January...Alzheimers' Awareness Month January is Alzheimer's Awareness Month and this subject is particularly important in my life because my mother has recently been diagnosed with that dreaded disease, and my Dad, who passed away 13 years ago was suffering from dementia, which was the term for Alzheimers' before a difference was discovered. I've written several articles on Alzheimer's and brain function, and if there's any advice I can give people of any age, it's that yoiu should work on keeping your mental faculties working at optimum levels, that's the be-all and end-all....without that, the body goes and there's nothing worse than being a moving vegetable. I've said it once if I've said it a thousand times: "We spend more time and money on our vehicles than we do on our mental health." Since my mom was diagnosed, I've looked a little more into the Allopathic medicine given to seniors who are exhibiting symptoms. Mom was sent to a wonderful geriatric centre in our capital city for assessment and the people there were wonderfully kind to her and led her through the procedures without her even knowing that it was and Alzheimer's test. When the specialist who surveyed the forms prepared by the attending nurses who saw immediately that it was indeed Alzheimers (a simple mental test repeated three times within an hour to compare answers) came into the room, he sat very close to Mom, held both her hands and proceeded to tell her the unvarnished truth, hard as it seemed for him. It was an enlightening experience. To make a long story short, Mom was prescribed Aricept but I don't see any difference in her demeanor, mood or mental agility. I wish they would have given her Galantamine...and the next time I talk to her doctor I will ask for a change in medication. I've recently found out that mainstream medicine has embraced Galantamine but not on the level that alternative medicine has. Altmed doctors believe that it can reverse Alzheimer's to a certain extent, whereas Aricept purports to arrest it and not allow it to develop further. Of course, there are many other factors involved with Alzheimer's...not the least of which is eating properly and eating brain foods....certain fish and their oils, fresh (preferrably organic) fruits and vegetables, Vitamin E rich foods, lots of fiber, lecithin...and as many of the wonderful brain nutrients out there that a person can afford. The main ones that come to mind other than galantamine would be CoEnzyme Q10, Ginkgo, pycnogenol, acetylcholine, selenium and zinc. Exercise is an important factor. Mom was told that even if she just walks to the mailbox 3 times a week, that would be wonderful. The big problem with Alzheimer's patients is how to get them to eat, never mind nutritious meals in the first place. My mom has a large supply of nutrients but forgets about them or simply won't take them. She doesn't seem to have an appetite anymore and has become very thin. I'm sure her brain is very thin by this time as well. She'll sit at the table but picks at anything on the plate, if she remembers to eat at all. Care workers don't have much patience with people who won't open their mouths. To be fair, my mother will be 87 this summer and is in remarkably good physical health for her age. She still lives in her own home with her dog and cat, but that situation has become precarious. She believes that her memory is perfectly good, thank you very much! She never thought she'd live to be 86, but now that she's reached that age, her next goal is to be 100! Can't fault her for that. Goals are what life is all about. Have a wonderful year, with all your mental faculties and cognitive abilities! Back to the Writing Index