This Man Decided to Fight Alzheimer's -- Jay Smith

Today, nearly seven years after disability retirement due to Alzheimer's and over five years since diagnosis, I'm still living Alzheimer's, and have come to think of myself as a survivor.

By Wantland J. (Jay) Smith
February, 2007

I've put together a program of healthy diet and supplements, mental and physical exercise, and socialization and creative self-expression, based on the continuous stream of studies that have shown their benefits in preventing or slowing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's.

I don't expect my program to cure me, or ultimately change my fate, but I do believe it is giving me a substantially better quality of life, and extending my useful years.

Lynn Asks All of US a Question

Our reader Lynn is seeking information, insight and advice from the readers of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. Maybe you can help.

Our fellow reader Lynn originally submitted this as a comment.

My mother died March 4, 2012. Isn't there a place or page for those mourning to write about the loss?

I've read all your posts for the past 5 years and now that my mother is gone, I feel there is no place for me to follow. I am lost. -- Lynn

God bless you, Lynn.

Please use the Add New Comment box below this article to respond.

Purple Scarf

Alzheimer's Reading Room

The Memory Problems animations have been developed to highlight common symptoms of early Alzheimers disease, to educate and help families recognise the early signs of the disease and take action.

An early sign of dementia?

New Clues for the Cause of Alzheimer's Disease

The loss of synapses, the connections between the brain's nerve cells, causes the loss of memory and other cognitive deficits of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer's Reading Room

Daniel Alkon

"This research breaks new ground because it shows that the normal ApoE3, but not the defective ApoE4, can control synaptogenesis and neuroprotection through PKC epsilon," said Dr. Daniel Alkon, the Scientific Director of BRNI and co-author of the paper.

"This is also exciting because BRNI has developed a whole class of drugs that can reverse these effects of the defective gene as demonstrated in animal models of Alzheimer's disease as well as in synaptic networks grown in culture."

Ronald Reagan’s Daughter Talks About Alzheimer’s Support Groups

Patti Davis talks about “Beyond Alzheimer’s,” an Alzheimer’s support group she co-leads at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Alzheimer's Reading Room

Patti Davis

“There were so many unknowns, no one could give us information. I felt so isolated and so lonely. I went through a decade of losing my father. No one to talk to.” -- Patti Davis, Beyond Alzheimer's

So far this year I have received 608 emails. A large fraction of those emails ask for advice in dealing with specific problems, talk about the difficulty of dealing with family, or getting family involved in the caregiving effort. Alzheimer's caregivers are searching diligently for advice, insight, comfort, and for specific information on how to deal with problems.

No doubt, the situation is improving, but we still have a long way to go.

The video below is interesting, enlightening, and worth sharing with others in the Alzheimer's Community.