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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / February 2008'The Myth of Alzheimer's Disease'
Greetings, Amazingly, a new book is coming out next week, which says that the Alzheimer's Disease is just a myth: The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis by Peter J. Whitehouse, Daniel George http://tinyurl.com/3a6d5o The authors claim that there is no a singular disease, but rather there are many very different kinds of brain failures with age, which are inappropriately named by one and the same term -- the Alzheimer's Disease. Any experts here to comment? Kind regards, -- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. Website: http://longevity-science.org/ Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ My books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html On Dec 28, 8:08 pm, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> wrote: > Greetings, > > Amazingly, a new book is coming out next week, which says that the > Alzheimer's Disease is just a myth: I am not an expert but I will suggest the title is as much the product of the need to market it as mass market book as anything else. Perhaps we should be surprised the book wasn't named "The Miracle of Alzheimer's Disease" or the better yet "The Wisdom of Alzheimer's Disease.".....I am jesting but only to a point. Popular works often end up just making me angry or irritated. I'll suggest one might be better served by setting a number of PUBMED searches in free text mode and then downloading and reading the results on the topic. Indeed, I suspect PJ Whitehouse maybe a bit of fuddy and may embody the failings of his field. In article <a898bcc5-418b-484a-9a9e-37ed147adab6@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, > On Dec 28, 8:08 pm, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > Greetings, > > > > Amazingly, a new book is coming out next week, which says that the > > Alzheimer's Disease is just a myth: > I am not an expert but I will suggest > the title is as much the product of the need to > market it as mass market book as anything > else. I'm inclined to agree with this suggestion; I wouldn't go so far as to call Alzheimer's a "myth." It is, however, an intractable problem, and even Big Pharma is having a hell of a time with it, according to the LA _Times_. See: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-alzheimers27dec27,0, 1354 769.story?coll=la-home-center The url will have to be pasted all into one line, I'm afraid, but I just checked to make sure the article is still there - and it is. Blessed be, Baird If it's a myth, then there are a lot of people out there that need a great deal of psychological help. Maybe that in itself is also a myth - all aberrant behaviour needs treatment. Jeff 'Health information for you and your family'. www.easyhealthhelp.com > In article > <a898bcc5-418b-484a-9a9e-37ed147adab6@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Blessed be, > Baird > I'm inclined to agree with this suggestion; I wouldn't go so far as to > call Alzheimer's a "myth." It is, however, an intractable problem, and [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Blessed be, > Baird *** Thank you so much for this most interesting Los Angeles Times story "Scientists can't get their minds around Alzheimer's" ! Here is a shorter weblink to it, for convenience of other readers here: http://tinyurl.com/22a9w6 And here are some excerpts from this story, which are very relevant to our discussion here: "For most of the century since, scientists have believed the plaques were associated with the disease. But to date, they don't know whether amyloid plaques are the cause of the disease or a result. They don't know whether they are vital to the progress of the disease or incidental. They don't even know whether their presence is indicative of the disease. ... Some people who had the symptoms did not have the tau tangles or the beta amyloid plaques. Some who didn't have the symptoms had the plaques or tangles; some had both. ... The implications of this are confounding and frightening. Could it be that Alzheimer's is not a specific disease, but a normal part of growing old? ... the distinction is getting fuzzier and fuzzier between normal aging and diseases like Alzheimer's disease." Kind regards, -- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. Website: http://longevity-science.org/ Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ My books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Dr. Fink's earlier posting was definitive. Alzheimer's is a specific disease characterized by specific pathological symptoms in the brain. Although the diagnosis in a living patient can be difficult, a pathological examination of the brain after death is unambiguous. There is no "fuzziness" involved. I'm not an expert, but here are some additional thoughts regarding specific sentences quoted from the story. ... > "For most of the century since, scientists have believed the plaques > were associated with the disease. But to date, they don't know whether > amyloid plaques are the cause of the disease or a result. They don't > know whether they are vital to the progress of the disease or > incidental. They don't even know whether their presence is indicative > of the disease. I thought that the plaques and tangles were indicative of the disease and, in fact, define the disease as compared to other types of dementia. As to whether they are a cause or a result, there's a problem with the question. The "cause" of the disease can surely be traced deeper than to the occurrence of the plaques. There is a specific disease process that results in the formation of the plaques. We don't yet know everything about what that process is but, obviously, there is one. Do the plaques cause symptoms? My understanding of that is that the answer is, Yes. If I understand the facts, the plaques are composed of crystallized protein, i.e., protein molecules that have come out of solution and aggregated together into clumps. These clumps are thought to break the cell membranes of the neurons, causing damage and eventual death of the brain cells. > ... Some people who had the symptoms did not have the > tau tangles or the beta amyloid plaques. If by "symptoms" the author means "dementia", then, sure, there are people with dementia who do not have tangles or plaques. They also don't have Alzheimer's disease. If they were diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it was a misdiagnosis - but one that's easy to make. > Some who didn't have the > symptoms had the plaques or tangles; It is true that some people are able to function at a much higher level than others in spite of Alzheimer's damage. It is thought by some that such people have very well educated and organized minds are able to "work around" the damage to a greater extent than people with less intellectual capacity. This should not be too surprising. An athlete who loses a leg may learn to walk well on an artificial leg, or to manipulate his crutches or his wheelchair effectively. An overweight, sick, or weak person who loses a leg may become immobilized. However, as I understand it, there is only so much damage anyone can work around. Eventually the disease will lay anyone low. No one can escape the long term outcome. > some had both. ... The > implications of this are confounding and frightening. Could it be that > Alzheimer's is not a specific disease, but a normal part of growing > old? ... the distinction is getting fuzzier and fuzzier between normal > aging and diseases like Alzheimer's disease." It is possible that many of the diseases of old age, including Alzheimer's disease and cancer, are associated with normal aging processes that would affect anyone who lived long enough. However it is absolutely certain that some people live very long lives, into their 90's or beyond, without showing any symptoms of AD (or cancer). So not everyone will get the disease even in a relatively long lifespan. Whether or not AD is "a normal part of growing old" it seems to me that we still need to find ways to prevent it and, if possible, cure it. It's very difficult for me to believe that this disease can't be overcome with more and deeper understanding of the disease process. The problem is a very, very hard one. We're not likely to solve it with a shot of anti-biotics. But the development of AD is a molecular and physiological process. Eventually we will understand it well enough to intervene effectively. The real "fuzziness" I see here is in the mind of the author of the article. Alan Excerpt From: Olfactory Stem Cells & Neuroplasticity Provisional Patent: 3/31/98 US Patent Office by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D. Brain Research Laboratory OLFACTORY STEM CELLS AS A TREATMENT FOR DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND/OR MIND, by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D., Brain Research Laboratory, San Jose, California HUMAN STUDIES Dr. Joseph is therefore seeking patent protection as his discoveries are uniquely applicable to the treatment of brain damage and developmental and degenerative neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and psychiatric disturbances. Moreover, Dr. Joseph's discoveries indicate that an abnormality within the olfactory system and/or in these as yet unknown trophic and growth promoting olfactory factors, may lead to neural degeneration, including disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, one of the earliest signs of disturbance among those with Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders, is the loss of smell, which, of course is a function of the olfactory system. In addition, patients with Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders, initially display neural atrophy within the rhincencephalon (the "nose brain") including what has been referred to as the "extended amygdala," i.e. the substantia innominata. The extended amygdala is a developmental and evolutionary derivative and/ or extension of the olfactory system, as is the hippocampus, a major memory center. Moreover, the amygdala and extended amygdala play a significant role in social and emotional recognition, including the ability to recognize and remember family members. The failure to recognize family members is also a symptom of Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders. In addition, the substantia innominata is involved in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters important in memory, and patients with Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders display atrophy in this nucleus. BrainMind.com Alzheimer's Disease & Mold Because the effects of toxic mold (Stachybotrys) are similar to Alzheimer's Disease [in such ways as the loss of memory and ability to think logically], it is possible that relatives and friends of toxic mold victims think that their relative's memory losses and mental diminishment are a sign of advancing age, or of the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. Medical researchers strongly believe that environmental factors help trigger what is ultimately a genetic condition. [USA Weekend, Aug. 31- Sept. 2, 2001, p. 6] Mold contamination may be one of those environmental factors! If someone is experiencing memory losses and difficulty in thinking, the person's home, office, and other living and working space should be tested for the presence of toxic mold and other unhealthy molds. Unlike Alzheimer's that presently has no cure, mold CAN BE TESTED FOR AND REMOVED SAFELY.Visit: Mold Test Kit. In addition: the environment of persons with Alzheimer's should be living in a mold-free environment so that the effects of toxic mold don't complicate and worsen the already deteriorating mental abilities of residents of moldy areas. Below printed is an interesting email letter received by Mold Inspector about toxic mold making matters worse for an Alzheimer's patient. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the gradual spread of sticky plaques and clumps of tangled fibers that disrupt the delicate organization of nerve cells in the brain. As brain cells stop communicating with one another, they atrophy -- causing memory and reasoning to fade Tangles and plaques first appear in the entorhinal cortex, an essential memory processing center needed for making new memories and retrieving old ones Over time they move higher, invading the hippocapus, the past of the brain that forms complex memories of events or objects Finally the tangles and plaques reach the top of the brain, or neocortex, the "executive" that sorts through stimuli and orchestrates all behavior. [The above illustration and explanation are from Time's] www.time.com. Learn the 25 steps for safe and effective mold remediation. [Home] [Up] [Asthma-Cats-Alternia-Mold] [Fungal-Research] [Mold- Sinus- Problems] [Dampness-Mold-Health] [Environmental-Mold-Home-Study] [Alzheimer's & Mold] [Mold-Death] [Asthma & Mold] [Blood Testing] [Mold Headache] [Mold & Landscaping] [Mold Scientist] [Skin Diseases] [Stachybotrys Information] [Cold-or-Allergies] [Mold-Health-Effects] [Tsunami-Deadly-Fungal-Infection] [Mold-Birth-Defects] [Ten-Health- Symptoms] [Hypertension-High-Blood-Pressure] [Seasonal-Allergies] [Mold-Respiratory-Hazards] [Mold-Pregnancy] [Sinusitis-Mold-Growth] [Lung-Cancer-Mold] [Asthma-Mold] [Pet-Mold-Problem] [German-Mold- Research] [Fungal-Eye-Infection] [Mold-Causes-Depression] Home Remedies for Killing Mold, Asthma, Hypertension and Sinus Infection Don't use ineffective bleach to eliminate or kill mold on porous surfaces like wood, walls, and ceilings Bleach Mold Myth. Copyright 2007 iPay, Ltd. All Rights Reserved www.moldinspector.com In article <911814fc-cd6a-43c8-a35c-b7d56e340023@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>, > Excerpt From: > [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > BrainMind.com * I smell a rat. earle * > In article > <911814fc-cd6a-43c8-a35c-b7d56e340023@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > earle Not a rat you are smelling, but troll...... We do have a couple of them.  SignatureBest Regards, Evelyn Re: 'The Myth of Alzheimer's Disease' Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Sun, Feb 3, 2008, 1:37pm (PST+3) From: evelyn.ruut@gmail.com (Evelyn Ruut) "Earle Jones" <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in message news:earle.jones-C39EFE.22023402022008@netnews.comcast.net... In article <911814fc-cd6a-43c8-a35c-b7d56e340023@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>, rpautrey2 <rpautrey2@gmail.com> wrote: Excerpt From: Olfactory Stem Cells & Neuroplasticity Provisional Patent: 3/31/98 US Patent Office by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D. Brain Research Laboratory OLFACTORY STEM CELLS AS A TREATMENT FOR DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND/OR MIND, by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D., Brain Research Laboratory, San Jose, California HUMAN STUDIES Dr. Joseph is therefore seeking patent protection as his discoveries are uniquely applicable to the treatment of brain damage and developmental and degenerative neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and psychiatric disturbances. Moreover, Dr. Joseph's discoveries indicate that an abnormality within the olfactory system and/or in these as yet unknown trophic and growth promoting olfactory factors, may lead to neural degeneration, including disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, one of the earliest signs of disturbance among those with Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders, is the loss of smell, which, of course is a function of the olfactory system. In addition, patients with Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders, initially display neural atrophy within the rhincencephalon (the "nose brain") including what has been referred to as the "extended amygdala," i.e. the substantia innominata. The extended amygdala is a developmental and evolutionary derivative and/ or extension of the olfactory system, as is the hippocampus, a major memory center. Moreover, the amygdala and extended amygdala play a significant role in social and emotional recognition, including the ability to recognize and remember family members. The failure to recognize family members is also a symptom of Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders. In addition, the substantia innominata is involved in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters important in memory, and patients with Alzheimer's and related neurological deteriorative disorders display atrophy in this nucleus. BrainMind.com * I smell a rat. earle Not a rat you are smelling, but troll...... We do have a couple of them. SignatureBest Regards, Evelyn ========================================== ----And your one of them. Grayson had lots of plaques. The doctor said they couldn't find where the blood was coming from when they tried to measure the pressure in his brain. That's why it took 5 hours to stop the bleeding and left him paralyzed and made him stop talking. Gwen > Dr. Fink's earlier posting was definitive. Alzheimer's is a specific > disease characterized by specific pathological symptoms in the [quoted text clipped - 88 lines] > > Alan > Dr. Fink's earlier posting was definitive. Alzheimer's is a specific > disease characterized by specific pathological symptoms in the [quoted text clipped - 89 lines] > > Alan Alan, thank you for an intelligent, articulate, thought provoking post. Jackie >Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >-- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. Alzheimer's disease is a specific disease and pathologic entity. On microscopic examination of brains from such patients, one can see "Alzheimer bodies" which are rather specific cells which have been affected by the disease process, a process which we do not yet understand. Since the only way to unequivocally see the "Alzheimer bodies" is by examination of brain tissue (biopsy or autopsy), the clinical diagnosis of the condition may not always be accurate. A dementia which occurs in the absence of other causes (or the so-called "pre-senile dementia") is often labeled as "Alzheimer's disease" whereas it could conceivably be some other condition causing dementia. That is why the diagnosis (of Alzheimer's) should not be made until other (some correctable) causes of dementia have been ruled out. The use of the Alzheimer's term is rather like caling facial tissue "Kleenex" or refrigerators "Frigidaires" (what my generation called generic tissues and refrigerators based on the most popular trade names of the time). Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 ********************************** NOTE: The material above is not "medical advice". Medical advice can only be given after an in-person contact between doctor and patient. ********************************** > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any experts here to comment? I am am not an expert but I think although its a misleading title, the chances are the hypothesis is correct, eg there are several to many underlying failures/root causes. SignatureTumbleweed email replies not necessary but to contact use; tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com I've been answering Alzheimer's questions for years at allexperts.com. Few people with any dementia experience in their families would argue that doctors often do an inadequate job of investigating and diagnosing the root cause of cognitive impairment in the elderly. I get questions from people all the time whose doctors just can't be bothered to send their patient to a specialist, or who slap the label of Alzheimer's on the person without any comprehensive diagnostic tests. Very frequently, when the caregivers describe what the person's symptoms are, even I know it can't be AD, and I don't pretend to be a doctor - i.e. the caregiver describes symptoms such as very sudden and devastating onset, or the kind of behaviors that go with frontal lobe impairment. I'm not sure why so many family doctors are so poorly informed, or so lazy about diagnosis. Maybe they don't realize there are therapies available for some causes of dementia that can slow the process down, or even reverse the problem. Maybe they figure the root cause doesn't matter in the very frail elderly with a constellation of health problems. However, I think its really criminal to not investigate - if for no other reason than to arm families with information on the prognosis, and to prepare them for the behavioral changes likely to occur with a particular cause of dementia. Family members also need to know the implications for the health of other family members who share the same genetic heritage. So yeah, I'd totally agree that AD is over "diagnosed", in that sometimes Alzheimer's is used as an all purpose term for cognitive impairment rather than for a very specific cause of dementia. M. My family had both extremes of this debate occur around the same time. Over 5 years ago, my late father had very poor circulation and suffered from depression after my mom died. He eventually fell very ill and experienced an irritable demensia - thinking it was the 1950's again. A young GP casually diagnosed my father w/ AD and said he was hopeless and would have to be put in a nursing home. I asked "what about his poor circulation causing this instead of AD?" He replied "It's the same thing..." It was soon discovered my father had a hidden kidney problem that put his electolytes out of whack. When this was treated, he was pretty much back to his old self. Around the same time, my very healthy, active brother, (mid-50's, MBA and top manager at a large plant facility) started to develop memory problems. After exhaustive tests, and then-experimental imaging tests, he was diagnosed w/ AD! It was hard for anyone to believe, but it came from the top people. Another specialist wanted to redo all the tests, but the family decided against it. In the last year, newer methods and brain-scans have re-confirmed his AD diagnosis (which is now entering the later stage, with all the predicted symptoms). Neither of my parents really had AD symptoms by their early 80's, yet my brother developed it in his mid-50's. You almost have to wonder at environmental, (rather than aging/genetic), triggers. I, having just turned 50, struggle to exercise more and keep taking a little ginkgo, carnosine and tumeric each day (when I remember to!). On Dec 28, 11:08 pm, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> wrote: > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Blog:http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ > My books:http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Hi everyone, This is my first post to this group, and this one got me to respond because of the outrageous claim that Alzheimer's disease is a myth! My father is a victim of this disease and I am a Nurse Practitioner, who works mainly with the elderly, so I see the effects of Alzheimer's disease on a regular basis. Postmordem MRI imaged brains of Alzheimer's patients show the distinctive features of alzheimers disease (the placques and tangles) and conduction studies show a marked decrease in the degree of electrical impulse passing through the diseased neuron as acetycholine is depleted. Any sickness that causes distinctive physical changes in an organ or system and leads to a universal pattern of progressive decline should be named. Dr. Alzheimer found the placques and tangles in the brain of his patient in 1906. I wouldn't buy this book to help promote sales, but I would love to see the author's evidence to make his claims. As a final point, the brain does not "normally" fail with age as evidenced by the numbers of elders who grow old without suffering from cognitive changes. Regards, Jackie On Dec 28, 11:08 pm, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> wrote: > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Blog:http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ > My books:http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Hi everyone, This is my first post to this group, and this one got me to respond because of the outrageous claim that Alzheimer's disease is a myth! My father is a victim of this disease and I am a Nurse Practitioner, who works mainly with the elderly, so I see the effects of Alzheimer's disease on a regular basis. Postmordem MRI imaged brains of Alzheimer's patients show the distinctive features of alzheimers disease (the placques and tangles) and conduction studies show a marked decrease in the degree of electrical impulse passing through the diseased neuron as acetycholine is depleted. Any sickness that causes distinctive physical changes in an organ or system and leads to a universal pattern of progressive decline should be named. Dr. Alzheimer found the placques and tangles in the brain of his patient in 1906. I wouldn't buy this book to help promote sales, but I would love to see the author's evidence to make his claims. As a final point, the brain does not "normally" fail with age as evidenced by the numbers of elders who grow old without suffering from cognitive changes. Regards, Jackie Hi Jackie, We get a few trolls on this newsgroup with all sorts of weird ideas about what causes alzheimers disease. Of course none of their wacky theories hold any water, and they are of no use to those who are suffering from the disease or the rest of us who care for them. Of course you are correct in all you say above. I recommend liberal use of the killfile for trolls. SignatureBest Regards, Evelyn > I recommend liberal use of the killfile for trolls. http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/article_pages.asp?AID=5809&UID= Is it Alzheimer’s? How to pare down the possibilities A clinical guide to rule out other dementing diseases and rare reversible causes Signaturehttp://www.last.fm/listen/user/dyslimbic/loved http://www.last.fm/listen/user/dyslimbic/playlist Re: 'The Myth of Alzheimer's Disease' Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Mon, Dec 31, 2007, 12:02pm (PST+3) From: evelyn.ruut@gmail.com (Evelyn Ruut) <jackieon12@gmail.com> wrote in message news:53eff40e-c39b-40e5-a599-01f0cb1e69de@n20g2000hsh.googlegroups.com... On Dec 28, 11:08 pm, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> wrote: Greetings, Amazingly, a new book is coming out next week, which says that the Alzheimer's Disease is just a myth: The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis by Peter J. Whitehouse, Daniel Georgehttp://tinyurl.com/3a6d5o The authors claim that there is no a singular disease, but rather there are many very different kinds of brain failures with age, which are inappropriately named by one and the same term -- the Alzheimer's Disease. Any experts here to comment? Kind regards, -- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. Website:http://longevity-science.org/ Blog:http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ My books:http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Hi everyone, This is my first post to this group, and this one got me to respond because of the outrageous claim that Alzheimer's disease is a myth! My father is a victim of this disease and I am a Nurse Practitioner, who works mainly with the elderly, so I see the effects of Alzheimer's disease on a regular basis. Postmordem MRI imaged brains of Alzheimer's patients show the distinctive features of alzheimers disease (the placques and tangles) and conduction studies show a marked decrease in the degree of electrical impulse passing through the diseased neuron as acetycholine is depleted. Any sickness that causes distinctive physical changes in an organ or system and leads to a universal pattern of progressive decline should be named. Dr. Alzheimer found the placques and tangles in the brain of his patient in 1906. I wouldn't buy this book to help promote sales, but I would love to see the author's evidence to make his claims. As a final point, the brain does not "normally" fail with age as evidenced by the numbers of elders who grow old without suffering from cognitive changes. Regards, Jackie Hi Jackie, We get a few trolls on this newsgroup with all sorts of weird ideas about what causes alzheimers disease. Of course none of their wacky theories hold any water, and they are of no use to those who are suffering from the disease or the rest of us who care for them. Of course you are correct in all you say above. I recommend liberal use of the killfile for trolls. SignatureBest Regards, Evelyn --------------------------------------------------------- Bravo, Jackie. Telling it like it is. We do know the cause of AD discovered in 1907 by the late great Dr. James R. Hunt. The cause is a virus Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome. EddyJean Here is a description of both Ramsay-Hunt I and II and neither of them sound even vaguely like what happened to my MIL. http://rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseasesr/a/081304.htm Mary G. Re: 'The Myth of Alzheimer's Disease' Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Thu, Jan 3, 2008, 5:21am From: Mary_Gordon@tvo.org Here is a description of both Ramsay-Hunt I and II and neither of them sound even vaguely like what happened to my MIL. http://rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseasesr/a/081304.htm Mary G. ====================================== Mary, I'm not familiar with MIL's health problems but assume she was correctly diagnosed with AD?, There are many symptoms listed under Ramsay Hunt I and II, would you mind sharing with us her symptoms? Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a complex disease affecting each in different ways. Syndrome means "many" things. I withhold judgement on the book "The Myth of Alzheimers" until I've read it. The author may mean something other than what the title says.. EddyJean Hi Jackie, We get a few trolls on this newsgroup with all sorts of weird ideas about what causes alzheimers disease. Of course none of their wacky theories hold any water, and they are of no use to those who are suffering from the disease or the rest of us who care for them. Of course you are correct in all you say above. I recommend liberal use of the killfile for trolls. SignatureBest Regards, Evelyn ====================================== Evelyn, The late Dr. James. R. Hunt discovered the virus that causes AD in 1907!!!! This is not a wacky theory but already proven by an "Icon", Dr. Hunt, the father of Neurology in the United States, treated patients 30 years before his death in 1937. Research should begin studying Dr. Hunt's work and stop the guesswork. Of course, this information is of use to those who suffer from this disease, or those caring for them if scientists study Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome as soon as possible..We the People have a voice. If not now, think of future generations. EddyJean > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Blog:http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ > My books:http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Hi Leonid, I suggest your group members might check out our web site www.themythofalzheimers.com. People do suffer from what we currently call Alzheimer's but what we call (label) human conditions is important and the stories (myths) we tell may limit our moral imagination and human possibilities. The myth is quite simple - there are actually many forms of overlapping aging associated cognitive challenges that we currentyl falsely labeled by one term. Also as a longevity expert you must know there is not way of biologically distinquishing Alzheimer's from forms of severe brain aging. I am glad the title is provocative but it is not just marketing I think our current mainstream thinking about Alzheimer's is quite cognitively and ethically limited. Best wishes for 2008, Peter Whitehouse MD-PhD (cognitive neuroscience), MA (bioethics) On Jan 1, 8:38 pm, whitehouse.pe...@gmail.com wrote: > On Dec 28 2007, 11:08 pm,LeonidGavrilov > [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > > - Show quoted text - Dear Dr. Whitehouse, Thank you for your thoughful comments! I am pleased to inform you that your new book "The Myth of Alzheimer's" ( http://tinyurl.com/3a6d5o ) has been listed now in a directory of 51 new relevant books on Aging and Age-related Conditions published this month, January 2008: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-books-on-aging-longevity.html Shorter weblink: http://tinyurl.com/35s4n4 Hope it helps, Kind regards, -- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. Website: http://longevity-science.org/ Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ My books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Excerpt From: NIH Guide Volume 21 Number 42 10-20-1992 The olfactory nerve provides a direct anatomic conduit between the external chemical environment and the brain. This location puts the olfactory system at risk for damage from environmental toxicants and pathogens. These toxic agents comprise the major health hazard to human olfaction. However, the direct and indirect effects of these agents on the peripheral and central olfactory system are poorly understood. The purpose of this Program Announcement (PA) is to foster investigator-initiated research fundamental to understanding the impact of environmental toxicants and pathogens on the olfactory system. A broad range of studies extending from the molecular to the behavioral areas of basic and clinical research is applicable to this PA. The scope of these areas encompasses the transport of toxic substances into the brain through the olfactory nerve; olfactory mucosal defense mechanisms; neurogenesis; the relation of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, to olfactory abnormalities induced by toxic agents; and the vulnerability of an aged olfactory system to toxic agents. On Jan 11, 7:07 pm, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Jan 1, 8:38 pm, whitehouse.pe...@gmail.com wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 63 lines] > > - Show quoted text - Dear Leonid, Thanks for the honor of being on your book list. This is an interesting conversation space. I appreciate the good postings from Alan but disagree. And Jackie I know the heartful place from where your come and respect in deeply. Let me just remind you all that the person Leonid quoted from the LA Times article saying the distinctions between what we call AD and aging are getting fuzzier and fuzzier. was Marcelle Morrison-Bogorad, the most senior Alzhimer's expert at the National Institute on Aging. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-alzheimers27dec27,0,1354769 .story?page=2&coll=la-home-center. Peter (www.themythofalzheimers.com) On Jan 13, 11:02 am, "whitehouse.pe...@gmail.com" <whitehouse.pe...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Jan 11, 7:07 pm,LeonidGavrilov<longevity.scie...@gmail.com> > wrote: [quoted text clipped - 76 lines] > National Institute on Aging.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-alzheimers27dec2.... > Peter (www.themythofalzheimers.com) *** Dear Dr. Whitehouse, You are most welcome, and thank you for your kind reply again! Perhaps some angry comments here are coming from people who are seeking for practical advice on how to help their suffering love ones, and to postpone their own mental decline. It is therefore understandable that academic discussions on the nature of Alzheimer's disease could be perceived by them as a distraction from the treatment efforts. Having this in mind, I wonder what practical recommendations may follow from your new book "The Myth of Alzheimer's" ( http://tinyurl.com/3a6d5o ) ? Thanks in advance! Also I wonder whether you have seen this new related book already: The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory, Elevate Mood, Enhance Attention, Alleviate Migraine and Menopausal Symptoms, and Boost Mental Energy by Larry McCleary, M.D. http://tinyurl.com/2t6jcv This new popular book written by a medical doctor, suggests a combination of dietary supplements, mental exercises, and 'healthy' foods designed to: -- Strengthen memory -- Sharpen focus -- Speed reaction time -- Lift brain fog -- Alleviate hot flashes -- Preserve hearing -- Eliminate migraines -- Prevent brain aging -- Fight depression (cited from the book back-cover: http://tinyurl.com/2t6jcv ). Perhaps the claim to "prevent brain aging" may sound as an overkill, but still it may be interesting to hear from you and other the experts here, whether there are some good practical suggestions in this new book to follow. Thank you! -- Leonid ------------------------------------------- -- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. Website: http://longevity-science.org/ Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ My books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html ? PA On Jan 16, 6:51 am, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Jan 13, 11:02 am, "whitehouse.pe...@gmail.com" ? PA > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Blog:http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ > My books:http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Greetings, Just a short update to alert you that a discussion of this new book has been started with participation of one of the book authors at: "New Books on Aging and Longevity (Discussion Forum)" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8126691324 Hope it helps, ------------------------------------------- -- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. Website: http://longevity-science.org/ Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ My books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Blog:http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ > My books:http://longevity-science.org/Books.html Interestingly, this new book "The Myth of Alzheimer's" ( http://tinyurl.com/3a6d5o ) has got an endorsement now from some leading experts in Alzheimer's disease, including Arthur Kleinman, a Professor of Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, and Psychiatry, a Curator of Medical Anthropology in the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University, as well as the author of this new book: "The Caregiver: A Life With Alzheimer's", 2008 http://tinyurl.com/2vb8xn Hope it helps, On Jan 28, 11:00 am, Leonid Gavrilov <longevity.scie...@gmail.com> wrote: > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Blog:http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ > > My books:http://longevity-science.org/Books.html |
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