Do Caregivers See Themselves in Alzheimer’s Family Members?

“I’m forgetting,” a caregiver exclaims  “Could I have Alzheimer’s, too?”

Sometimes I wondered when the burden of caregiving left me exhausted and Mother had yet one more repeated question (she’s asked it just five minutes before), plugged the toilet with newspaper (because she was back in the outhouse days), or emptied the leftovers from the refrigerator in the night for her cat. 

Do you ever say to yourself, when wondering why this disease affected your loved one, “Will I come down with it, too?  Will my family have to care for me like this?”  Do you look at your parent and wonder if the genes are there to cause you to become like them, afflicted with that memory robbing disease called Alzheimer’s?

As much research as is being done…as much knowledge genetic specialists have acquired, “For most people, genetic testing cannot accurately predict [sporatic] Alzheimer’s disease,” is mentioned in  The Forgetting  at PBS.org. 

“In contrast, testing for “Familial” Alzheimer’s [an inherited form contracted by only 10% of Alzheimer's patients] is quite accurate, “ the information continues.

In spite of the great resources available, the genetic research under way, absolute testing yet appears to come up with few absolute answers about Alzheimer’s.  Research continues and much of it is heartening as we wonder, “Will I get Alzheimer’s?”

You’ll also find at The Forgetting Center, more research information about Alzheimer’s.

There’s a news resource center, as well, with updates.