New member intro
New member intro
Hello to all of you on this website! I am so happy to find this resource. I am a 66 year old female, still working full-time as a psychotherapist, but becoming increasingly frustrated with memory deterioration in the last few years. Having walked 18 years with my mother through the Alzheimer's nightmare, I was aware of very early symptoms of decline, which my doctors all dismiss as stress. So I opted to open results from 23 and me this week. I thought I was prepared to discover that I have indeed inherited the gene from my mother, but it was still a punch in the gut. Wish I had not checked but can't take it back now. First response was to look into states that allow assisted suicide. Second step was to go back and reread Dr. Bredesen's book and look into this website. I feel hope again, and am amazed by your stories--thank you for that! I want all of you to know what a life-saver it is to have company on this journey, and I hope these efforts pay off for our children's future. Thank you!
Re: New member intro
A warm hug and welcome, jchig23, from your 67 year old genetic "cousin"!jchig23 wrote:...I am a 66 year old female, still working full-time as a psychotherapist, but becoming increasingly frustrated with memory deterioration in the last few years. Having walked 18 years with my mother through the Alzheimer's nightmare, I was aware of very early symptoms of decline, which my doctors all dismiss as stress... I thought I was prepared to discover that I have indeed inherited the gene from my mother, but it was still a punch in the gut...I want all of you to know what a life-saver it is to have company on this journey, and I hope these efforts pay off for our children's future. Thank you!
Your reaction is what many of us have felt. As a therapist, I'm sure you've counseled people with acute stress disorder that "what you feel is normal and it will get better." The same words are true for you in these early dark days and weeks.
It took years, and finding this forum, before I realized several key truths:
* Genes are not destiny; they don't perform solo and can be turned off and down by multiple lifestyle, environmental and epigenetic factors.
* Much of what has been written about ApoE 4 is obsolete if it's more than 5 years old. The rapidly advancing field of genome-wide association studies, population-based cohort studies and clinical trials enrolling thousands of healthy people ages 60-75 or older with ApoE 4 is showing that AD is a highly complex disease, which almost certainly has multiple causal pathways and multiple presentation sub-types. Generalities about risk in such a complex disease are never "personalized"
* Any study you read that is based on a small cohort in a small geographic area 20 years ago almost certainly has errors of identification (imaging and biomarkers not available to confirm Alzheimer's) sample size (the probability that the outcome could easily be explained by multiple co-existing associations is enormous) and poor methodology (relying on limited neuropsychological testing or family reports).
* Protective factors that prevent, delay or reduce the impact of pathological changes are real and well-studied. They include advanced early education (most studies consider any college as "advanced"), continuing mid-life occupational challenge and/or new learning, bilingualism and an optimistic approach to aging.
* Lifestyle factors are being extensively studied because of large-scale research that suggests they may reduce the incidence of vascular dementia and AD by 30%, through control of blood pressure, metabolic risk factors, smoking cessation programs, exercise programs, nutrition counseling and access to clean air and water.
If your mother lived with Alzheimer's for 18 years, I suspect that she developed it at a relatively young age and had multiple risk factors that you (and I) have been able to avoid.
So here are some articles that may help you feel life is still purposeful and can even become joyful again:
Lifestyle changes prevent cognitive decline even in genetically susceptible individuals
Cognitive Reserve in Aging
Here's a study I often quote, because it used four large, decades-long population cohorts and shows that the risk to someone with ApoE 3/4 (your profile, I assume) is 20-25% for Mild Cognitive impairment or dementia by the age of 85. That means you have a 75-80% chance of NOT having AD or MCI by that age!
APOE-related risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia for prevention trials: An analysis of four cohortsThe Generation Study elected to disclose the following “lifetime” risks of MCI or dementia to its potential participants: 30%–55% for individuals with APOE-e4/e4; 20%–25% for individuals with APOE-e3/e4 and -e2/e4 (with a note that risk might be lower for those with APOE-e2/e4); and 10%–15% for individuals with APOE-e3/e3, -e3/e2, and -e2/e2 (with a note that risk might be lower for those with APOE-e2/e3 and -e2/e2).
And finally, here's a reply I posted about a year ago to a similarly bright, high-achieving woman who sometimes felt that she wasn't still at the top of here game:
Lindy wrote:How do you keep your spirits up and manage stress when you have a bad cognition day?
Finally a tip: for ease of navigation on the forum, check out: "how-to" for quoting members so they see your post, subscribing to forums, using the Search function and sending Private Messages.NF52 wrote: Dear Lindy,
As a soon-to-be-66 year old with ApoE 4/4, I have days (and nights) like yours, and I and some of my ApoE 4/4 friends have had some of the same challenges in jobs, cross-country commutes and family care-giving challenges. So I send you hugs first and always. You are going to feel better! We are here to support you while you get there and beyond.
My answer to your last question, which may be the most important question you posed, is this:
"I have been, and continue to be, a woman with many good qualities. I am wise in some things I have studied, and curious about many I have not. I have learned compassion and acceptance from caring for others, and the effects of the stress that caused has dissipated over time. My memory is not what it was, but my reasoning, problem-solving, judgment, use of heuristics and strategies--these things have been honed over years and will serve me well for years to come. Most of all, I have a husband, and children and grandchildren who give me love and hope that what I do will teach them about embracing life in all its forms. The Stoics say we can work hard to make the journey a great one; we cannot choose the outcome of the journey."
And then of course, I sometimes just give myself permission to be mightily pissed about it all!
P.S. I am in a clinical trial; it's one of the best things I've done for myself, since I enjoy the people at the site, enjoy reading research articles, and get to combine sight-seeing and "son-seeing" when I visit the site.
4/4 and still an optimist!
Re: New member intro
Hi Jchig23,jchig23 wrote:Hello to all of you on this website! I am so happy to find this resource. I am a 66 year old female, still working full-time as a psychotherapist, but becoming increasingly frustrated with memory deterioration in the last few years. Having walked 18 years with my mother through the Alzheimer's nightmare, I was aware of very early symptoms of decline, which my doctors all dismiss as stress. So I opted to open results from 23 and me this week. I thought I was prepared to discover that I have indeed inherited the gene from my mother, but it was still a punch in the gut. Wish I had not checked but can't take it back now. First response was to look into states that allow assisted suicide. Second step was to go back and reread Dr. Bredesen's book and look into this website. I feel hope again, and am amazed by your stories--thank you for that! I want all of you to know what a life-saver it is to have company on this journey, and I hope these efforts pay off for our children's future. Thank you!
I would like to join NF52 in welcoming you and send you a warm cyber hug
Thank you for all the kind works you said about apoe4.info. We are glad to hear you see a lot of value in the information, support and encouragement the forum provides.
I am so sorry to hear about your mom! and all the stress related to finding out your Apoe status.
I am glad you have found Dr. Bredesen’s book and the Recode protocol. It truly is an amazing approach to brain health and happy aging.
If you have not found it yet, please take a look at our PRIMER. It has been written by one of the members, doctor Stavia. It’s a wealth of information and ideas on preventing cognitive decline. Stavia updates it regularly as the new primary research and strategies come up.
Another great place to visit is our Wiki page. This part of the site is an elaboration on topics the most discuss on the forum.
We are happy to have you here and please do not hesitate to post if any questions and concerns come up.
Magda
Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach & MS Clinical Nutrition Student
IFM/Bredesen Trained, Reversing Cognitive Decline
IFM/Bredesen Trained, Reversing Cognitive Decline
Re: New member intro
Thank you. I have a lot to learn and am grateful to be able to do that!
Re: New member intro
Baby steps is all I, as another newbie, can recommend. I started in January after learning my results in December and have made small positive steps ever since. Recently had blood work done and it is paying off. Look at yourself, look at the disease and look at what risk factors are in your control. You cannot control your genetics but there are many other things you can control and improve. Put your focus there.
e3/e4
No family history of AD, they drop dead of heart attacks in their early 40's!
Celiac and Hashimotos
No family history of AD, they drop dead of heart attacks in their early 40's!
Celiac and Hashimotos