I thought I would pose a question. I usually lurk, get encouraged, and cheer you all on! My DH was diagnosed a year ago: he shows symptoms of stage 3 - some days, stage 4. As I look back the symptoms were manifesting themselves at least 4 or 5 years ago. DH is a recovering alcoholic; been dry 20 years. At one point he was drinking a fifth of scotch a day (Yuk!) for over a year. We have a friend who, a few years ago, worked with ALZ patients. He doesn't think DH has ALZ. He has talked with DH quite a bit, and seen a bit of the everyday struggles. I know that alcohol affects the brain; could the sysmptoms just be a result of the lifestyle? Would extreme alcohol consumption bring on ALZ?
"Dementia Signs Excessive drinking over a period of years may lead to a condition known as Alcohol Dementia, which can cause problems with memory, learning and other cognitive skills. Alcohol has a direct effect on brain cells, resulting in poor judgment, difficulty making decisions and lack of insight. Nutrition problems which often accompany long-time alcohol abuse can be another contributing factor, since parts of the brain may be damaged by vitamin deficiencies.
Those suffering from dementia, may have very little ability to learn new things, while many of their other mental abilities are still highly functioning. Along with the decline in cognitive skills, sometimes noticeable personality changes take place." Hope this helps
Extreme alcohol consumption can bring a type of dementia. Korsakoff's syndrome and Wernicke/Korsakoff syndrome are particular forms of alcohol related brain injury which may be associated with alcohol related dementia. I'm not sure if that would be a cause if the hasn't had a drink in 20 years. Even if it was alcohol related, I don't think it really makes that much of a difference.
I don't really know more than what I have seen on the web during the time I was checking out everything relating to my husband's problem. He is 59 with FTD.
MarthaP--You have a Dx of Alz. From what you say, he's bordering stages 3-4. That's still fairly early in the progression. IMO your friend has knowledge of the people he worked with, who likely were progressed farther down the slope. The influence of the Alcoholism adds to the whole issue. I would stick with what the Dr. says and leave it at that.
Thank you - you have made me think. I suspect the alcoholism contributed, but I still think the ALZ fits - partly because it's been so long since he drank.
Korsakoff's clears up in 90% of people after they stop drinking. The remaining 10% have the symptoms for life. (I was a degreed alcohol/drug counselor.)
my dh was a very heavy drinker in his youth, a moderated drinker in his adult life, a light drinker when I met him and lost all interest 18 mos ago. He has FTD.
My husband has FTD and was not a heavy drinker, but had wine daily. His neuro said his FTD was caused by that.....I have never believed it. I feel it was caused by toxic type meds taken early in his heart problem until his new young heart Doc stopped them.
My husband has FTD and was not a heavy drinker either. We spent a good bit of time in bars when we were first dating and newly married, not because he liked to drink, he liked to shoot pool and the bars in our rural area were the only places that had pool tables. He would order a beer and it would sit and get warm while he was shooting pool.
My husband has FTD and was a heavy drinker when he was younger. But when I became pregnant with our first child, he stopped drinking cold turkey. That was 27 years ago---the neuropsychologist and his psychiatrist said he didn't believe it had anything to do with the disease---more likely the agent orange he was exposed to while in Viet Nam had possibly more to do with it but the government would never admit to it.
deb - is your husband disabled thru the VA? When we were talking to the VA social worker, one of the first questions she asked was: were you around agent orange since he was on a ship off the coast of Vietnam.
No, he is not disabled through the VA. We did apply for disability through them in 2003-04 and he was denied. He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by a VA doctor but they said they couldn't find his records so show he was in the field. Their records show him just being a company clerk on base in Viet Nam. All of his other problems (depression, FTD, bladder cancer) are not on the list for agent orange exposure. His best friend was in Viet Nam the same time as him and exposed to Agent Orange but never in the field--he has diabetes and receives a 60% disability pension from VA--diabetes is on the list. Doesn't make sense to me.
I have been told you can find advocates for you in the VFW. We have not tried it, but have you? I think it is really unfair when they know agent orange has cause diseases and deny the men help. And being on a base in Vietnam can be just as traumatizing cause it is the battle field. PTSD can come from boot camp too. I am sorry they are being so unfair.
When we originally filed we had the Disabled American Veterans help with the paperwork and keep in touch with us on the progress. I am considering refiling and adding the dementia. All they can do is say no again.