An article in the LATimes, by Al Martinez, Realistic and sad, a man faces the darkness of Alzheimer’s, relates the story of Buddy Epstein, who, at 58,  has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s.  He has given up practicing law, after 32 years, and copes with the increasing loss of memory.
“My future is dwindling away,” he comments when asked if he’s afraid of the days ahead.
Al Martinez’s younger sister had this disease, too, so this explains his great interest in promoting awareness and the Sunday Alzheimer’s Walk through downtown LA, where he and Buddy Epstein discussed the ramifications of Alzheimer’s.
If you want …read more

The ongoing story of Richard Taylor, an Alzheimer’s sufferer, appears periodically in Alzheimer’s Daily News.  He tells what it’s like to experience this disease. 
In the current article, The Alzheimer’s Three-Step, Richard has excellent advice for the caregiver…information I wish I’d known when caring for my mom and aunt.  Not much information was available then, especially written from the viewpoint of the Alzheimer’s victim.
“Ask me each time your response does not produce a mutually acceptable moment for you and for me,” Richard suggests.
He also points out something the didn’t occur to me, and probably not to most caregivers…we change as well as …read more

It’s not a new idea. Remember the old saying ‘use it or lose it.’
A recent study, the Rush Memory and Aging Project, focused on the connection between engaging in mentally stimulating activities and how that is related to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
More than 700 participants with the average age of 80 were involved in this longitudinal study over a period of five years.
The results:
“The study found a cognitively active person in old age was 2.6 times less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than a cognitively inactive person in old age. This association remained after controlling for …read more

Visit the Living Through Windows…Alzheimer’s disease to learn about the residents of Third Phillips ward on the third floor of the Grand Islands Veteran Home in Nebraska. This ward is home to veterans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The website showcases their stories, as well as the stories of the families, the caregivers, and the staff.
Created by Mike Bockoven and Scott Kingsley, Living Through Windows is a fantastic and moving multimedia presentation profiling the patients, families, and staff at Third Phillips.

Cathy, at Cathy’s Rants and Ramblin’s, visited Alzheimer’s Notes, read my Christmas story, Laura’s New Home for Christmas, then posted her own story about her mom and Alzheimer’s and Christmas.
I wrote the story to give other caregivers encouragement and am pleased it brought back happy memories for Cathy, who published a beautiful post about her experiences.
An excerpt: ” Mary Emma’s story has brought back many of the good memories of past years.  You look and look for just one sign of recognition.  Then when you see it, if only for a moment, you know that God has just granted a miracle.”
(Read …read more