This article was posted today by the Alzheimer's Association. Coughs and colds might speed Alzheimer's decline
BMJ Group, Tuesday 8 September 2009 00.00 BST Article history Common infections, like colds and upset stomachs, may make memory loss more rapid in people with Alzheimer's disease, a new study has found. It may be that infections cause inflammation in the body, which speeds up the damage caused by Alzheimer's. However, another explanation for the link is that people with worsening Alzheimer's are more vulnerable to infections.
The entire article was posted by the Houston Alzheimer's Association monthly email. I suppose you can Google Houstn Alz. Association Newsletter to get the entire (long) article. Sure got my attention!!!!
I am convinced, from observation, that there are inflammation phases of AD, followed by status quo phases. I think the AD person will feel worse, and complain more of symptoms during the inflammation phase, and feel more "normal" (whatever normal is at that point) during the status quos, in between. And that each episode of inflammation is probably followed by a stepped-down status quo from the previous one. Of course, I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on t.v. Have a large grain of salt with this post.
I had an aha moment reading this. DH had a tooth root removed two weeks ago then caught a cold. During this time he complained about everything from his beard to his toe nails. Today his is back to being more "normal". I'll be watching for a stepped-down status. We learn so much from each other.