Hello again. Haven't posted for a while but want you all to know I read here everyday, I learn something here every day and I want to thank you all, and Joan, for all you do to not only help yourselves along, but to provide a valuable educational service for others.
Having said that, as I've been reading here over these last few months it seems there are more men who suffer from ALZ than women. And I'm well aware that not only is that an anecdotal observation on my part, but there is most likely no 'definitive' cause for for ALZ or any other dementia for that matter. Anyway, I ran across this article about new research the military has been doing concerning concussion injuries in combat and how they may affect victims later in life. I was curious as to whether any of the ladies here could relate any of the info to your husbands history in the military and their current condition.
I'd be most appreciative of any feedback you may have to share. Here's the link; http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=67421
Please, y'all take care of yourselves. I now refer to y'all as 'my people':-) Ed
Very interesting article. Thank you. I will put the direct link up on the home page.
As to more men than women having AD- actual statistics show that it is the opposite -that AD strikes more women than men. One would never know it based on support forums like this, and face-to-face support groups, but that is most likely because women are more likely to seek out emotional support for their caregiving role than are men. My own support group is loaded with caregiving women. The caregiving men who do come generally tell their story, and are basically mute after that, unless they have a specific problem that needs a solution.
Thank you for asking and your interest in the article and posting it up on your web site.
As to my situation, it has not changed except for a piece of valuable advice I received recently from a care giver gentleman who is well versed in dealing with dementia. After seven months of trying to convince her it would be a good thing to do, and wouldn't hurt anything, my wife still refuses to go to the dr. for even a routine physical. The advice I was given by this wise man, and he is well aware of my situation, was; 1) if she does have a form of FTD/EOAD/dementia etc. there is nothing that can really be done anyway except to continuing loving her and helping her as much as possible until the 'big one' happens and the dx road becomes unavoidable, and 2) if she actually has some type of dementia my continued harping on the dr. appointment will only lead to, as he put it, 'hell'. In my case this might have been some life saving advice.
Thank you for the input as to the ratio of woman to men AD sufferers. And the point of the difference in the emotions between men and women care givers was one I had not even considered. After thinking about it it makes perfectly good sense.
One last note about the article; I should have mentioned it in the OP, but, I found it curious that the researchers had not addressed the fact that veterans, especially Army and Marine veterans, would not necessarily have to be exposed to actual combat to be around large concussion type explosions. For infantry soldiers they would be routinely exposed to these situations during their training pryor to being sent into combat. One also has to consider the point that not all those who are trained for combat actually ever experince any combat enviornments.
Again, I'm not looking for evidence that a 'cure' for dementia will EVER be found. Nor do I think it will ever be proven that a definitive cause for dementia exists. I've become of the mindset that..., er........, well, the more 'clues' we all have about this terrible wasting disease the better off we'll all be. (read, 'ideally' btw)