Alzheimer’s

this really is a nasty disease. My mother is suffering with it. I’ve always heard people talk about it and of course I always felt terrible. I’ve worked in the mental health field for years and have seen the gamut of mental illness and treatment improvements over the years but this Alzheimer’s so far has very little that can be done for it. Early intervention can slow the progress of the disease but little else.
I’m sure some of you read about Pfizer allegedly mishandling information that Enbrel an existing medication for psoriasis and arthritis along with a few other illnesses may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s. It was in WaPo and when I first read the article I did get perturbed at Pfizer and big pharma bit when I looked into it a little more it seems the WaPo article was a bit misleading. It does bring up an interesting link between inflammation and Alzheimer’s.
Anyway it’s just sad seeing someone you love slip away. My mother has her good days but when it’s bad I really need to watch myself as there is just no way to rationalize with someone suffering from the disease. I’m just putting this out as with the prevalence of the illness these days I’m sure others here are effected in some way with it. My grandfather always said the secret to a happy life is good health and a bad memory which certainly makes sense unfortunately Alzheimer’s kind of ruins that fun thought. Last time I visited my mother she handed me this piece of paper someone who was suffering with the illness wrote. It was basically a note for her family saying she didn’t even care if she didn’t remember who they were it was still a comfort that they came and sat with her and held her hand. It was really quite touching I hope I can dig up a copy and post it here.

Thanks guys I really didn’t right this for sympathy but the comments are appreciated. I was trying to detach more at look just at the illness and it’s effects in general. It is so prevalent these days. Another sad part of it is the financial side. My parents were not wealthy but come retirement they had over 7 figures. I would have loved to see my mother travel and enjoy that money. Instead every penny will be taken by the home I have her in. Don’t get me wrong it is great she has the money to be in a nice situation well cared for. She had a tough go at life and I really wish she was able to enjoy her “Golden” years in another way. But thank god she did have the money to be in a decent private care place.

I empathize with all who are caregivers for family members suffering from the ravages of dementia.

My mother has moderate dementia, undiagnosed so we can't say the form it takes. I've read that there are 51 separate forms of dementia besides Alzheimer's. She's taken a distinct turn lately. She and my dad reside in a local nursing facility. He's 92 and she's 83. At this point she has declined physically and mentally to a far greater extent than he has.

I've been a member of the board of directors of the facility for quite a few years, serving in order to devote my time to a worthwhile civic duty yet never considering that I would be moving my own parents to this community and admitting them to the facility. It's a blessing both for them and for our family.