Very interesting. I think a lot of money is wasted on AD research. Over 100 yrs ago Dr. Alzheimer's examined the brain of a woman who had the same plaques & tangles that we have today. And many people have these plaques & tangles but NEVER get AD. The woman did not drink coke from aluminum cans, eat processed food, or have mercury fillings, I don't think it's in our modern life style. I think it's in our DNA. We know it runs in some families, but not most. I think more time & money should be spent on looking at our genes--not just for AD but other diseases as well.
Read an article today where they say diuretics can help ward of AD, especially the ones with potassium in them. High blood pressure drugs help to a lower extent. Hmmmm
I had one of our physicians relate Alz to gasoline in a car tank. Some individuals are blessed to start with more in the tank then others, however, if you live long enough everyone will run out and get some type of Alz. Not sure about the everyone part, but as we live longer more and more of us will die from Alz.
Stats are that nearly half of those 85 and over will have some dementia, AD or otherwise. Longer life expectancy--which I'm comfortable with at the moment, is a trade-off. I had a sister die at 90, sharp as a tack. I have another sister just turned 90 & she's sharp as a marble. It's not AD, probably vascular. I have the physical features of the oldest one, but I do think about which way I'll go. Well, first I have to get to 85.
I guess our family is blessed with good genes. Mother "lived until she died at 87" That is she was current on events and even after having a severe heart attack was able to tell EMTs what her blood pressure usually was. Oldest sister died at 93 with very clear mind now have sisters 85 and 90 who also have no signs of dementia. Me, well I'm 78 and I think I have a clear mind most days ;). Brothers were 67, 80, and 89 when they passed and none had any signs of dementia either. My father died at 52 (I was 9 years old) this was long before high blood pressure was treated as it is today. DH had one sister with az another with dementia and their mother must have had dementia but no one - but no one- ever mentioned it altho it was evident that she needed meds for her unpredictable behavior. Too bad, she would have surely been easier for her saintly husband to live with had she had the right meds.