alzheimers news-they are slow learners

ALZHEIMERS NEWS-THEY ARE SLOW LEARNERS

they start with preclinical alzheimers or prodromal alzheimers
which means they have normal memory tests but they have positive biomarkers like amyloid in the brain that shows up on amyloid pet scans called amyvid
then later
they develop mild cognitive impairment
which means they have mild memory loss that may not be that noticeable at first and they have positive biomarkers
then
they develop full blown alzheimers
which means they have memory loss now thats obviously noticeable and have those positive biomarkers

that preclinical alzheimers phase may last for 20 years unnoticeable 
so
in my case i would have been preclinical alzheimers when i was 50 or maybe younger
somewhere during that time my amyvid pet scan would have been positive for amyloid

during this preclinical time period the memory tests are normal
eg
3 years before my i had my neuropsychological memory test that diagnosed me i had a normal memory test in order to get my long term care insurance
thank goodness i had that done and got my long term care insurnce before i was diagnosed

now researchers are looking at whether folks with preclinical alzheimers have problems with learning new material compared to non preclinical alzheimers patients
according to this article linked here
they do 
they also have a smaller hippocampus those preclinical azlheimers patients
the hippocampus is where alzheimers disease usually starts before it spreads across the brain

so even though the preclinical alzheimers patient has a normal memory test like i did 3 years before my diagnosis they do have problems learning new material when compared to someone with normal brains with no amyloid

ie
the disease is damaging the hippocampus part of the brain where memory is processed even though there is no noticeable memory issues by the patient 

scientists are trying to find folks who are early in the disease process so they can be used as research subjects to find ways to slow this disease down 
so maybe they can stop the disease so that even if its causing learning issues they can stop the disease before it becomes memory loss

thats where drugs like my biogen aducanumab and similar drugs may eventually be used to treat those preclinical alzheimers patients

this is also a good reason that you like a muscle that you make bigger and stronger that you continue to exericise your brain with new material like learning a new language reading books doing a lot of computer writing and research and reading social interaction etc

the goal is that someone like me would start some type of treatment when i was around my late 40s and early 50s and continue that treatment for a lifetime
like
you do with high blood pressure or diabetes or cholesterol

consider getting involved with your local alzheimers walks

here is the information on my team organicgreendoctor that will walk in this years santa barbara walk to end alzheimers on saturday november 7 2020

the opening ceremony and closing ceremony will be virtual
so anyone can watch it online

then

each individual member will walk in their neighborhood or favorite hiking trail wearing their purple alzheimers shirts for the 2-3 mile walk 
this is the safest way to do the walk this year
please wear your mask and keep a good social distance from others
hopefully next year we can all be live

join us wherever you live for our walk this year

you can donate and or join our team organicgreendoctor 
at this link
then walk in your own neighborhood the morning of the walk to honor those lost in our families to this disease and to those who are affected now by this disease

the organicgreen doctor