A quick word about Alzheimer's

[crimsonblue]

This isn't about speculation of McCain having Alzheimer's, so if you were looking for that, then turn around.

I have a close family friend who was diagnosed with Pick's disease. It is the most aggressive form of dementia. He was only 45 when he was diagnosed, and within a year he returned to a child. His wife is a permanent care taker for him, and has to change his diapers. To make things worse, my dad is his doctor, and was the one to recognize his initial symptoms. He started acting eradically at work, and was fired for it. It wasn't till after his diagnosis that disability pay was granted. I can see the pain it brings my parents, quickly seeing their friend disappear. My dad is one the few people who our friend recognizes. Dementia is the worst disease possible. With cancer, you at least retain your personality, intelligence and self. He is a blank slate.

So why am I telling you about this? Please NOBODY EVER cheer for this disease. It is horrible. Please keep this in mind. Thanks.

[Bluebear]

1. I have never heard of Pick's, what a cruel disease :(

[PCIntern]

2. Yes and what's more...

the outrage here would have nothing to do with the disease or its horrors, it would have to do with the hypocrisy of the lies involving thsoe who know/knew that, for example Reagan had early dementia as far back as 1980, and just covered it up while the whole world was awaiting the next word from Il Duce.

We want this long, national nightmare to be over. Period.

[emilyg]

3. I'm with you

My step-dad died of it. It was horrible.

[ogneopasno]

4. I totally agree. There would be no cheering from me.

I would wish it on no one.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. It is horrible, simply horrible. nt

[cags]

6. I also had a family member with alzheimers. Thats why I wish someone in the know would at least say

its not that, if it isn't. Because if its not its making DUers including myself seem kind of not nice for speculating about it, all because someone said I know something.

[elleng]

7. But its rather difficult to say

'its not that,' or 'it is that.'

In early stages, most don't know what's up, so we live with the confusion, in 'patient's' mind and in ours.

[cags]

9. The person in the know has said "Thats not it" to other things though.

And if prescriptions are given a diagnosis is made.

So if its not it, I would hope the person in the know would squash this kind of speculating out of respect for the people that have been all riled up because of this person.

[elleng]

10. You're talking about a particular person?

I'm talking about my mother.

[cags]

11. I'm talking about all the speculation that McCain has alzheimers. A poster here...

has riled everyone up with super secret information about it. If the poster who posted it knows that all this speculation is wrong, I was saying that they should say "Thats not the secret news" so people will stop speculating about it.

Maybe it is the secret news, I don't know, but if its not, I think it would be polite to squash this since the poster started it in the first place with her clues.

[elleng]

14. cags,

I agree.

[moriah]

8. A friend of mine has a similar illness that runs in her family.

Her father and two of her uncles have died from it, she is unsure of the exact name but it manifested as early onset dementia that progressed very quickly.

Her family members have all submitted genetic samples to researchers who are trying to determine the exact cause of the illness -- in her family it seems to "skip" a generation each time, none of her cousins have it but the uncles do, and a great-grandparent died of it.

It's very hard to watch a relative lose their hold on reality.

[bullwinkle428]

12. My Dad suffered from the effects of Alzheimer's for years before he died.

It was a horrible thing to watch him go through - he was a great person, and was by far the biggest influence in determining the way I "turned out", so to speak (specifically, in regards to my socio-political attitudes)...

[loyalsister]

13. Thanks for posting this

I would add that the brain changes over time and ordinary memory difficulties are natural. There is a fine line between saying "I am a little worried about whether he is personally suited for the job because he seems to not campaign very well." and to lump him in with anyone else who has experienced cognitive difficulties and tried to adapt.

I think that it is realistic to have one's own personal opinion, but to widely publicly attribute any observation to an illness or problem for which there is no concrete evidence or disclosure is an affront to people with disabilities.

Additionally, Democrats are racking up a terrible record on this issue. Not on policy but on cultural competency.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRV5Y1JCGRI

The state Senator was okay with what happened.
But the people with disabilities who were horrified were not upset so much by Biden, but by the lack of foresight and conscientious effort on the part of the campaign.
In other words, they were not as upset with Biden as they were with Democrats.

[jazzjunkysue]

15. Bob Fertik's blog: The guy asking for an alzheimer's test for McCain

http://forums.insidebayarea.com/topic/why-mccain-owes-america-an-alzheimers-test-from-bob-fertiks-blog

"McCain also takes at least two prescription drugs (Simvastatin and Ambien) that can affect memory. But Alzheimer's isn't the only medical possibility. McCain could also be suffering from dementia (like Margaret Thatcher, who can't remember that her husband died) or a lesser condition called "Mild Cognitive Impairment." There are many reasons to suspect McCain has a medical problem of some kind. Naturally, his age (72 this week) is a major risk factor. But McCain's brain has suffered a number of traumas that could affect cognition: Taking blows to the head as a competitive boxer for three years Heavy drinking as a young officer PTSD from his 5 plane crashes and torture as a POW McCain also exhibits non-cognitive symptoms of brain injury, including his frequent bouts of rage aimed at fellow Senators and even his wife Cindy. This rage spills over to foreign policy issues, where his first response is often reckless and dangerous threats of war. Given all of these issues, it is perfectly appropriate for the American people to ask whether McCain is mentally up to the enormous physical and mental demands of the Presidency of the United States -"