Re: oops, Alzheimer's and ds

[Guest guest]

I found this helpful article on Alzheimer's in individuals with DS.

http://www.ds-health.com/adults.htm

When they say that they will show dementia pathology, they mean the plaques

and tangles are present in DS individuals at 40 upon autopsy. Most brains

show some plaque at 70, not at 40. Almost all do at 90. But the presence of

plaques and tangles do not correspond with the actual dementia. You can

have lots of tangles and show no signs of dementia at all.

A great book about this is Aging with Grace, The Nun Study, by Snowdon

After surviving my MIL's nine year battle with Alzheimer's, I can sadly say

that I learned a lot about this disease.

Something that we don't talk about much is that individuals with DS do have

shorter life spans than normal. That's why I think it's really important to

enjoy our kids, each and every day and not sweat the small stuff.

Therese

>

> In a message dated 11/8/04 1:13:09 PM Central Standard Time,

> writes:

>

>

>> I've read that 100% of DS people will show AD pathology by their 4th

>> decade. Somebody please tell me that's not true.

>>

>>

>

> Don't tell that stubborn 56 year old woman who had ds that lived in the group

> home I managed 10 years ago. She wasn't showing any signs of dementia and

> probably had the best memory in the group.

> Remember everyone is an individual.

>

> Karyn

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Therese for the link. has seen Dr's Chicoine and McGuire

they are also friends of Joan so she could tell you more. They have a

website which has some other publications

http://www.advocatehealth.com/adultdown/

As in the article in 's last report 2/03 Dr. Chicoine wrote " that as

adults with Down syndrome get on into their 30's and 40's, it does

appear that their aging process accelerates. As patients get into their

40's and beyond, we generally think of them as being 10-20 years older

physically than their chronological age " . Thus since is now 42 we

are watching for any signs relating to aging. Louise

Re: oops, Alzheimer's and ds

I found this helpful article on Alzheimer's in individuals with DS.

http://www.ds-health.com/adults.htm

When they say that they will show dementia pathology, they mean the

plaques

and tangles are present in DS individuals at 40 upon autopsy. Most

brains

show some plaque at 70, not at 40. Almost all do at 90. But the presence

of

plaques and tangles do not correspond with the actual dementia. You can

have lots of tangles and show no signs of dementia at all.

A great book about this is Aging with Grace, The Nun Study, by

Snowdon

After surviving my MIL's nine year battle with Alzheimer's, I can sadly

say

that I learned a lot about this disease.

Something that we don't talk about much is that individuals with DS do

have

shorter life spans than normal. That's why I think it's really

important to

enjoy our kids, each and every day and not sweat the small stuff.

Therese

[Guest guest]

ive met a good handful of individuals with ds in their 70s and 80s, and they

still are smiley and pleasant and much like a child at heart, wish all elderly

were like that. shawna

[Guest guest]

what about that doctor lenshin or something like that, just a sec. shawna