Alzheimer's Community: Support Group

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New to it all

Hi, This is my first "community" or blog to be a part of. My Husband was recently diagnosed with...

Posted by nanabarbie5

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Alzheimers possibole treatment?

Ok I guess I'll just ask these questions before I post the kind of proposed treatment. 1. What drugs or what...

Posted by Euphorics

Ok I guess I'll just ask these questions before I post the kind of proposed treatment.
1. What drugs or what could be used to help do this? I read that these drugs already exist. I know this is not a legitimate treatment, but could it possible be? I'm so desperate I don't really care what it takes. Just want some thoughts of whether this could actually work?

ANyways thank you so much for just reading or if you could possibly help it would mean everything

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a major system maintaining body homeostasis by regulating the neuroendocrine and sympathetic nervous systems as well modulating immune function. Recent work has shown that the complex dynamics of this system accommodate several stable steady states, one of which corresponds to the hypocortisol state observed in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). At present these dynamics are not formally considered in the development of treatment strategies. Here we use model-based predictive control (MPC) methodology to estimate robust treatment courses for displacing the HPA axis from an abnormal hypocortisol steady state back to a healthy cortisol level. This approach was applied to a recent model of HPA axis dynamics incorporating glucocorticoid receptor kinetics. A candidate treatment that displays robust properties in the face of significant biological variability and measurement uncertainty requires that cortisol be further suppressed for a short period until adrenocorticotropic hormone levels exceed 30% of baseline. Treatment may then be discontinued, and the HPA axis will naturally progress to a stable attractor defined by normal hormone levels. Suppression of biologically available cortisol may be achieved through the use of binding proteins such as CBG and certain metabolizing enzymes, thus offering possible avenues for deployment in a clinical setting. Treatment strategies can therefore be designed that maximally exploit system dynamics to provide a robust response to treatment and ensure a positive outcome over a wide range of conditions. Perhaps most importantly, a treatment course involving further reduction in cortisol, even transient, is quite counterintuitive and challenges the conventional strategy of supplementing cortisol levels, an approach based on steady-state reasoning.

This is the site from which it came from and more information on the treatment here:
http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.1000273 View Thread

Posted by Euphorics

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Alzheimers possibole treatment?

Ok I guess I'll just ask these questions before I post the kind of proposed treatment. 1. What drugs or what...

Posted by Euphorics

Ok I guess I'll just ask these questions before I post the kind of proposed treatment.
1. What drugs or what could be used to help do this? I read that these drugs already exist. I know this is not a legitimate treatment, but could it possible be? I'm so desperate I don't really care what it takes. Just want some thoughts of whether this could actually work?

ANyways thank you so much for just reading or if you could possibly help it would mean everything

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a major system maintaining body homeostasis by regulating the neuroendocrine and sympathetic nervous systems as well modulating immune function. Recent work has shown that the complex dynamics of this system accommodate several stable steady states, one of which corresponds to the hypocortisol state observed in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). At present these dynamics are not formally considered in the development of treatment strategies. Here we use model-based predictive control (MPC) methodology to estimate robust treatment courses for displacing the HPA axis from an abnormal hypocortisol steady state back to a healthy cortisol level. This approach was applied to a recent model of HPA axis dynamics incorporating glucocorticoid receptor kinetics. A candidate treatment that displays robust properties in the face of significant biological variability and measurement uncertainty requires that cortisol be further suppressed for a short period until adrenocorticotropic hormone levels exceed 30% of baseline. Treatment may then be discontinued, and the HPA axis will naturally progress to a stable attractor defined by normal hormone levels. Suppression of biologically available cortisol may be achieved through the use of binding proteins such as CBG and certain metabolizing enzymes, thus offering possible avenues for deployment in a clinical setting. Treatment strategies can therefore be designed that maximally exploit system dynamics to provide a robust response to treatment and ensure a positive outcome over a wide range of conditions. Perhaps most importantly, a treatment course involving further reduction in cortisol, even transient, is quite counterintuitive and challenges the conventional strategy of supplementing cortisol levels, an approach based on steady-state reasoning.

This is the site from which it came from and more information on the treatment here:
http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.1000273 View Thread

Posted by Euphorics

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July Check-In

Hello, everyone. Hard to believe it is already July. Our weather in Western New York has been sunny with...

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Blessings, Dave

Posted by davedsel57

6 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:July Check-In Hello, everyone. Hard to believe it is already July. Our weather in Western New York has been sunny with...

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Chronic Kidney Disease/Alzheimers

My husband, Ken, has been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, upper end of Stage 3. This was so...

Posted by 2010guardian

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Chronic Kidney Disease/Alzheimers

My husband, Ken, has been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, upper end of Stage 3. This was so...

Posted by 2010guardian

6 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Chronic Kidney Disease/Alzheimers My husband, Ken, has been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, upper end of Stage 3. This was so...

Chronic Kidney Disease/Alzheimers

My husband, Ken, has been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, upper end of Stage 3. This was so...

Posted by 2010guardian

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doesn't remember how much he's drinking

Hi Everyone. My father has early to moderate Alz, lives alone but very near several siblings. We all...

Posted by DaughterNumberOne

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quicklasw

hello, i want some instruction for medical

Posted by medicalcapsul

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New Alzheimers Caregiver....

Hello, So after three years of taking mom to see a neurologist, knowing that something was not right, we...

Posted by 7MrsG7

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Digestive problem for Alzheimer patient

Hi, My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer about 10 years ago. At this stage she cannot talk and...

Posted by fariba2012

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Digestive problem for Alzheimer patient Hi, My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer about 10 years ago. At this stage she cannot talk and...

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is this something others have experienced?

I don't know what to call this phenomenon but I'm trying to figure out if this is a "normal" or "typical"...

Posted by esnyder7

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is this something others have experienced?

I don't know what to call this phenomenon but I'm trying to figure out if this is a "normal" or "typical"...

Posted by esnyder7

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Father's Day 2012

Greetings to all who are or have had fathers. Today is also my dad's 82nd birthday. We are all...

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Blessings, Dave

Posted by davedsel57

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Father's Day 2012 Greetings to all who are or have had fathers. Today is also my dad's 82nd birthday. We are all...

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Continued information concerning Alzheimers care b...

I just sent a message that had too many characters. I need advise. My friend is being given 4 antipschotic...

Posted by gottagohome

21 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Continued information concerning Alzheimers care by "professionals". I just sent a message that had too many characters. I need advise. My friend is being given 4 antipschotic...

New WebMD Privacy Policy

Dear Members, Just a note to let you know that WebMD's Privacy Policy has changed. When you next...

Posted by Olivia_WebMD_Staff

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Your Questions About Affordable Care for Seniors

Dear Community Members, Dr. Louise Chang from our WebMD medical staff is going to be taking part...

Posted by Caprice_WebMD_Staff

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Your Questions About Affordable Care for Seniors Dear Community Members, Dr. Louise Chang from our WebMD medical staff is going to be taking part...

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June Check-in

Happy June, everyone! Today it is raining and in the mid-50's in WNY. Too damp for my bones to be...

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Blessings, Dave

Posted by davedsel57

5 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:June Check-in Happy June, everyone! Today it is raining and in the mid-50's in WNY. Too damp for my bones to be...

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Grandma discussion points

I'm new to the world of Alzheimers; my grandma is in stage five and the first in our family to ever be...

Posted by newtexan11

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HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!

I am thankful for those who have served in America's armed forces to fight for our freedom. Have a...

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Blessings, Dave

Posted by davedsel57

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!! I am thankful for those who have served in America's armed forces to fight for our freedom. Have a...

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COMING HOME WITH ALZHEIMERS

Hi Alzheimer's Community, My mom, who has mild-to-moderate Alzheimers, was just released from a...

Posted by shar4coldnoses

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Alzheimers

well to day has not been to bad. but he always thinks i do not like him his moods are good and bad. I just do...

Posted by An_245410

Take the Poll

Need a friend.

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Alzheimers well to day has not been to bad. but he always thinks i do not like him his moods are good and bad. I just do...

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Off Topic - Our Son Made Us Puppy Grandparents Tod...

Thought this post may bring a smile to a few folks today. My wife, eldest son Russell and I went to our...

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Blessings, Dave

Posted by davedsel57

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Off Topic - Our Son Made Us Puppy Grandparents Today Thought this post may bring a smile to a few folks today. My wife, eldest son Russell and I went to our...

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Bexarotene Off-Label Use

Just found this, "Hi All![br>I know you are all anxious for an update. DON'T worry.. I have no intentions...

Posted by jamesbbb

Just found this,

"Hi All![br>I know you are all anxious for an update. DON'T worry.. I have no intentions of forgetting about you! Presently we are giving my mother 2 pills a day. Each pill as I mentioned above is 75mg. It has been 8 days since we increased her from 1 pill a day to 2 pills a day. Unfortunately myself and my children have been sick and because of my Mother's low immune system I haven't had her at my house this past week, until today. So I have had to rely on my Father's descriptions on how she is doing. [br>So this past week there were a few things that made my Father and I a bit hopeful. One morning she made coffee without instruction (my father said the coffee was bad, but she made it), she also made scrambled eggs for herself without instruction. These are not things she does normally. She also called me on the phone- she had to ask my father for my phone # and she actually hung up after only 2 rings but I can't remember the last time she called me- so that peaked my interest. As I said, she is at my house now and about an hour ago I told her I was going out for dinner later on. Then just a few minutes ago she remembered that I had plans to go out tonight. All of these things are giving me some hope. [br>[br>At the start of this process I asked her to draw a picture of a clock with the hands at 10 past 11 o'clock (found this test on an AD website). She drew a circle and from the middle of the circle she drew out 12 lines. I guess her brain was telling her that there was 12 of something but she couldn't place the numbers. Last week I had her draw it again. She drew almost the same clock- but this time added something... she actually wrote the words"10 minutes past 11 o'clock" inside the clock. To me it seemed like a bit of an improvement because she completed 2 parts- the circle and the time. Although it was wrong- she remembered a second step. [br>[br>Overall though, she is still very confused.
Next week my Mother will be with me so I will be able to have a better description of her status for you."View Thread

Posted by jamesbbb

16 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Bexarotene Off-Label Use Just found this, "Hi All![br>I know you are all anxious for an update. DON'T worry.. I have no intentions...

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On Hospice and End Stage Dementia

Hello - My mother is 85 and now in an ALF (after first being admitted to a hospital for a UTI and then...

Posted by MacalusoT1

Hello -

My mother is 85 and now in an ALF (after first being admitted to a hospital for a UTI and then spending four weeks in a rehab center). She is not at all mobile due to a stroke back in 2000 which resulted in substantial residual damage to the entire left side of her body. About four years ago when she was in another rehab center after a fall a doctor told her (not the family, mind you) that she has AD - we hoped he was wrong but unfortunately it is clear he was right.

The biggest problem we face right now is that she does not want to eat. Period. And, increasingly, she does not want to drink anything. She has classic AD symptoms now: fast heart rate, rapid breathing, high anxiety. Earlier this week she had (yet another) ambulance trip to the ER where urine, x-ray and blood tests came back normal. They hydrated her via IV, discharged her (palpitations was the primary Dx, followed by dementia as the secondary Dx) and now, two days later she again has a fast heart rate and very rapid breathing. She does not want to eat. Does she want to die? We don't know that she is sufficiently aware to make that decision. She has told me and my brother in earlier times that she did not want extraordinary measures - but, unfortunately, that directive is not written down. My Stepfather is a kind and sensitive man (78) who has made it possible for her to stay at home for the past 12 years since her stroke but he is wearing down and this is, of course, very hard for him to watch.

I apologize for taking so long to get to my questions. Here they are:

(1) In your experience will an MD likely be willing to write a script for hospice care when the reason is end stage dementia? Does there have to be another underlying reason?

(2) Is there a choice (other than feeding tube or hospice care) for a demented patient who has no cancer or heart disease but does not want to eat or drink? Am I missing something?

(2) We have experienced her pulling out an IV already and do not think we want to opt for a feeding tube. If that is not done, and she continues to refuse to drink and eat, what should we expect next? The ALF where she is presently located is certified to handle hospice care (if we can get the Doc to write the requirement for it). Should we leave her there or bring her home, bring in an RN and make her as comfortable as possible there?

I would appreciate any wisdom you can offer. Thank you, in advance. TinaView Thread

Posted by MacalusoT1

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My 59yr old mother with ealy onset of alzheimers

I am a 36yr mother of 3 boys ages 18,14 and 3yrs old.I have took on the care of my 59yr. old mother with early...

Posted by mfsf4eva

I am a 36yr mother of 3 boys ages 18,14 and 3yrs old.I have took on the care of my 59yr. old mother with early onset of alzheimers she has been diagnosed with haveing it now for 9yrs.I have been takeing care of her for 6months now and I dont know which way to turn anymore this is more difficult than i could have ever imagined.There is no way i would be able to do this without the support of my husband I am very thankful for him but im at a point i just dont know what to do.My mom is getting worse and it feels like its hurting my family, my mom begged me 3yrs ago not to have her put in a home her sister and father have been keeping her up until 6 months ago when they were done going through her money and her sickness was getting worse I am now going through the courts to battle them in what they have done but for now im tring to take care of her the best way i can.My mom was abused by my father for 30yrs she got a divorce 7yrs ago and has fell downhill quickly we believe this was the reason for the early and such heavy onset of the disease.Me and my mom never had a close relationship and for now to try to have that is impossible she doesnt even know who i am anymore calls me her mom my kids call her grandma and she gets mad says quit calling me that im not no grandma the kids get upset says yes you are our grandmother. She is very aggravated all the time she is soo mean everything we do gets on her nerves we built the garage into a small apartment for her to be away from all the commotion of our family but she refuses to go in there i have moved my brother in to help me with her also.We can nolonger go as a family anymore someone has to always be here with her its almost impossible to take her anywhere with us for the way she acts out and wants to go back home.She doesnt sleep for days will pace back and forth for hours starting arguements with my 3yr old constantly.She now has started looseing control of her urine and bowels.She is ONLY 59 i just cant put her somewhere at this point i couldnt live with it in my heart knowing i did.I feel that i will know when the time is right if it comes to that but for my husband comeing from such a close family he doesnt want this even discussed in our home says we will take care of her till the end and thats the end not to talk of this again thats why im on here talking to you all thats going through this i just dont know what to do my kids hate it we cant live normal anymore.I have notice myself slipping into depression im tring to take care of 3 children, i run my own cleaning business work up to 6 days a week and take care of my mother in the evenings after work and weekends while my brother gets a break but for me there is none....i have picked up scrapbooking it does seem to help me clear my mind when things are getting ruffer than usual at times but here lately since mom has gone for the worse i cant find time to even sitdown to it anymore.I love my mom i respect her highly she worked hard while my dad didnt he got disability when i was a child drank heavily and mostly mentally abused us it was an everyday thing as we got older and moved away my mom got the worse of it as he got heavier into the alcohol and then on to drugs this is when it got more physical.My mom was always a sweet woman and now omg is she MEAN as i dont know what i just pray she doesnt get violent specially whith me haveing children thats where i will have to draw a line but for the meantime im just takeing day by day and scared for what tomorrow may possibly bring.Keeping my faith and prayers has been #1 i must sayView Thread

Posted by mfsf4eva

7 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:My 59yr old mother with ealy onset of alzheimers I am a 36yr mother of 3 boys ages 18,14 and 3yrs old.I have took on the care of my 59yr. old mother with early...

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Update On My Dad

Hello, friends. Just thought I'd give an update on my dad. His right leg has been extremely swollen for the...

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Blessings, Dave

Posted by davedsel57

6 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Update On My Dad Hello, friends. Just thought I'd give an update on my dad. His right leg has been extremely swollen for the...

Happy Mother's Day to All - Yes, Even You Men Out ...

Mother's Day usually triggers us to think about our mother's or for many women, being a mother. I...

Posted by Judith L London, PhD

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Alzheimers

I would like to find someone to talk to .My hubby has Alzheimers

Posted by qmb60

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National Day of Prayer

Hello, everyone. I understand that this is a secular board, and we all have and are entitled to our...

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Blessings, Dave

Posted by davedsel57

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:National Day of Prayer Hello, everyone. I understand that this is a secular board, and we all have and are entitled to our...