BBC One - Panorama, Alzheimer’s: A Turning Point?
Could two new drugs prove a turning point in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease?
Panorama programme
- Thread starter Izzy
- Start date
I watched the report/interview about this on BBC Breakfast before.
The experts say it's a really important first step (the 2 drugs).
Not a cure, they slow it down (for 5 - 12 months?). Side effects - swelling and bleeding from the brain. Everyone will have to have a CAT scan or lumbar puncture to diagnose (only 2% get this at the moment). Drugs need to be given intra-venously, every 2 or 4 weeks (can't remember). NHS not ready for this yet.
Diagnostic blood test for over 50s won't be ready for about 5 years.
The experts say it's a really important first step (the 2 drugs).
Not a cure, they slow it down (for 5 - 12 months?). Side effects - swelling and bleeding from the brain. Everyone will have to have a CAT scan or lumbar puncture to diagnose (only 2% get this at the moment). Drugs need to be given intra-venously, every 2 or 4 weeks (can't remember). NHS not ready for this yet.
Diagnostic blood test for over 50s won't be ready for about 5 years.
That's right. In the interview this morning, it was said there have been many false dawns.
These drugs aren't even a cure.
At the end the medical expert did give tips on lifestyle to avoid dementia - diet, exercise, good heart health.
Did you mean PET scan?
Also treatment not without risk of death
The E (emissive) is the clue.
Amyloid is not radiopaque so it has to be made to transmit something for detection, positrons (the P in PET) from an injected radioactive tracer that binds to amyloid.
Most hospitals have at least one CAT scanner, PET scanners are limited.
www.ncri-pet.org.uk
Amyloid is not radiopaque so it has to be made to transmit something for detection, positrons (the P in PET) from an injected radioactive tracer that binds to amyloid.
Most hospitals have at least one CAT scanner, PET scanners are limited.
UK PET Facilities
The UK PET Research Network aims to stimulate and support the use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in cancer research in the UK.
All the health and lifestyle suggestions for a healthy heart are also recommended 'to avoid dementia'. I question if it's possible to avoid dementia through diet, etc, though it may reduce your risk (who knows?) and doing all those good things is likely to make you live longer for various reasons.
Unfortunately, the biggest risk of getting dementia is simply being very old.
What was it Roger Daltrey said?
'Hope I die before I get old!'
I'm already fairly old, so I've amended this to: 'Hope I die before I get really old.' 😀
Check your chance of getting really old, assumes you don't have a diagnosis of a terminal disease.
Life expectancy calculator - Office for National Statistics
Enter your age and sex in our calculator to find out your life expectancy, and the likelihood of you living to be 100 years old.
www.ons.gov.uk
Yes, when I was young in the 1970s the average life expectancy was about 70 for men and 75 for women (I may be wrong), meaning many fewer dementia sufferers.
My life expectancy now is 84, with a one in four chance of 92 and one in ten of 97.
I may have to start living fast and loose! 😏
My life expectancy now is 84, with a one in four chance of 92 and one in ten of 97.
I may have to start living fast and loose! 😏
These drugs could be really important, but will only work with people diagnosed with early stage disease, confirmed by bio markers and scans. I happen to fall into this category but know I’m in a minority. The NHS will have to establish new treatment centres, though, as the drugs are taken by infusion and the very serious potential side effects will need careful monitoring. I am already hearing of friends who don’t feel the treatment worth the risk. We have a way still to go.
Getting an early diagnosis is the big problem. The medics either fob people off about their concerns or want to wait and see if things get worse. Unless this approach changes, no one will get an early diagnosis.
Then there's the fact that a lot of people in the early stages are in complete denial and will refuse to seek help, so they've got no chance either.
If we get past those issues, the NHS will first need to buy a whole load of new scanners to do the necessary PET scans.
Personally, I think taking Viagra seems to be a better bet in terms of ease, cost and risk and possible benefits. Just my opinion...
forum.alzheimers.org.uk
Then there's the fact that a lot of people in the early stages are in complete denial and will refuse to seek help, so they've got no chance either.
If we get past those issues, the NHS will first need to buy a whole load of new scanners to do the necessary PET scans.
That's about as likely as the NHS opening nail bars and spas. Sorry but it just ain't gonna happen! But yes, anyone taking this drug must go to hospital every 2 weeks as it needs to be administered intravenously. That's going to be pretty difficult for a lot of people. And they will need further scans to monitor for brain bleeds. There's also a not-insignificant risk of death.
Personally, I think taking Viagra seems to be a better bet in terms of ease, cost and risk and possible benefits. Just my opinion...
Get your Viagra now!
Then there was the case of a man with a stiff neck. Turned out the viagra pill got stuck in his throat! Or the man with stiff arms. Apparently viagra side effects! 🤣🤣
forum.alzheimers.org.uk
Good evening everyone!
Are you all watching Panorama? @Jaded'n'faded what should us ladies take instead of Viagra?
MaNaAk
Are you all watching Panorama? @Jaded'n'faded what should us ladies take instead of Viagra?
MaNaAk
They've just said that a speedy diagnosis is crucial but what they didn't say is that some carers will have an uphill struggle to get their loved. I tried every trick in the book to get dad to the doctors!!!! The carer needs a series of programmes themselves!
MaNaAk
MaNaAk
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You all got there before me. I probably wouldn't have watched a programme about dementia had I not run into it by accident. If these new drugs put the focus on getting quicker diagnosis (because you need to be early stage to benefit) then that does everyone a favour. They said at the end that only one in three with dementia get a formal diagnosis! My goodness. A man who was early 70s with school age children had a letter from the memory service saying now you have to wait 7 months for an assessment. This dementia journey is a super struggle. Wherever stress can be taken out, it should be. We have so far to go.
The Consultant gave my PWD a diagnosis of Lewys Body , but I read that can not really be confirmed just by an assessment.
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