I’m continuing with the same theme of possible related events, leading to later onset of dementia. We have looked at key events prior to the onset of dementia, now we will look a lot further back, maybe decades.
I’ve been reading about research into devising ways to determine if someone can be tested for dementia, before the signs, or symptoms show. This seems to be all on the premise that the possible causes of dementia may have started years and possibly decades before any symptoms were noted.
We have all heard of the well known footballers and boxers that have developed later dementia. It seems obvious that continually heading a ball, or being punched, will damage the brain. However, there is no definitive proof that this is true. The cause of the original injury has long gone and only the onset of dementia remains. Often there seems to be no related cause.
In my case, doing a bit of research into my medical records and drawing a history line of my health life, it seems that an insect bite, that caused a major allergic reaction, that impacted heavy on my immune system, does seem to be the start of all my problems and leading to this final diagnosis of dementia. Now at the time, I was given treatment, which I believe was antihistamines. I was in France when this happened. I never recovered fully, but I was able to get on with my life. Later a doctor suggested a Lyme disease test be carried out. No positive results. The doctor then explained, ‘It is like a hit-and-run accident. Whatever caused the damage has gone and only the damage remains!’
This change my viewpoint dramatically. I had always thought I would find the cause and then be able to treat it, but now I realise I can only live with the damage.
This week’s question:
Looking back as far as you can, try to trace the significant things that happened ie, did they do anything that may have caused brain injury, such as sports, did they have any major illness, measles etc, any accident, fall or car crash, etc.
We all had knocks, bumps, coughs and colds, but it is that thing that had a major impact on that person's life, that I'm looking for and only you can evaluate that?
Question: If the person with dementia, had any significant event many years ago, please, briefly state the event and how many years before the person was diagnosed?
Examples: Car accident that caused head injury. 22 years
Lyme disease. 31 years
If there is no significant event throughout their life, just start, None
Many thanks for taking part!
Stay Safe and Keep Well!
Richard
I’ve been reading about research into devising ways to determine if someone can be tested for dementia, before the signs, or symptoms show. This seems to be all on the premise that the possible causes of dementia may have started years and possibly decades before any symptoms were noted.
We have all heard of the well known footballers and boxers that have developed later dementia. It seems obvious that continually heading a ball, or being punched, will damage the brain. However, there is no definitive proof that this is true. The cause of the original injury has long gone and only the onset of dementia remains. Often there seems to be no related cause.
In my case, doing a bit of research into my medical records and drawing a history line of my health life, it seems that an insect bite, that caused a major allergic reaction, that impacted heavy on my immune system, does seem to be the start of all my problems and leading to this final diagnosis of dementia. Now at the time, I was given treatment, which I believe was antihistamines. I was in France when this happened. I never recovered fully, but I was able to get on with my life. Later a doctor suggested a Lyme disease test be carried out. No positive results. The doctor then explained, ‘It is like a hit-and-run accident. Whatever caused the damage has gone and only the damage remains!’
This change my viewpoint dramatically. I had always thought I would find the cause and then be able to treat it, but now I realise I can only live with the damage.
This week’s question:
Looking back as far as you can, try to trace the significant things that happened ie, did they do anything that may have caused brain injury, such as sports, did they have any major illness, measles etc, any accident, fall or car crash, etc.
We all had knocks, bumps, coughs and colds, but it is that thing that had a major impact on that person's life, that I'm looking for and only you can evaluate that?
Question: If the person with dementia, had any significant event many years ago, please, briefly state the event and how many years before the person was diagnosed?
Examples: Car accident that caused head injury. 22 years
Lyme disease. 31 years
If there is no significant event throughout their life, just start, None
Many thanks for taking part!
Stay Safe and Keep Well!
Richard