Children Can Get Alzheimer’s Too.
March 4, 2008 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Announcements, Boys & Girls, Children, Genetics, Health, Misc., Treatment, Video
If you think that Alzheimer’s is a disease that only attacks older people, then think again. It seems that you can get it at any age, even as a child.
I first learned about this last month when I read about Leah Garfitt, a six year old child who has Niemann-Pick Type C disease (NPC), a genetic disease that causes large amounts of fatty substances to build up in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and brain resulting in symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s.
Niemann-Pick Type C is very uncommon disease with only 500 known cases worldwide. So it’s not surprising that most of us have not heard.
But for those who have to deal with it and live through it, Neimann-Pick Type C is a real heartbreaker. There is no known cure and those suffering from it usually die before they reach 20.
Yesterday, I came across this video on You Tube….
It was put together by Danielle LaVerde. Her six year old daughter Gabreille is one of only 300 children in the United States with this very rare disease.
Danielle’s goal in creating the video, blog, and website is to raise awareness of the disease and also to raise money to help fund state-of-the-art experimental treatment for Gabrielle.
Gabrielle’s classmates have responded in kind. Ryan, one of the students at Gabrielle’s school, got his mother to put together these videos to help raise awareness…
and raise money…
I don’t know about you but by the end of these videos I was not only digging deep in my pockets for a tissue but also for some money to donate.
Thank you for including our videos and information on your blog. The students from Deltona Lakes Elementary have raised over $10,000 for their classmate Gabrielle LaVerde, and are inspiring to the Deltona community.
We must bring this disease out of the darkness. Pediatricians need to become aware of it so that other children do not have to lose years of their precious lives looking for a diagnosis. It is a very rare disease, but it’s link to Alzheimer’s makes it part of an a much bigger picture. Spread the word!
Hi gisele and danielle, thanks for stopping in and commenting. It’s great that something like the internet can open up so many more avenues to learn, assist and even fundraise. Making people aware of diseases such as Gabrielle’s is so very important.
All the very best. Our thoughts are with you all…
Thank you for writing this story about the child form of Alzheimer’s. Dementia is dementia, whether you are 4 years old or 80 years old. We need to educate people on the brain in general so we can treat the symptom like neuro- inflammation that is presently killing people of all ages. We have joined the fight with Gabrielle and her family as our twins have this terrible disease. We will not give up until everyone knows about this cruel disease that robs kids of their ability to walk, talk and eat or even remember the name of their favorite doll or stuffed animal.
Chris Hempel
Mom to Addi and Cassi
Gabrielle story is really sad, Danielle you are a brave mom, i hope that they find a cure for your daughter’s sickness.