I’m longing to read a novel again and to restrict my Internet surfing to interesting news and websites but, for the moment at least, I’m still wading through books about AD (Alzheimer’s and Dementia). There is so much advice out there that it can become overwhelming. Nonetheless, I’ve come across a wealth of ideas and it’s worth noting how much the various ‘experts’ agree.
A LITTLE OVERWHELMING!
There are three genres of books on the subject –
- the medical
- the point of view of a sufferer
- advice on how to care for an AD patient.
The first genre covers, usually in some detail, the technical, or should I say physio-neurological, aspects of the disease. How and why we get it and why there’s no cure yet. The How covers what actually happens to our brains in the very early stages and the Why is mostly about the dangers of our modern lifestyle along with the possibility of falling victim to our genes. As for a cure, it’s hardly surprising one has yet to be discovered. Every brain is different and the damage, albeit following a typical pattern, will vary in many, often subtle ways. So much depends on the personality and psychological stability of the sufferer. Our level of intelligence does not affect our likelihood of getting the disease whereas our daily habits will make us vulnerable to a greater or lesser extent.
CAN WE IMAGINE THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE SUFFERER?
Then there are books by sufferers who still have the ability to put into words how they cope. How they feel and what they would like carers and others to understand and how they would like us to behave towards them.
Lastly, there are those invaluable books which tell us how best to react/act towards a sufferer.
The technical books say pretty much the same thing, so I don’t think it’s necessary to wade through several similar tomes.
The sufferers’ accounts are fascinating and particularly helpful.
Tips for carers are, of course, invaluable.
Are there books I would recommend?
In the technical category, I found Patrick Holford’s ‘THE ALZHEIMER’S PREVENTION PLAN – 10 proven ways to stop memory decline and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s’ well laid out, reader-friendly and with helpful end of chapter summaries. He deals a lot with nutrition and supplements and includes an excellent References and Resources section + chapter breakdowns, recommended reading and a good index.
LOTS TO LEARN
Another book worth reading is Dr. David Perlmutter’s ‘GRAIN BRAIN – The surprising truth about wheat, carbs and sugars – your brain’s silent killers’. Primarily, the book is about cutting out gluten (glue!) but includes all sorts of useful nutritional information much along the lines of Patrick Holford’s advice. Again, we have a reader-friendly book with a table of contents, lots of short and helpful sections, self-assessment tests, recipes and more.
Dr. Dale Bredesen’s ‘THE END TO ALZHEIMER’S – The first programme to prevent and reverse the cognitive decline of Dementia’ has been hailed one of the definitive books on the subject and it is indeed fascinating. However, I found the title misleading – ‘An End to Alzheimer’s’ would have been more appropriate. Also, I came to the conclusion that this is a book for well-to-do Americans with plenty of time on their hands!
Dr. Bredesen’s ‘protocol’ for prevention and cure involves finding a sympathetic doctor or neurologist prepared to prescribe his ‘essential’ tests, many of which could be difficult to arrange in Europe. Secondly, the list of supplements is long and expensive and quite a few are unavailable on this side of the Atlantic. Then there is his (apparently individually created) dietary plan. An extremely strict plan that would be difficult to follow alongside living a normal life within a family setting. Those following the protocol to the letter need to work with their doctor.
Aside from these apparent problems, the book is well laid out and readable. Along with the inevitable technical info, there are tests, diagrams, lists of do’s and don’ts and lots more. I particularly liked Concise Reading’s Summary of ‘The End to Alzheimer’s’. A booklet containing precise and detailed references.
‘THE FORGETTING’by David Shenk is a wonderful book which attempts, and I think succeeds, in covering dementia from all angles – through art, history, science and social attitudes. It is written with love, understanding and sympathy for those who are vulnerable to or are suffering from this horrible disease.
CARING
What about books for Carers?
‘CONTENTED DEMENTIA’ by Oliver James, deals with the SPECAL method of relating to AD patients. I liked the idea of lightening up and accepting that some of the symptoms are not worth fretting over, others are relatively easy to deal with if we simply go with the flow and even the most difficult can be overcome by distraction and imaginative reactions.
There are many booklets available from the UK Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK and France Alzheimer. These all give useful advice for carers. I am currently reading ‘100 IDEES pour accompagner une personne malade d’Alzheimer’. Contains some useful tips.
And as for books by sufferers, Wendy Michell’s ‘SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW’ is moving and incredibly helpful. ‘STILL ALICE’ by Lisa Genova is fiction but nonetheless a loving portrait of an early stage sufferer – I enjoyed the film too. ‘THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE RADIATOR’ by Martin Slevin is an amusing and extremely poignant true story of his mother’s decline.
DEMENTIA – IN ANOTHER WORLD
Finally, Sue Finer’s account of coping with her husband’s early-onset Alzheimer’s ‘FOR PETER’S SAKE – Surviving the Alzheimer Tsunami’, deliberately spares the reader nothing. Sue’s honesty is admirable and her bravery in sharing her deepest feelings brings home to the reader the horrors of the disease and the strength required of carers.
There are numerous websites and documentaries about AD and Dementia. Daily I check out tips, hints and progress in looking for a cure. Many are helpful, some are simply aimed at drawing us into buying their latest ‘miracle’ brain food or supplements. I would never buy from these sites. On the other hand, I have followed up on some recommendations and will be writing about our personal protocol in a future blog. Of course, the success of our AD regime will only become apparent over time. If it slows down the inevitable decline and allows us many good days together, then we’ll be more than happy.
I’m optimistic.
Comments
doodahtwo.home.blog 
adrienne says
Sue I heard that a lack of vitamin D in the diet could be one of the causes of dementia? I wonder if you have come across that suggestion during your research? My father had dementia for the last five years of his life. When I look back on his later years I realise that he stayed inside most of the time but if he did go outside he was always well covered so that his skin rarely saw the sun.
Yes, Adrienne, Vitamin D is very important, particularly for older people who do not synthesise sunlight as well as younger people. All the research I’ve covered mentions Vitamin D as an important supplement. I was sorry to hear your father didn’t get out and about which probably meant he was Vitamin D deficient and that won’t have helped his condition.
It is essential that we all get daily exercise which, if we’re lucky, will expose us to regular sunlight.
Leaf takes a Vitamin D supplement, walks the dog twice a day and we also have a Daylight SAD Lamp which is very good for those who do not get enough sunlight over the winter months.
Thank you for the reading list.
I think it will be very useful to those who wish to research for themselves.
I found your blog very stimulating and want to read some of the books.
I agree with you about the miracle cures people.
Thanks Janet. Perhaps start with ‘The Forgetting’ for an all-round experience.