read Reminyl slows the decline and actually gives more time. My husband has been on it 2-1/2 years, now early stage IV I think. So, the statistics don't apply the same to him, and we won't really be able to know. Must live one day at a time not knowing whether we have 2 years or 20, must be ready for both. At this point I'm planning to add Memantine and then Exelon when the right time comes. So good to have those to hope for. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! -Mary Morken

Great site, Edna Mae! Based on your post, I think you might be referring to the newsletter described below. In fact, it's so good that I'm going to post a copy of this on our News & Research thread too. Thanks for the reminder!

The Alzheimer's Daily News is published every business day on the net by Ageless Design, Inc. To review this site and/or register for email delivery, please contact:

http://www.agelessdesign.com/news-alz.htm

Editorial Note: Each day Ageless Design reviews the news wires, looking for public releases and current articles relating to dementia. We write a brief description of each article along with a link to the originally written story before including it in The Alzheimer's Daily News. For more information we strongly recommend that you read the full article and draw your own conclusions.

Please know that I am not affiliated with this newsletter in any way other than to benefit from reading it on a routine basis. My only regret is that I didn't share it sooner.

Joan Marie

"Dream as though you will live forever. Love as though you will die tomorrow."

[This message was edited by Joan Marie on December 02, 2003 at 11:46 PM.]

I have no idea how many hear subscribe to the newsletter but in the past to editions there have been very interesting articles concerning AD.I just read one where they discovered that the brains of those with AD showed parts of the brain trying to heal itself.They are trying to find if this can spread to the part of the brain that cases AD.Very interesting reading.

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blowing the rest away.

quote:

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Originally posted by Edyth Ann:
When reading the medication for alz. slows the decline, that statement while truthful in a twisted way is not actually accurate. These medications treat the symptoms, not the disease. They wil, for those that these medications do work for, slow down the symptoms alowing for a better quality of life for the time period these medications work while the disease continues to progress. There maybe a chance, according to some research, that Aricept may help in certain parts of the brain, but that may not or may help to expand the life time in the disease, it may only help explain why the increase ability to function within the disease.

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Thank you, Edyth Ann, for this much needed clarification. I would also like to take this opportunity to add that since Alzheimer's disease effects both cognition and personality, the emotional losses must also be addressed once they appear. This will not only enhance the life of those effected but will also ease the caregiving stresses. At the present time, there are several drugs under study designed to offset both areas of loss but may not be available until 2006.

I join you, along with countless others, in hoping for a cure before then.

Joan Marie

"Dream as though you will live forever. Love as though you will die tomorrow."

Mary,I was on Aricept for 4 years,I have been on Reminyl the past 20 months.Still doing very well..............

Lynne

Edyth Ann, you are so right.I hope and pray that the treatment for these diseases is found to prevent all this suffering that families are experiencing. These disease are contributing to the downward spiral of so many.When you read what people on this forum are experiencing and multiply it, it is very concering.If it were any other disease the Center for disease control would declare an emergency.I nothing else happens before I die I hope a cause and treatment is found.I hope there will be those who care enough to carry the torch to see that this is a priority.

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blowing the rest away.

When reading the medication for alz. slows the decline, that statement while truthful in a twisted way is not actually accurate. These medications treat the symptoms, not the disease. They wil, for those that these medications do work for, slow down the symptoms alowing for a better quality of life for the time period these medications work while the disease continues to progress. There maybe a chance, according to some research, that Aricept may help in certain parts of the brain, but that may not or may help to expand the life time in the disease, it may only help explain why the increase ability to function within the disease.

To date we do no9t have a medication that directly treats the disease of Alz. or other related diseases. This is an important fact because as long as we keep hung up or mistake treating the symptoms for treating the disease, research focus may be directed more towards symptom rather than treating, preventing or curing the disease. For those caring for an AD LO that these medications do help it is wonderful, however we need and need to continue pushing for a true treatment, cure or prevention.

Edyth Ann aka Bubblehead aka Queen Bubble
AOL IM EdythAnn12
edythann@netzero.net