Any neurologists on DU?

[TNDemo]

I have some brain pathology questions.

[commander bunnypants]

1. Not an MD

But I am the mind Police. Just kidding


MSW here

Ask away and I wioll see if I can answer

DDQM

[radwriter0555]

2. I might be able to hook you up with the head of neurology at Cedars

Sinai in Los Angeles. He's a good, kind man, family friend, tops in his field.

Let me know.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. NO..I represent many specialists though including neurologists

and may be able to get your question answered. Feel free to post or PM it to me.

[TNDemo]

4. I guess I will take the risk of being completely flamed here

and just post this publicly. Here goes:

My mother died in June after a hellacious 6-7 years of Alzheimer's (by exclusion of other dx). She had just turned 70 and in retrospect had exhibited symptoms for about 15 years. She was completely frozen by the time she died, which may have been part and parcel of the process but may also have been brought on by the use of a neuroleptic to treat the hallucinations. Now on brain autopsy it shows Lewy body disease, which of course contraindicates the use of a neuroleptic, so that may have been the cause also.

I feel terribly cruel at times and felt like the nursing home staff probably viewed me that way in having her brain examined but I finally decided to view it in the context that my mother was a very strong proponent of organ donation and this was her donation to us so we could know what my kids may have to face with me.

Anyway, back to the pathology that I just got. Here are the two dx:

A. Histopathologic changes of Alzheimer's disease along with Lewy bodies involving substantia nigra and rare cortical Lewy bodies in the cingulate gyrus consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies; see microscopic description/comment.
B. Focal patchy white matter pallor with focal axonal loss; see microscopic description.

The white matter pallor thing is a curiosity to me. What does that mean? There are two pages of clinical description, ending with a paragraph about how the Alzheimer's and Lewy bodies are often considered two separate diseases and sometimes not. I read the book on the search for the genetic cure for Alzheimer's and it seemed to indicate the heritable risk for early onset is 50/50 with a parent with the disease and who knows about the late onset. Don't know what the current scientific viewpoint on this is. Does anybody know much about Lewy body disease?

Any insight appreciated.

[trof]

5. Just to reassure you, I see NO flamebait here.

But I also don't understand most of what you wrote.
Good luck finding out.

[izzie]

11. Try Free Rep. I think they are on retainer on that site.

n/t

[commander bunnypants]

6. I could not find anything in my merck

then I googled and got a bunch of information.

Good luck

DDQM

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. I hate to answer your question with a question but are you suspecting

malpractice?

It would be impossible to determine the cause of the Lewy body disease since often it is idiopathic (meaning cause unknown).

As far as the onset and history and causes for alzheimers, the best study right now being conducted is on te Sisters of Notre Dame (since they have their complete dietary and social history going back decades)

Did your mother also suffer from Parkinson's?

on edit: One last question...anyone else in her family suffer from this?

[TNDemo]

9. No malpractice.

I read the book (Aging with Grace) about the nuns and it is a good read but deals mainly with the late onset variety, which is not what I am dealing with and what they know the least about re causes. My mother had a Parkinson like syndrome, which is very often associated with Alzheimer's and Lewy body disease. My mother was adopted but her biological family did have a strong Alzheimer history.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. If you are concerned for yourself

then get an MRI now. There are teaching institutions in your area that might be interested in your history and studying your current status for free.

It might give you some comfort to see what is on it and they are making breakthrough's in treatment.

BTW, the white matter on the films is common in darn near anyone's MRI's. Literally from the time we stop myelonizing at around age 22, to decay process begins and varies from person to person.

Best wishes.

[trof]

7. You might try here.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/