“Where’s the garbage can?” is what he said, but what he meant to say is “that’s a pretty flower”.  At least, that’s what Timothy Rice thinks his brother-in-law meant to say when he was visiting him in an assisted living facility.  Timothy looked at Jack and said “you know what you want to say, don’t you?  But you just can’t get the right words out?” Jack nodded his head in agreement. 

   For approximately 5 years now, Jack has been suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.  There are days when he doesn’t recognize his wife or daughter, which makes visits painful.  Yet, they continue to go because he does have his good days when he will talk about going to the movies or will go on walks with them.

   Alzheimer’s Disease is a chronic, progressively worsening problem accompanied by disorientation, problems with judgment, concentration, language and mathematical skills, physical coordination, sleeplessness, the repetition of the same ideas or movements, the tendency to wander off and get lost, “sunsetting” (restlessness and wandering off in the late afternoon and night), dramatic personality changes, and eventually the loss of the ability to perform basic self-care functions.

   Alzheimer’s can take eight to twenty years to kill its’ patients.  During that time, the disease sweeps through the brain and ultimately destroys regions of the brain that control basic functions. 

   If you forgot where you put your glasses, there is no great cause for concern.  If you have forgotten that you wear glasses, you have significant reason to worry about your memory problem.

   No one knows what causes Alzheimer’s Disease.  It’s difficult to diagnose, largely untreatable and totally incurable.  It is the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly in developed nations. 

   Most commonly found in people over the age of 65, it affects 11% of those over 65 and 35% of those over the age of 85.  The risk of developing the disease increases to an alarming 47% by the age of 85.  Family history also plays a role with 54% of those age 80 and over developing Alzheimer’s if both parents had the disease. 

   Today, Alzheimer’s is sometimes referred to as “the disease of the 20th Century” due to a 10-fold increase in the 1900’s and it’s projected to reach epidemic proportions this century.

   New research is showing that physical and mental activities such as ballroom dancing may ward off the disease, or at least delay the onset of symptoms in healthy people. 

   Sherry Whitely is no where near retirement age, but she has adopted an active lifestyle that might delay or prevent Alzheimer’s.  Her mother and several close relatives developed the disease in their 70’s, so she has cause to worry.

   Whitelely says the dancing lessons her mother took during the early stage of the disease seemed to help, at least at first.  “She could remember the easy dance steps from one lesson to the next.  I could tell it was really sinking in.” Her mother had to eventually quit dancing because she could no longer remember how to do the steps.  “Toward the end, she couldn’t walk or talk.”

   William Thies of the Alzheimer’s Association suggests the following to keep your brain (and heart) healthy:

·   Increase daily intake of colorful fruits & vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, blueberries, strawberries and oranges.  These contain antioxidants that fight damage to brain cells.

·   Eat more oily fish such as salmon, halibut, trout and tuna.  They are rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

·   Include nuts such as almonds, pecans and walnuts.  They also contain antioxidants.

   Alzheimer’s research continues to make advances, both large and small.  Recently, researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new test, which can detect small amounts of proteins in spinal fluid.  The new test, called a bio-barcode assay is 100,000 times to 1 million times more sensitive than other available tests.  This test sets out to detect amyloid-beta-derived diffusible ligand, or ADDL in spinal fluid.  The concentration of ADDL increases as Alzheimer’s disease gets worse, so the progression of the illness can be followed. 

   “Do we have a new diagnostic for Alzheimer’s? said Chad Mirkin.  “That’s a bit premature.” More testing needs to be completed, repeated, with larger numbers of subjects.

   On June 4, 2004, the United States lost one of its most famous and loved leaders, President Ronald Reagan, after losing the 10 year battle with Alzheimer’s.  In a phone interview with former first lady, Nancy Reagan, and the associated press, she said that her late husband would want everything possible done to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.  “Losing my husband to this cruel disease was hard enough, but I think it would be worse if we didn’t do everything we can to find a cure.  I know that’s what Ronnie would want.”

   Son-in-law Dennis Revell praised Mrs. Reagan as a devoted wife and caregiver.  “She was there as his diligent and loving caregiver as Alzheimer’s disease slowly zapped him of his life over the last decade – that decade she came to refer to as ‘The Long Goodbye.’”

   Jack’s family is most definitely not ready to make their goodbyes with him heard.  He has his good days, while he also has his bad days.  “The disease progresses a little more every day, but we don’t know what kind of day he’s going to have until we see him” says his wife.  “We’re just thankful that he’s still here no matter what.”