I have two daughters, both their maternal grandmother and their mother, my DW, died of AD - What we call their cursed genetic cesspool Both have refused taking part in any study.
Unfortunately the test isn't as good as it claims to be. Here is an explanation. http://ampp3d.mirror.co.uk/2014/03/11/how-a-90-accurate-alzheimers-test-can-be-wrong-92-of-the-time/
The problem is that way too many people who will not develop Alz in 3 years will be told that they will get it (false positives). If the test tells you that you will get it, most of the time it will be wrong.
I'm not sure I would want to know. If there's no way to prevent it, improve it, or cure it, it seems that the thought would hover over me like a huge, dark cloud. What would be the point? Any ideas?
If I knew I would suffer from dementia in the next 3 years I would want to know. I would take that vacation now and get my affairs in order. Make sure that my son is not stuck caring for me.
There would never be a point in taking this test. This is science trying to solve problems but knowing you are very likely to get Alzheimer's is like chaining an anvil to a person's chest.
A few exceptional people triumph and live their lives fully or more - but most people that learn they have cancer go through serious emotional challenges which any competent psychologist can predict.
With Alzheimer's there is simply no hope and now every normal memory loss or confusion is the inevitable coming to claim them sooner or later.
To devise such a test is to be an imbecile in humanity and is almost certainly driven by monetary concerns by those that wish to sell it.
The best question might be this. Would you take this test?
I would not want to know and I certainly do not want to know about my children. I watch them like a hawk as it is. My daughter is on chemo, having finished radiation and surgery for a brain tumor. That's more than enough for me. She is doing OK so far, and I again thank those of you who prayed for her. None of the AD tests are 100% accurate and, as of today, there's not anything you can do to prevent it. We should all have our affairs in order by a certain age and done something about our bucket list, disease or no. I have long-term care insurance if I need it for myself so that my children will not be burdened with the finances and physical care that I had with my DH, they are already senior citizens themselves. The emotional toll I cannot soften. Even if you get the disease and are told, within a certain amount of time, you wouldn't know anyway--so what's the point?
Bettyhere*, I am very happy to hear that your daughter is doing well! That must soothe your heart so much.
Mim...why would I want to know? Well, I have been so scared lately, that maybe it is something that IS happening to me. I know that sounds nuts...but I have been so forgetful, people call me back and wonder why I did not return their calls I promised. Just little things here and there. Sometimes I am just simply "blank", and cannot pull up anything. So scary. And I do rest enough, eat well, take vitamins, watch my health.
And of course, it could just be the journey of sadness, and the driving too much, and taking care of all the yard and home issues. I surely hope so. I am giving up any bad habits which are few, for now, and observing things. Writing things down to refer to. If it continues it will be time to go to the doctor.
Please how I would love for you all to tell me it is just the stress of missing Dado and caring for him, and the loneliness and isolation and sometimes anger at people, that is causing this. And the natural ways of aging...I turn 59 in a few days..
Coco, don't worry. The stress of being a caregiver gives us dementia symptoms. Plus we get so familiar with the symptoms that we act like a first year med student, convinced that we have all sorts of rare diseases.
Years of stress and emotional agony. Years that have ripped out your skull and your heart causing lonliness and isolation in spades and you think the strain you're under is caused by Alzheimer's.
Every frigging one of us worries about that because we know from our retina burns that it's horrible.
Coco - Stress and anxiety can produce these symptoms. Often, I'm like a slow computer with lots of programs running in the background that can leave me spacey. However, no one with AD could write the cognitive reply you posted.
Let me just add something. I've been worried for a couple of days that my smoking has finally caught up with me. I've been coughing up flem and feeling kind of odd. My throat is sore and so I must have cancer now.
Except I went out last week downtown with a larger group and sat in an arena watching a basketball game and I swear it was 7:32 pm (now 8:06 where I came up for a smoke between halves in the SEC basketball game and found Coco's post 3 minutes earlier) - when it dawned on me.
I haven't had a cold in the 2+ years and I forgot about them I was so busy suffering.
I am flat wrong! My computer is slow! I DO act like a first year med student and analyze everything! THANKS EVERYONE WHEW!!!!
and another thing...I was reflecting on this upcoming DC trip, and realized, that the last 6 journeys I traveled were ALL to do with death, dying, funerals, (my sister and Dad), AND having to worry about who would be with Dado. I have NOT traveled for any other reason other than love, and grief. No darn wonder my computer gets blank and fuzzy, and sometimes it is just a brief white out.
So though this DC trip is advocacy, it is for something GOOD, and just maybe, I can even have a little fun.
anyway you guys realllllllllyyyyyy made my day. ( :
Glad you're feeling better about things, Coco! As others have said, there are times when we all think we're "getting IT", but as I have heard, as long as you realize you're forgetting something, or you know you've gotten something mixed up, you're OK! Thanks for answering my question - maybe my being nosy helped you! :)