Looks like my hopeful self diagnosis of the PET scan was in error! The doctors at Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer's Center have confirmed the diagnosis of AD. Seems that there is an abnormal amount of white (commonly known as dead) brain cells in the center of my brain. I can live with being brain dead for a while but you scientist (and you know you are!) need to find the cure soon!
Chris, Did you ever find out from your mother about the meds your father was using to slow the progression? Currently I take Aricept and Namenda for the Ad plus a mood stablizer and anti depressant. Hopefully those meds will slow the progession so a cure can help me.
Thanx, Tom
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Chris, I'm just very sorry about your dad! Thanx for your reply.
I'm glad that you are able to talk about it because the talk helps us people with the disease immensely! Your dads early story sounds a lot like my own. I was 58 when diagnosed but bet I began to show signs at 55. I started Aricept the day I was diagnosed and added Namenda 30 days later. I'm very interested! Seems like a benchmark has been set.
Was your dad using Namenda as well as Aricept? I wanted to take part in an a clinical study for Dimibon but my wife talked me out of it. The test in in stage 2 and has already confirme the drug to be safe. My wife was worried that there might be a risk while taking Aricept and Namenda. This study allows people to continue thjeir present Rx drugs.
The anti-depressants and mood stablier, which I'm taking also don't really effect the disease. Those drugs help us accept things the way they are, but I'm sure you understand that. Just wanted to clairify for the readers here.
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I hate to think what life would be like for me without my aricept and ebixa (namenda). I have improved tremendously since being on them, and I'm back to baking, playing my accordion and enjoying life to the fullest! Admittedly I have to take many 'brain breaks' in between all my activities, but I've learned that slow is good!
Hugs
Mary
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Hi Tom
Yes my dad was on Aricept throughout his illness, and was also on a mood stablizer and anti depresent. He was also a bit of a guinney pig, and tried a couple of new drugs. People often ask me did these drugs help, and I usually answer, I'm not really sure because I didn't have anything to compare it to?
So I hoped it helped, but who knows? I mean he was diagnosed at 57 and died at 65, which was pretty quick and if the drugs did slow things down then I wonder what it would have been like without the drugs???
Thanks for all you posts!
Chris
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