If you are diagnosed with Alzheimers in your late 70's, is the disease likely to progress faster than a diagnosis in a 40 yr old patient?
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Q: Diagnosis for an older pt versus younger pt.
Answers (4)
5/28/09 7:41am
Hi Janet, I'll wait for a medical person to give you a more precise answer, but I can tell you what seems logical to me. First, let me say that it's not easy to say when the disease really starts. Prevailing though it that it begins long before there are symptoms.
However, logic would suggest to me that someone older (70s) is more frail and likely has more damage that was chalked up to "old age" before diagnosis, so they may not get treated as quickly and therefore would seem to progress more rapidly. The flip side of that is that if someone in his 40s started showing signs, this person would go to a doctor for tests earlier, as he wouldn't find memory problems "normal" at that age. Then, this person would start treatment earlier and stave off some of the worst of the disease for a period of time. That said, every person is different, and every case is different. Some people have Alzheimer's for 20 years before death and some have it for five.
Take care, Janet. You may want to check statistics online, but then again, that is only statistics. I'll leave this open for one of our medical people to chime in.
Carol
5/28/09 10:04am
Keppra is an antiseisure drug with few side effects. There may be a very good reason for the prescription, but you are right to ask about everything. I'd be interested in why the doctor chose this for now. It's good that there will be more tests. I'm sorry you have had to cope with the diagnosis - it's so fresh for you. Please keep coming back and let us know how you are doing.
Carol
5/28/09 11:33am
I live in Missouri and my parents live in Atlanta, Ga. so, all my info has been second hand from my mom thus far. My mom now informs me that the doctor did indeed perscribe Airicept as well as Keppra. Apparently the doctor feels my dad has had some seizures as well. I will know more when I visit with them in two weeks.
Yes, this was a shock for us! My dad has been very active his entire life and he is quite brilliant as well. Such a sad diagnosis.
Thank you for the support. It is very much appreciated.
Janet
5/28/09 11:51am
You're welcome, Janet. Yes, it will be a shock. My dad's brain was destroyed by surgery, so it was literally an overnight shock - total dementia. He was, like your dad, quite brilliant. He was an intellectual rather than a physical person. The grief was horrendous, and he lived ten more years like that.
You are already experiencing the early grief we feel when we see the decline. Keep talking it out with people who understand. That does help some. My heart is with you.
Carol
5/30/09 4:41pm
Hi, Janet,
I'm so sorry for your father's diagnosis. One thing that I've heard that can slow the progress of Alzheimer's (along with drugs) is exercise. You also may want to watch HBO's recent documentary, the Alzheimer's Project. A link to a sharepost I wrote about this (which includes a link to the HBO site, where you can stream the videos) is:
http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/71721/possibilities-hope
Take care and keep us posted!
Dorian
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By Janet— Last Modified: 12/27/10, First Published: 05/27/09
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Thank you for your response.
My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer Dementia just yesterday and I of course am concerned for him and for our family.He is 78 yrs young.
The neurologist prescribed Keppra and a neuro pysche eval is pending. I am questioning the drug Keppra as an Alzheimer drug as, I have not seen this drug listed on this site or any other. I guess I will wait to hear what the neurologist/psychologist advises regarding drug treatment as, I am certainly not a physcian.
Thank you again for your help.
Janet