Chris Pearce's Blog, page 28
September 16, 2015
A Weaver’s Web novel excerpt: Henry and Sarah remeet
Sarah put her head on the pillow. Somehow, she felt useless and lonely already, lying on a large bed in a large room, by herself, while a maid and a cook did the work. She was used to the constant company of her asylum friends, even though there hadn’t been much to do.
She couldn’t sleep. A fear of Henry consumed her, and how he might react, and what might happen to her. Would he accept her return? Did she want him to accept it? What about her hair? In her mind she kept rehearsing what Albert and Martha had told her to do that night. She was worried Henry would be angry, but she was more concerned she would say the wrong thing and let slip that Albert was in town or that she wasn’t really let out of the asylum but rescued by her convict son. She wanted to tell him. But she knew if she did, he would set out to find Albert, and as for her, she might be sent back to the asylum and kept there a very long time. This wasn’t what she wanted, now she had seen her children again. Her thoughts turned to Emily. She was cross with Henry for letting their daughter become a layabout. Eventually she drifted in and out of restless sleep.
Later there was a knock on her door. She sat bolt upright. Was it him? She was thankful when she heard Martha calling her.
“Sarah, time to wake up. He’ll be home soon.”
Her heart raced. She hadn’t felt so scared since Brody first dunked her in the bath. She couldn’t speak.
The door slowly opened. “Are you in there, dear?” It had got dark and Martha came in carrying a lamp.
“No, I’m not.” Her voice quavered.
“Look, I’m sure everything will be fine, dear.” Martha sat next to her on the side of the bed.
“Please don’t tell him I’m home. I’ll just stay up here.”
“What, forever more?” She laughed. “The children won’t be able to keep their mouths shut that long.”
“Just tonight.”
“The longer you leave it, the worse it’ll be.”
Sarah said nothing.
“Let’s go downstairs.”
Again Sarah was quiet. She sat very still, staring at the lamp. At length she drew a deep breath. “I’ll need my bonnet,” she said.
Martha got her bonnet and gave it to her. She looked at it and recalled how Henry almost ran her over earlier that day and thought he might recognise it. Then she remembered she had lots of bonnets and dresses and shoes, unlike the one gown, nightcap and pair of slippers she had in the asylum. Sarah got up and went to her dressing room. A dozen dresses and other garments lined the wall, just as they had before she was taken away.
“I’ve kept them clean for you,” Martha said. “Why don’t you pick a nice dress and I’ll help you into it.”
“Thank you.” Sarah chose a dress and a bonnet.
Soon she was ready. As they went downstairs, her legs felt quite weak and wobbly. She eased each foot down to the next step in turn, her hand on the railing all the way. When she got to the bottom, she stared at the front door. She knew he would come bounding through it any time.
“Come into the sitting room, like we planned,” Martha said. “When we hear the horses, I’ll go to the front door and let him know you’re here. Then, after he changes for supper, I’ll send him in to see you before you both eat.”
They sat in armchairs and waited. After a while there was a knock on the sitting room door. They looked at each other. Sarah froze. Had Henry come home and they hadn’t heard him arrive?
“Who is it?” Martha said.
“Supper is overdone and the children are restless.”
They were glad it was Alice. Martha nudged Sarah who wasn’t used to being in charge.
“Let them eat,” she called out.
At last they heard hoofs in the distance and then coming up the driveway.
“That’ll be Henry and Benjamin.” Martha got up and cupped her hands reassuringly around Sarah’s for a moment before going to the front door.
Sarah closed her eyes and wished she was somewhere else, anywhere. The thought of time together with Henry frightened her. She listened hard. The horses had stopped. She heard the carriage door slam shut and strained to hear footsteps. Before long, two pairs of heavy boots clomped up the path. The front door handle clicked open and she felt as if her heart had jumped into her mouth. She held her breath trying to hear what was happening outside the room. That made her heart beat even faster until she was sure she could hear it over other noises. Then she heard talking – Martha’s and two male voices, Henry’s and Benjamin’s, but in particular Henry’s.
“What? Where?” Sarah heard him say. “No, I want to see her now, not after I change.” She couldn’t hear what Martha was saying. Henry’s voice got louder though. “Maid, I have the right to see my wife, now.”
She wanted to open the window and jump out and run, like Albert had done the previous night, but it was too late. The door opened and there stood Henry. He stared at her. She found this off-putting and focused on the floor in front of him. He came towards her slowly. Several times she glanced at him before looking away. Even though her eyes were on him only a split second at a time, she couldn’t help noticing his weight. He looked three stone heavier, most of it around the middle. His coat was pulled tightly over it. He had the appearance of a true aristocrat, she thought. He stopped just in front of her. Still she avoided eye contact.
(end of excerpt)
My historical novel, A Weaver’s Web, is available from the following sites:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H52SEEK
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00H52SEEK
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00H52SEEK
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chris_Pearce_A_Weaver_s_Web?id=-hlJAgAAQBAJ
Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/a-weavers-web/id775610928?mt=11
September 15, 2015
A Weaver’s Web novel excerpt: Henry and Sarah go to meet Albert
As they rode off, Sarah felt her heart pumping. She would see her son Albert for the first time in a year and a half. Her grip on Henry’s waist and rib cage was so tight he had to take her hands and ease the pressure so he could breathe properly. The road was better than yesterday and in an hour they were at the docks searching for Albert’s ship. Vessels of different sizes were moored on the still, grey waters of the Mersey. Gangs of men, some of them convicts in their chains, were on the wharves loading and unloading goods. In another spot, men were constructing and mending ships. Further along, several ships were anchored away from the bank and Henry tried to read their names through the fog.
“Look,” he said suddenly, “there it is, the Argot.”
Sarah nearly fell off their horse, trying to see where Henry was looking. “Where? Which one?” she said. She could hardly read, despite his occasional efforts to teach her, and names on sides of ships were meaningless to her.
“Over there, the one with crates and bags piled up near the stern.” He pointed to a large ship a little way on. “It must still be waiting to dock.”
She put her hand over her heart which felt as if it was about to leap out of her body. “There’s someone on the deck,” she said.
“That’s Captain Hardwick. I hope he remembers me.”
“I don’t see anyone else,” Sarah said.
“Albert’s sure to be there if produce is still to be unloaded.”
“Won’t the convicts unload it?”
“They only work on the government ships.”
“Let’s go closer,” she said, geeing the horse with her feet.
“Captain Hardwick,” Henry bellowed as they drew level with the ship.
A man of about fifty, his skin bronzed from the sun, glanced up. “Hello there,” he said.
“Do you recall who I am?”
He looked hard at Henry. “Ah, indeed I do.”
“Do you have my son, Albert?”
“Who?”
Sarah gripped Henry’s arm. Surely he was there, and the captain was just hard of hearing.
“Albert Wakefield, for ten pounds,” Henry said. “Remember?”
“Ah, yes.”
She tightened her grip and bobbed up and down with excitement.
“Where is he?” Henry called out.
“I’m afraid I have bad news, Sir.”
Sarah raised her hands to her face and shook.
“You mean you haven’t got him?” Henry said. “Have we come all this way and he’s not here?”
He jumped off his horse and hurried down to the water’s edge, followed by Sarah and the driver. But after a few steps, Sarah slumped to the ground.
“Where is he?” he yelled across the murky water.
“He’s committed another crime. They put him in a chain gang, making roads, out Parramatta way.”
“What? Where?” Henry shouted.
“It’s a couple of hours up the river from Sydney.”
“You were supposed to bring him back.”
“I tried to. I even went to Parramatta, and saw him in a long line of men chained one to the other.”
“Surely you could have done something.”
“Heaven knows, for ten pounds, given half a chance I would have, you know that.”
“You bumbling idiot, you …”
“They had three guards.”
“That’s not many.”
“… with guns, against my bare hands and those of my drunken crew.”
“I bet you were drunk too.”
At that moment, Jacob tapped Henry on the shoulder. “We’d better go, Sir,” he said, and went to gently take his arm.
“Let me go,” Henry said, shoving the driver hard. “I’m going to find myself a rowboat, Captain, and come aboard to make sure he’s not there. You might be keeping him as a slave.”
Hardwick laughed. “I’d be better off with ten pounds, Sir.”
“Mr Wakefield,” the driver said, again trying to take Henry’s arm. This time there was slightly less resistance.
“I knew I couldn’t trust him,” Henry said to the driver as they walked back.
Sarah was sitting in mud, near the road, where she had fallen. She had heard the conversation. “In a chain gang,” she said tearfully, her quavering voice barely audible.
Henry took her hand and helped her up. “We’ll find another ship to bring him back.”
He cast his eye along the Mersey at the dozens of vessels, many unloading goods from Europe, the New World, the East and New South Wales. Others were preparing to take goods, including cloth and apparel from Manchester and quite possibly from his own mill, to these distant places.
“There must be a ship going to Sydney before long,” he said.
“I’d save your money, Sir,” the driver said. “Another captain will have the same problem.”
“Miserable fools,” Henry said, struggling not to let Sarah fall over again. “I’ll buy a buggy instead and we’ll have some degree of comfort on the return journey.”
“It wouldn’t get through the mud for days, Sir.”
He sighed and shook his head. “Come on, then. We must get as far as we can towards home by tonight. I can’t afford any more time away from the mill.”
They got on their horses and rode off. Sarah flopped up and down, distraught, glimpsing at the river once or twice before she quickly had to look away. When they passed a wharf, she couldn’t help but notice a convict gang at work. One of the convicts had been unchained from the others and was being punished. Henry and the driver didn’t take much notice. They had seen this a number of times in Manchester. Sarah hadn’t. What she saw horrified her. A slip of a lad, no older than her Albert, had been tied to a post and was being whipped by a guard twice his size. She shuddered each time she heard the whip crack against the victim’s bare back and the consequent scream, and wondered what he had done wrong – if he tried to escape or swore at his overseer or slackened off. The cracks of the whip and the screams bounced off nearby buildings and ships. This seemed to prolong the agony. His back was bloody, but still the flogging went on. She saw the boy as Albert, under a hot sun in Sydney, exhausted, thirsty, hungry, being beaten because he couldn’t work hard enough, then collapsing on the barren ground, at the mercy of snakes and savages. How long he could survive this, she didn’t know. Perhaps he was dead already. She had no way of finding out.
She tried to control her tears as she sat behind Henry in silence, not wanting him or Jacob to see her in this state, for fear they would think she wasn’t strong and shouldn’t have come with them, not that the trip had achieved anything. She was cross with herself for believing Henry’s scheme would work.
For quite some time they rode through the rain and mud at walking pace. Later the rain eased and they passed several villages, local townspeople going about their business. Farmers walked their produce in wheelbarrows and handcarts. A young man was trying to get a horse and cart through the mud. And there were a few travellers on horseback. Unlike Henry and Jacob, Sarah didn’t acknowledge them. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of Albert and images of him at the hands of some brutal flagellator. She felt so helpless. Each step the horse took bounced her about and she ached all over and was cold and wet.
A Weaver’s Web is available at the following sites:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H52SEEK
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00H52SEEK
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00H52SEEK
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chris_Pearce_A_Weaver_s_Web?id=-hlJAgAAQBAJ
Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/a-weavers-web/id775610928?mt=11
September 13, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – the effect of copper
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
The effect of copper on Alzheimer’s disease has been the focus of a number of studies. Research had been conducted on the effects of various metals on Alzheimer’s for many years, but studies of how copper might affect the disease are more recent.
Early studies on the relation between Alzheimer’s and copper involved mice. Some of these studies suggested a link while others showed no connection. In 2003, two studies found that higher copper levels in mice produced positive results. The mice had fewer plaques – a build-up of deposits in the brain associated with progression of Alzheimer’s. A 2002 study by Harvard Medical School suggests that metals such as copper and zinc may turn plaques into rogue enzymes, producing hydrogen peroxide to damage brain cells.
A ground-breaking study was conducted in 2003. The Sun Health Institute, Arizona, and West Virginia University were conducting research into the effects of a high cholesterol diet on Alzheimer’s and how fat accelerated the growth of plaques in the brains of rabbits. But the researchers noticed that rabbits who drank pure water did better than those who drank water with traces of copper. A separate study was carried out where one group of the cholesterol-fed rabbits was given tap water which contained copper and the other group drank distilled water. The amount of copper was less than the level considered safe for human consumption.
After ten weeks, rabbits who received tap water had a greater build-up of plaques in their brains than those rabbits that drank distilled water. The group drinking tap water also fared worse in memory tests compared with the other group. Researchers blew a puff of air into the rabbits’ eyes following a noise. Rabbits normally learn to close their eyes on hearing the noise but the study group didn’t remember to do this. What the researchers found was that the copper inhibited the breakdown of plaques from the brains of these rabbits. The distribution of the plaques in the rabbits’ brains was found to be similar to that of people with Alzheimer’s. Previous research into links between Alzheimer’s and copper had been less clear.
The Saarland University Medical Center in Germany conducted a clinical trial to assess the effects of copper orotate (an organic salt) on seventy people with Alzheimer’s in 2005. Half the patients were given eight milligrams of copper orotate a day and the rest a placebo (or fake). Each patient didn’t know if they were on copper orotate or in the control group. The study found that patients with low plasma copper levels in their blood made more mistakes in a memory test than patients with higher levels. Further the copper orotate was found to be well tolerated by patients.
Other researchers have found that an imbalance of metals such as copper, iron and zinc may cause a build-up of brain plaques linked to Alzheimer’s. If older people have a high cholesterol diet, copper may cause deterioration in memory, thinking and learning, and lead to accelerated onset of Alzheimer’s. The Institute for Healthy Aging at Rush University Medical Center measured trans and saturated fats and copper consumption levels of about 3,700 older Chicago residents over a period of six years to 2006. Copper was only found to be associated with cognitive decline in people who consumed high levels of fat. Within this group, the more copper they consumed, the greater the rate of cognitive decline.
In 2007, the University of Rochester Medical Center found that mice who drank water with 0.12 milligrams of copper per liter had twice the copper in their brains than mice that drank distilled water. The mice drinking the copper water also had a third fewer low density LRPs (lipoprotein receptor-related proteins) and a third more plaques in their brains. In human cells, copper was found to cause sufficient damage to these proteins and they no longer worked to reduce the build-up of the beta amyloids. Everyone has plaques, and they increase with age. Alzheimer’s accelerates the build-up. Eventually these plaques kill brain cells, a previous finding of the study team.
A study at Keele University, UK in 2013 found that copper is unlikely to cause the formation of plaques in the brain. The research found that copper was potentially protective against beta amyloid build-up.
Thus some research links low copper levels with Alzheimer’s and other research links high levels with it. No studies have found that copper causes the disease, and more research would need to be done before such a conclusion could be made. There is also a need to know more about how copper breaks down LRPs.
It should be pointed out that copper is a natural component of various foods. Liver and shellfish have the highest levels of copper. Other foods high in copper include red meat, legumes, grains, potatoes, nuts, seeds, many vegetables and fruits, and chocolate. Indeed, a certain level of copper is necessary for good health. People need it for sturdy bones, energy, healthy blood, and a strong immune system. Also, water via copper pipes can contain trace amounts of copper.
September 12, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – foods that can slow its progression
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
As people age, their brains become more prone to inflammation and oxidation. People with Alzheimer’s develop what are called amyloid plaques, which consist of dense layers of protein molecules and cell material that build up in the brain. Plaques cause further oxidation and inflammation. Food containing antioxidants and other useful compounds may help slow the build-up and fight the unstable molecules or free radicals that damage the brain.
The main antioxidants are vitamin C or ascorbic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium and polyphenol. Ascorbic acid can’t be stored in the body so it’s important that patients eat foods rich in this vitamin. The main sources are brightly colored fruit and vegetables, for example, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, potatoes, green peppers, cabbage, strawberries, blueberries and cranberries. Antioxidants give these vegetables and fruits their color. Plants produce antioxidants naturally to protect themselves against disease and pollution, and the benefits are passed on to us when we eat them.
A symposium on the health benefits of berries in 2007 heard that blueberries and cranberries may slow the cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s. A study found that aging mice manipulated to develop Alzheimer’s improved their cognition with high consumption of blueberries. In a study of about seventy older dogs, the University of California’s Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia found that dogs fed an antioxidant-rich diet had reduced amyloid plaque build-up.
Vitamin E has been found to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s according to a 1997 study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and can be stored in the liver. Main sources include nuts and seeds, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, wheat germ, fish-liver oil and vegetable oil.
Another useful antioxidant that is thought to reduce the rate of cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s is beta-carotene. It protects orange, green and yellow fruit and vegetables from damage by solar radiation and is found in foods such as tomatoes, apricots, peaches, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, pumpkin and mangoes.
Selenium is a mineral that may help reduce cell damage and slow down the loss of brain function. It can be obtained through foods such as fish, shellfish, chicken, eggs, red meat, cereals and also vegetables if grown in soil with selenium.
Polyphenol antioxidants may also assist in reducing the progress of Alzheimer’s. Foods rich in polyphenol include broccoli, cabbage, celery, parsley and onion, as well as apples, cantaloupe, cherries, grapes, pears, plums, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries. It is also found in grains, most legumes, green tea, bee pollen, olive oil, chocolate and red wine.
It is not only foods with antioxidants that may help with Alzheimer’s. Vitamin B-12 is one of a group of eight water-soluble vitamins within the Vitamin B complex and has most relevance to Alzheimer’s, with deficits being linked to cognitive decline. The best sources are liver, shellfish, milk, cereals, trout, salmon and beef. Adequate intake of vitamin B-12 may slow down the progression of the disease.
Omega-3 can assist too as it helps control calcium levels. Excessive calcium in brain cells contribute to a build-up of amyloid plaques, which Alzheimer’s patients have in high quantities. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, anchovies and sardines. It is also found in fruit such as kiwifruit, as well as eggs. Swedish studies have found a reduction in cognitive decline among people with mild Alzheimer’s who took omega-3 supplements.
Alyson Hendershot of Nutritionally Yours in the US runs seminars for Alzheimer’s patients on the best foods to eat. She recommends sticking with basic fresh foods and to eat a good variety of them. Her advice on what to avoid includes salt, preservatives, artificial colorings and flavorings, caffeine, white bread and cakes, sugary snacks and too much processed food in general.
Patrick Holford, who runs workshops on nutrition in the UK, believes that people with Alzheimer’s would benefit from eating wholefoods such as fresh vegetables and fruit, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, and to avoid highly processed or overcooked food. He says to avoid sugar in any form.
A range of food herbs that could improve or maintain cognition levels in those with Alzheimer’s include cinnamon, cloves, galangal, ginger, lemon balm and nutmeg. The antioxidants in these plants help reduce the damage by oxidants to the brain.
While many foods contain compounds that may show the progression of Alzheimer’s, it is important to note that no food or supplement, or any pharmaceutical or other treatment for that matter, offers a cure for the disease. So far they can only reduce a patient’s rate of decline or perhaps in some instances prevent it in the first case.
September 11, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – alternative treatments
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
Alzheimer’s disease has no cure. However, a range of alternative pharmaceutical treatments can assist towards giving a patient relief from the symptoms. There are also other, non-pharmaceutical treatments that can help improve the patient’s quality of life.
The five drugs approved for Alzheimer’s by the US Food and Drug Administration are Aricept, Cognex, Exelon, Razadyne and Namenda. Alternative treatments do not come under the scrutiny of the FDA. Their effectiveness, safety and purity are not known and consumer problems aren’t recorded. Before taking any alternative treatment, check with your doctor to see if your prescription medication or any other drug clashes with it. Limited testing has been done on alternative treatments, mainly small studies with inconclusive results.
Clioquinol, an antibiotic and metal chelator, may reduce Alzheimer’s progression. It inhibits beta-amyloid, a build up of cellular debris or plaques in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s. Studies are limited but encouraging. Patients have been found to have lower beta-amyloid levels, higher zinc levels, and slower cognitive decline albeit only in more severely affected people. In general, antibiotics have been found to improve mental function. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea and poor sleep. The Alzheimer’s Association does not recommend using antibiotics to treat the disease.
Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring antioxidant providing the body with energy and is therefore promoted as a supplement for Alzheimer’s. The Mayo Clinic reports that preliminary research has found that it may slow down the disease. Idebenone is a synthetic variant of coenzyme Q10, and studies have claimed it to be an effective treatment. However, the Alzheimer’s Association says tests using a synthetic version of this drug were not favorable.
Coral calcium is from dead organisms that used to be part of a coral reef. It has been widely promoted as a cure for Alzheimer’s and other diseases such as cancer. The FDA has complained about it, saying there’s no scientific evidence to back the claims.
Ergoloid mesylates have been used to treat dementia for many years in Europe. They act as an anti-oxidant and dilator of blood vessels in the brain. Benefits so far are very limited. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, tongue irritation and appetite loss. Studies are small, and allergies to these drugs are common. They may not be suitable during pregnancy or breast feeding, or with liver disease, mental illness, low blood pressure or slow heart beat.
Estrogen is being looked at as a possible preventative medication in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s in females. It affects areas of the brain relevant to memory. Studies have found a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s and better cognition. Animal studies have found that estrogen assists memory. However, an increased likelihood of heart attack, stroke, breast and ovarian cancer, and high blood pressure has put future research in doubt.
Galantamine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that claims significant improvement in cognition and other symptoms in large trials of several hundred people. Functions and activities of patients improved, and they needed reduced caregiver support. Behavior also improved and Alzheimer’s progression was slowed. However, there were neurological side effects.
Ginko biloba is a plant extract that may have beneficial properties for the body and brain. The Chinese have used it for centuries. It is supposed to increase brain function and improve cognitive function. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, reduces plaques, and increases the flow of blood to the brain. Some studies have shown slight improvement in patients’ brain function, daily activities such as dressing, and better social behavior. Other studies have shown no effect. Side effects include clotting, and thus potentially internal bleeding, and it can react adversely with anesthesia. Risk may increase if taken with other blood-thinning drugs like aspirin and warfarin. The level of active ingredients can vary between ginko products.
Huperzine A is a moss extract from Chinese herb Huperzia serrata. It is used as a dietary supplement. Again, the Chinese have used it for a long time. It works in a similar way to the FDA approved Aricept by increasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Research has claimed it to be effective, with improvement shown in cognition, memory and behavior, but studies so far have been small. The FDA does not recommend it as there have been no significant studies into its effectiveness, safety or side effects. Manufacture is unregulated and has no uniform standards.
Melissa officinalis or lemon balm has been used for many years as a mild sedative that has a calming effect and reduces stress. It is used to improve memory too. It is thought to bind to acetylcholine. Small studies in England and Iran have found that it improves memory. No significant side effects have been found.
Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cognitive decline according to research. Clinical trials of omega-3 have been small and inconclusive, but results from epidemiological and laboratory studies have been promising. They are known to reduce heart disease and stroke risk, benefit blood vessels, and may even help depression. A recent study found they might help nerve cells by assisting with the growth of branches linking cells to one another, creating a nerve cell forest that allows the brain to process and store information.
Phosphatidylserine is a fat in the membranes around nerve cells. These cells deteriorate with Alzheimer’s. The use of this drug may help the membrane to prevent or slow cells from degenerating. Animal tests were conducted in the UK with encouraging results, but the outbreak of mad cow disease ended the research. Since then, a clinical trial has been conducted of older people with memory impairment. Results were promising but larger trials would be needed before this drug can be used to treat Alzheimer’s.
Statin drugs have been found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. It is thought that statins help alpha-secretase to break down the amyloid proteins that promote a build-up of plaques in the brain. Statins are usually used to reduce cholesterol and treat vascular disease but more research is needed before using it for Alzheimer’s. Studies have been limited and participants weren’t selected randomly. Side effects are significant and include heart failure, cancer, neuropathy, pancreatic rot, muscle pain, dizziness and depression.
THC, marijuana’s active ingredient, may become a successful alternative treatment for the disease. A test tube study found that THC prevented plaque build-up more successfully than mainstream drugs. The study claimed that Aricept and Cognex blocked the formation of plague only 22 percent and seven percent as well as THC respectively.
Vitamin E supplements might slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s, although the rate is thought to be minimal. Studies suggest a mild improvement in function but not in cognition. However, side effects can include nausea, diarrhea and fatigue. It may have adverse interaction with other medication.
Non-pharmaceutical treatments are worth considering too, such as fruit and vegetable juices, herbal and green tea, sunlight, music and aroma therapy, and acupuncture, all of which may slow the Alzheimer’s process. Lastly, it should be said that a good diet and healthy lifestyle will also help.
September 10, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – severe stage
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
At the severe stage of Alzheimer’s disease, short-term and long-term memory is very poor or non-existent. Communication is simple and might comprise single words or phrases without linking things, or people may lose their speech altogether.
Ninety percent of patients at this stage of Alzheimer’s experience apathy. Aggression is less common, as a person has by this time lost the will and is too tired. Extreme exhaustion sets in and they sleep a lot. They need help with daily activities. Washing, dressing and eating independently are not possible. They are increasingly incontinent and need help with the toilet.
They are unsure of current surroundings or recent events, and might forget significant amounts of personal history and names of family members. Their personality changes. Delusions, hallucinations and paranoia are common. They may wander from home and get lost.
Eventually, a person can’t control their movements. They can’t walk, sit or smile, and they don’t know family members, including their spouse, although sometimes this could be partly due to visual impairment. They have seizures and weight loss and may refuse to drink or eat.
Finally, mobility is impaired and the person can’t get out of bed. Their whole body is overcome with the disease. They are susceptible to pneumonia, pressure sores and ulcers, and can die from these conditions before their body falls apart from the effects of Alzheimer’s.
September 9, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – moderate stage
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
At the third stage of Alzheimer’s, or the moderate stage, short-term memory becomes worse and long-term memory may also be impaired. A person might not be able to remember things they did recently. They might have problems with mental arithmetic that used to cause them no problems.
A person may forget aspects of their own background such as medical history, and might make something up to fill the gaps. They may forget their address, which school they went to, and don’t always know where they are or what day it is. Communication can be difficult. The person can’t always find the right word and doesn’t read or write much. They may repeat themselves, not finish sentences and may revert to their first language.
A person’s independence may be restricted. They may require assistance outside and at home with a range of activities. Driving, shopping, banking and paying bills might be difficult. They may still be able to eat, wash and dress, albeit with difficulty, but might not dress for the occasion or season, or might put their night clothes over the top of their day clothes.
Their appearance may change. Hygiene may become lax. Incontinence becomes common. They may take others’ things, and might not recognize themselves in the mirror. They can be restless, tap objects repetitively, wring their hands, find it hard to get comfortable on a chair, wander about chatting, and may become night-owls. They might need almost constant supervision as they may burn, injure or poison themselves.
Changes in behavior occur, such as increased irritability and aggressiveness. A person may laugh or cry for little apparent reason. Delusions occur in thirty percent of patients. It becomes hard to always know what a person wants.
Sadly, a person might not be aware of their shortcomings and inabilities, and might deny their problems. They might accuse others of making them look silly. Care is often resisted, causing difficulties for family members and for carers.
Delusions, poor communication and aggression make things harder. They can become withdrawn. Hiding objects is common. They may think their spouse is having an affair or family members are stealing from them.
Alzheimer’s is often harder on families than on the patient, as sufferers aren’t always aware of how bad things have become, and families may eventually be forced to consider long-term care solutions.
September 8, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – mild stage
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
The second stage or mild stage of Alzheimer’s disease is where learning and memory impairments get a little worse and more noticeable to family, friends and colleagues. Symptoms include short-term memory loss, difficulty learning new things and poor concentration.
A doctor will be able to measure memory loss through testing and will often diagnose a person with Alzheimer’s at this stage. But a person can still clearly remember old times, things they’ve already learnt, and how to do day to day activities.
Some people at the mild stage suffer language problems such as a more limited vocabulary, or their speech is less fluent. Others can show signs of clumsiness in their daily activities, such as dressing, washing and eating, although they can still do most of these basic tasks quite satisfactorily.
Other common symptoms at this stage of Alzheimer’s include forgetting names and words, reduced comprehension ability, difficulty making decisions and becoming less organized. Work performance may not be quite as good.
Things are often misplaced, for example, a person might put their keys in the oven or wallet in the washing machine. Judgment can be poor, so driving a motor vehicle might be a problem.
Apathy appears in at least forty per cent of sufferers at this stage. A person might forget to eat or eats too much, or they might hoard things.
Some “benefits” include falling asleep easily and being more immune to colds.
September 7, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – very mild stage
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
The first stage of Alzheimer’s disease is often called pre-dementia or mild cognitive impairment. This stage involves very mild signs of deficiency that don’t affect daily life to any extent.
The most common symptom at this time is short-term memory loss, for example, a person may forget familiar words or names of people they know, or where they’ve put their glasses or keys. Thought processes might not always be totally logical. Apathy, where a person can be indifferent about various aspects of life, can occur at this stage, although it is more common later.
These symptoms are around the boundary of the normal ageing process and Alzheimer’s, and are seen as possible warning signs for the disease. Very mild symptoms can occur for a number of years before a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. However, they don’t always mean a person is heading for the disease.
Diagnosis is less usual at this stage as symptoms can relate to so many other things or indeed the normal ageing process. Many people have a poorer short-term memory than long-term memory throughout their lives. Also, apathy can relate to stress or depression rather than Alzheimer’s.
Often only in hindsight do we know whether a person exhibiting very mild symptoms had Alzheimer’s all along.
September 5, 2015
Alzheimer’s disease – its stages
(originally published to Helium writing site, now gone)
Alzheimer’s is a degenerative illness that starts with memory loss and progresses to complete loss of awareness and bodily functions, and death. The disease features a build-up of amyloids or plaques in the brain. An estimated 36 million people have Alzheimer’s worldwide (2010).
The disease can be divided into several stages. A staging system is a useful way of gaining a broad understanding of the usual symptoms at each stage and as a way of grouping the symptoms. However, the stages are only a guide. Each person is different and may show signs of more than one stage at a time.
Alzheimer’s is a natural progression. The stages overlap, and a person doesn’t suddenly jump from one stage to the next. Progression through the stages varies too, from about four years to twenty years, although a person typically lives seven to ten years after diagnosis. All stages involve a progressive cognitive and functional decline.
Three stages are often used in Alzheimer’s: early, mid and late; or mild, moderate and severe. An initial very mild or pre-dementia stage is sometime added to this system, and a moderately severe stage between the moderate and severe stages. The other commonly used staging system in Alzheimer’s has seven stages, as used by the Alzheimer’s Association: no impairment, very mild decline, mild decline, moderate decline, moderately severe decline, severe decline and very severe decline. The “no impairment” stage, where a person shows no signs of memory loss, isn’t included in the three or four stage system.
I have used a four stage system: very mild, mild, moderate and severe. My next four articles will cover these stages.
