Expert: Paula Damgaard - 1/24/2006

Question
I am a 54 year old male and diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.  My father had this disease and died in his early sixties.  My symptoms are the same as his were when our family knew something was wrong.  My wife is concerned about many things right now.  The doctors are not sure what time I have left to live, but said 8 - 20 years.  I know myself that I have gone down mentally alot in the last 3 years.  Please give any advice it would be appreciated.    Thank you

Answer
Dear Alan,  I am so sorry.  I wish I could say that you will live the whole 20 years but I believe in honesty and that would be on big fat lie.  As a whole people who are diagnosed young (late 40's early 50's) tend to get hit fast and hard.  Their life expectancy is on the short end of the spectrum rather than the late.  

My advice to you two is LIVE!  DO everything and anything you have ever wanted to do.  Live like every day is the last.  Make sure that you have all your ducks in an row and all of your papers filled out, like power of attorney, medical power of attorney, (make those durable POA)make your will out be specific so that everyone knows what your wishes are.  Make sure that everyone knows exactly what you mean when you say what you want.  Tell everyone you know what your wishes are so that there will be no arguing when the time comes.  

The biggest gift you can give your family, is to have an autopsy.  This way they will know for 100% that you had AD and not some strange variatant.  Also this is important because if you have kids, and scientists find something that will help early onset AD family members, they will want proof.  An autopsy is proof.

I hope this helps you.  I wish I could say something that would make it all go away.  I wish you and your family the best.  If you need anything else please do not hesitate to ask.  Paula