I am new to this site, however I just recently started a blog about Early-onset Alzheimer's, as my mother was diagnosed a couple years ago at age 52.  I feel that there is a stigma attached to the disease, as if it is something to be embarrassed about.  I do not think that people are educated enough about the topic, so I am just hoping to open some eyes.

https://thejaniceweknew.wordpress.com/

Nice blog!  Glad your mom has a loving family surrounding her.

I Live alone. I undiagnosed early onset dementia. (My parent had it so i know the signs.). Today I messed up date order on a pkg shipment tracking.  I felt so stupid and well "old" when I 'realized' what my problem was on reading the sequence.

II personally had onset after bout of severe flu.  It is so frustrating not getting answers from doctors and being dissed as "getting old".  

AAs far as stigma. Seem all mental illness has stigma.... but I would guess 80% of the population is struggling with something at any given time in life.  We just have something that is interferring with functioning 'Normal'.

In my area, I wouldguess there is more money going to helping people with alcoholism than dementia.

Hi cjrichard,

Have you looked into your mother's mouth for dark mercury dental fillings? If she has them, they may be the source of her ALZ. Your mom was just a four years younger than I was when I was diagnosed. I have since stopped its progression. See http://amalgam.org/education/scientific-evidenceresearch/results-removal-amalgam-fillings/ or

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/02/Sep02/091602/80027dde.pdf

I have more links to this type of information about this in my July 4, 2015 blog entry at http://thestevenalztreatment.blogspot.com

Hey,

I have noticed a long time ago she has darker fillings in her back teeth, but I never really thought anything of it.  How would that go about being tested?

I would start by using the right terminology. Young Onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

And as far as the two step dying. I would disagree with that. A piece of me is lost every day and it goes on until I die. This is the longest grieving process especially for the caregiver. At least mine ends.   

Darker fillings are amalgams that are always 50% mercury which releases 150 mcg of mercury into the body per day, more if she drinks any hot liquids.  As my blog states, you can get her blood, hair and urine tested via https://www.quicksilverscientific.com  Tri-test though you need to have someone draw blood at your doctor's office.  You probably need to contact your them to get an order to draw from your primary.

I know there are a lot of links in my blog to hundreds of pages of study info and about 20 hours of video and lectures and lots of books but they are worth reading.

A Step -

I am interested in your experience of having the flu and THEN feeling the dementia begin.

Seems to be there are some common over the counter flu/cold medicines that are very bad for dementia, even the old one for allergic reactions - Benadryl - is not good for dementia.

I do not doubt there are triggers and your experience seems to have been very clear to you.

Michael Ellenbogen wrote: 

I would start by using the right terminology. Young Onset Alzheimer's Disease.....

Currently, Michael, if it shows up in medical records or insurance billing forms as a diagnosis, it will be coded and referred to as "Alzheimers disease with early onset" G30.0, so technically this poster's "terminology" is correct. It appears in general discussion literature that either term Is used and accepted. 

Codes for Alzheimer’s disease are found in Chapter 6 of ICD-10-CM, Diseases of the Nervous System.

There are 4 codes in ICD-10-CM:

• G30.0 Alzheimer’s disease with early onset
• G30.1 Alzheimer’s disease with late onset
• G30.8 Other Alzheimer’s disease
• G30.9 Alzheimer’s disease unspecified

Category G30, Alzheimer’s disease instructs coders to assign an additional code when associated with:

• Delirium, if applicable (F05)
• Dementia with behavioral disturbance (F02.81)
• Dementia without behavioral disturbance (F02.80)

When I first read Michael's original comment, I thought picky, picky.

But then, The term used helps allay the confusion between Early Stage which is the first stage of the disease for diagnostic purposes and Younger Onset which refers to the age at which a person is diagnosed.  This is usually considered anyone younger than 60 or 65. I can never remember which. By % of cases diagnosed, these are much fewer than the normal age of onset, 65 and older.

In my opinion, the Younger Onset folks are far more proactive in their own care and Advocacy than us older folks.

As long as we know which group is being discussed, I wouldn't worry too much about terminology. We have more important things to try to remember.

.   According to the Alzheimer’s Association about 5 years ago they are moving to Young Onset Alzheimer's Disease for those under 65 because of the confusion of the other term. The reason for that is because every dementia patient actual goes thru the stage of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease at the beginning. They can be 90 years old.

 If we are going to write blogs we must be right. The point of dong them is to educate people rather then add to the confusion.

Welcome to our online support group, Wendy.  Feel free to start your own thread by clicking on the "Add Topic" tab on the main Younger Onset board.

How are you doing now?  May I ask, how were you diagnosed?  Are you on any memory medications? How old are you?  Are you working?   

Do you have any questions for us?  We try to help each other out.

Please keep reading the threads, and keep posting.  We are here for you!

Iris L.

Welcome Wendyj,

Please do tell us about your experience with the medication. Thanks for joining us.

And Wendy,

This is a great place to let your fears and thought out. 

Do find out about the Best Practices many of us are involved with.

Michael,

It is important that the early stage dementia is distinct and distinguished from young-onset dementia. It can be very confusing for persons with little knowledge about dementia and there is already too much ambiguity and lack of awareness surrounding this disease.

 I do not think that is a valid term llee08032. Dementia is not a diagnosis.

Michael,

I think my first sentence came out backwards and I meant to say the early stages? 

Some neurologists may diagnose "Alzheimer's Disease" when the patient has no other medical illnesses that might contribute to the dementia, and some may diagnose "dementia" when there are other illnesses that might contribute to the deficits.

2016 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F03.90  

I do not get upset by post unless they come from scammers like cg78617 who try to take advantage of people who are sick in order to make money.