An intriguing question has been going round my brain.

The experts say that the only true diagnosis of dementia can be made after death by an autopsy. We are pretty sure that those diagnosed after the gold standard procedure do have the disease. I suppose Iris, that you'll need to peer from above to see what your actual diagnosis was.

Then I happened to recall that famous nun's experiment. Is it still ongoing? At autopsy there were a certain amount of nuns who were apparently normal, but showed amyloid in the brain at autopsy.  

So, my theory is: if the Pittsburg compound PET scan  or spinal tap test had been available and given to those nuns during their lifetime, they would have showed the markers. It was probably their superior cognitive reserve (otherwise known as high IQ) that gave them the coping skills not to have their impairment become evident.

Then I came across this today

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2012/07/anti-amyloid-treatment-of-asymptomatic.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheAlzheimersReadingRoom+%28Alzheimer%27s+Reading+Room%29  (sorry, couldn't figure out how to make this an attachment.)

Read /listen carefully. Too bad I couldn't stop the video and save those charts for further study.

Comments, please. 

I think this is true with a caveat.  High IQ people  are able to think of work-arounds their cogntive impairments to a certain degree.  But when that line is passed, the patients are accused of behvioral difficulties, substance abuse or other socially unacceptable traits as a cause of their strange behavior.  I've been in this position.

Here is a direct link to the story and video; 

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2012/07/anti-amyloid-treatment-of-asymptomatic.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheAlzheimersReadingRoom+%28Alzheimer%27s+Reading+Room%29

Iris L. 

And the high IQ may be what's holding back their actual diagnosis. Possibly when the spinal tap or Pittsburg compound PET are more readily available, more of this high performing individuals can be identified. 

I don't know if either of the above two will give clues to the type of dementia. 

And so another question. Do the PET (Pittsburg Cmpd) scans of people at the same stage, but with differing dementia diagnoses differ?

Mimi, very interesting and encouraging video.  Thanks for sharing.  Also, I continue to learn from all three of you. 

Oh Mimi, FYI:  This might help you post links you are referring to.  When you are typing your Message under Add reply, look below the white square space to the purple  "Attached Files".  There is a green  box marked "Attachments."  When you select that, you can paste your site information.  It automatically is formatted for you.

I think that's what you were needing when you posted the link. 

 Iris, is that what you did?

Gee-gee I did it the way you said. I'm trying to do it that way. I did remember and it wouldn't work. It acted as if i had to choose something from my own computer! 

Sometimes there are so many bells and whistles that they forget some of us are challenged.

Years ago, shortly after I joined, something new was added and we all had to reregister and were not allowed to reuse the old password. I protested that I had one password that I could remember and that was it.

I got an immediate reply. Of course. And we were allowed to use our old passwords. Those who understood were heard!

Yep! too many bells and whistles!

I've tried it Iris' way and sometimes it works and other times not.

I copy and paste into the attachment box.

Mimi, it looks like you did just exactly what Iris does. ??? and it didn't work for you.

Who knows?!  No worry, we always find it anyway!

Mimi, you are right.  When you use Attachments, the computer wants you to attach a document or photo from your own files.  That's the way that works. 

Copy and paste will enable you to copy and insert website addresses.
 

But don't worry, if I see your posts, I'll copy and paste for you.  No problem!

Iris L.