Wed 7/26 PBS Newshour Segment on AD

July 27, 2006

Tonight (Wed 7/26) on The Newshour with Jim Lehrer there was the

first in a two-part series on Alzheimer's. You can get access to the

audio file from this page:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/

(I'm not sure how the video can be accessed.) This first part

addresses how families' efforts have spurred the private and public

sectors into action on AD. Some statistics are given: 4.5 million

Americans have AD; that number is expected to triple in 10 years; by

age 85, 50% of people have AD; and somewhere between 200K and 600K

baby-boomers have AD. Clinical and pathological symptoms of AD are

discussed in general terms along with pharmaceutical treatment and

research. Amyloid protein clumps and dead nerve cell tangles are

described. An MD who got early-onset AD in his 50s is shown, along

with his wife. I thought the portrayal of him was very

realistic. At some point in the future, the second part of the

two-part series on AD will be broadcast. It will focus on caregivers.

Note that the Newshour segment did not mention the antibody treatment

that was in the news last week.

July 27, 2006

Someone on the AD site said the Doctor was shown wearing a diaper, and asked

where was respect for his dignity? And, was this done without him being

unable to sign a consent form? I want to address this.

The Doctor knew early on that he had a problem. Being a Doctor he would do

everything in his power to help others study a disease that no one fully

understands.

I am sure his health has been photographed with his consent early on, and

with his wife's consent.

As for showing a man in a diaper, yes, it is very undignified. But, that is

the nature of the disease, and they wanted to portray just how bad it is, as

much as possible, without showing someone changing that diaper. They want

people to know how terribly undignified the disease really is. I am sure the

Doctor in the Photo visited many nursing homes, and knew what was in the future

for him. It is my feeling that He wanted to teach others.

The show is trying to teach those that don't want to teach themselves by

doing research. Few know how bad these conditions are, with LBD being

especially

bad. I hope a segment is done about that too. Education is the key to

funding.

A case in point. A Doctor had a bad disease, and would not take any

medication, so that he could tell everything that happened in his body. How it

was

effecting different body organs, and his reactions to all of it. It, too, was

filmed for future education.

In this case the public needs to know, because the public is us! All, of us

are affected, one way or another. Baby Boomers are facing an epidemic. Need I

say more?

Imogene

Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has LBD with

Parkinsonism.

In a message dated 7/27/2006 7:40:24 AM Central Daylight Time,

rriddle@... writes: