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Geek Culture / Alzheimer's disease

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old_School
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 04:25
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Just wondering if Im the only older guy who fears this disease. So far Ive spent a lifetime building up my brain power. This would suck to not be able to remember how to code or make new software.
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heyufool1
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 04:38
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I'm not an older guy but I'm a little afraid of getting it somewhere down the line. My grandfather died from Alzheimers and as far as I'm aware it's at least partially hereditary, so naturally it's a little worrying (I'm too young to really be scared).

"So hold your head up high and know. It's not the end of the road"
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zenassem
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 05:00
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It must be a devastating disease for both the person suffering with it, as well as friends and loved ones. While I haven't had to experience this in my family, I'm sensitive to those who have.

From the little that I have read on the disease, I believe that hobbies such as puzzle solving, game playing, but most especially Game Programming has the ability to prevent, delay onset, or greatly reduce the severity even with the hereditary factors involved.

Programming would have to rank well up there in excersising numerous areas of the brain. Just think about all the inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, memory/recall, continued learning (growing new connections and processing information), socialization (here on the forums), using imagination, The list goes on and on.

Game Programming is like P90X for the brain IMHO.

Your signature has been erased by a mod please reduce it to 600 x 120.
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BiggAdd
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 05:09 Edited at: 6th Sep 2011 05:09
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Is this you old_school?
http://www.youtube.com/user/mholmes3038#p/u/15/7sO8nG7UXoM

You don't sound that old.

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old_School
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 05:47
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Yeah made those a while back. Im 30 and my family tends to die quickly. We have a crap ton of genetic issues. I hate to say this but I think my family name dying off might be a good thing because we have some many genetic issues.
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rolfy
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 06:09 Edited at: 6th Sep 2011 06:13
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My mother started out with alzheimers which developed into full dementia, we refused (my sister and I) to put her into care and kept her at home as she steadily grew worse over a period of ten years before passing away, this put a cramp on my social life (18-28 yrs of age, I was adopted by older family) but I wouldn't change it, its what made me what I am.
Its a very difficult thing to deal with and emotionally and physically drains you, the person affected doesn't even know who you are and we often had to hunt her down when she escaped wearing just her nightgown, she was mobile for a few years but eventually we had to help her even onto her commode.
The worst part was when she would call out for hours late at night, often enough this would mean burning the candle at both ends.
The hardest time was my sister suffering a mental breakdown which left me alone with two totally lost people to care for over an entire weekend (doctor wouldnt come out till I threatened to call the cops).
I am 53 now so this was along tme ago but its still very much with me.
I know there was no cure for it back then but believe there have been some very small breakthroughs in understanding this disease, the most important thing would be respite for carers who keep family members at home, back then there was no kind of support whatsoever.

I am making the awesomest game, with the Foxes and Xplosys!! Click me here---->
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Fallout
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 09:39
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I wouldn't worry. There will be a cure within 10 years. I can't be bothered to Google for the articles now, but scientists are pretty close. My understanding is, although it's a horrible condition, it's very specific in how it affects the brain and therefore one treatment works for all (when it's sussed out). The opposite side of the coin is cancer, where there are so many different varieties, it'll be a lot longer before we can say cancer as a whole is no longer a threat.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 10:40
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I'm not that worried. At least about myself. From what I've seen there is a small period of time that you are really aware of it all happening and then snap you are in fairy land. It's everyone else that has it worse. Plus with the amount of noggin usage that programming requires then I'm sure my brain will stay fit.

On the other hand my grandmother had these mini-strokes (several a week) which basically took her memory away in a similar way. And there was no fairy land type stage where you are away in a lovely past memory reliving great times. She knew what was happening pretty much all along, and it took about 8 years to kill her. In the end she about 20 seconds of memory and knew no-one. Scary stuff.

Personally though I am more worried about major strokes full stop. It seems it doesn't really matter about fitness or anything really. They can just happen. At any time really. And if you aren't that lucky then you are completely screwed for the rest of your (potentially very long) life. Pant wettingly scary that one.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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rolfy
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 11:40 Edited at: 6th Sep 2011 12:13
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Quote: "I believe that hobbies such as puzzle solving, game playing, but most especially Game Programming has the ability to prevent, delay onset, or greatly reduce the severity even with the hereditary factors involved."

Where on Earth did you get that from? I can just see all those old folks sitting testing out that theory down at the nursing home. "Fire up the comp nurse I have an urge to do some programming."
Quote: "From what I've seen there is a small period of time that you are really aware of it all happening and then snap you are in fairy land."

Not in my experience. Yes there is period of awareness but there is no 'snap', in fact they drop in and out of awareness throughout the illness, thats why its scary, its heartrending when someone say's "Whats wrong with me".
Quote: "And there was no fairy land type stage where you are away in a lovely past memory reliving great times."
I can assure you Alzheimers is no fairy land for sufferers, they are quite terrified, its about long term memory loss much the same as your old grandma, dementia is even worse.
Quote: "
Plus with the amount of noggin usage that programming requires then I'm sure my brain will stay fit."

I doubt programming will help much, its a disease.

I guess I should have worked it out before I posted in here that it was going this way.
Quote: "Just wondering if Im the only older guy who fears this disease. So far Ive spent a lifetime building up my brain power. This would suck to not be able to remember how to code or make new software."

Your 30yrs old for Chrissakes....what is wrong with you?
Please dont post anymore of these whimsical thoughts you have.

I was kinda hoping someone else around here might actually have been in the position of dealing with this, looks like its just going to be another one of those threads that everyone will simply say what they believe without the slightest clue of the facts, its too serious an issue to be throwing around uninformed theory's, so I'll quietly bow out and leave you to it.

I am making the awesomest game, with the Foxes and Xplosys!! Click me here---->
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Fallout
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 12:26
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Quote: "Where on Earth did you get that from? "


I also heard there is evidence to suggest people who regularly stimulate their brain with activity (firing the synapses) have a reduced chance of Alzheimers. I guess keeping the brain 'fit' makes it stronger against the disease. Smoking helps in the same way as nicotine fires the synapses. Of course, it also increases your risk of stroke .... so probably not the best preventative measure.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 12:58
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Quote: "I can assure you Alzheimers is no fairy land for sufferers, they are quite terrified, its about long term memory loss much the same as your old grandma, dementia is even worse"
I thought Alzheimers is dementia? Although I always remember two of my relatives (esp. my great gran) who had dementia and fair enough they had some really bad times, but a lot of the time I saw them they seemed pretty happy in their own world. Fair enough I was a lot younger then but it seemed a better existence than my Nan's mini strokes which kept her totally in the real world while robbing her of her memory of 30 seconds ago. Maybe it effected me more as an adult, I don't know. I do know I wouldn't either.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 14:48
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Quote: "I thought Alzheimers is dementia?"


It isn't - dementia has various causes and Alzheimer's disease is one of them. I expect many people diagnosed with Alzheimer's are actually suffering from one of the other causes such as reduced blood flow to critical parts of the brain. Unfortunately it's difficult to get a specific diagnosis - and the outlook isn't good either way.

I know how Rolfy feels about this - both my parents died of Alzheimer's (or what everyone calls Alzheimer's these days) and it was a long protracted depressing process. My mother spent approximately 10 years of her life looking after my father and shortly after he died she went down with similar symptoms. She lived somewhat longer with the disease, about 15 years. Us "children" (I'm 62 now) have had approximately 25 years of our adult lives blighted by this condition with the prospect of more to come as we also get older.

One of the problems with dementia is that modern medicine has become very good at keeping the body alive but not so good at keeping the brain healthy. The result is that there are increasing numbers of totally incapable elderly people being kept alive and goverments are struggling to find satisfactory solutions to this. I don't think there any easy answers short of a cure.
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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 16:39 Edited at: 6th Sep 2011 16:40
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It's a horrible disease, but am I scared of getting it? To be honest there's so many potential bad things that can happen to anybody that none of it phases me. Even though I have a family history of Alzheimer's and angina. My Nan died from Alzheimers (4 years ago this week) and so did my great grandmother, my grandad died from angina at the age of 55 and my uncle has got it now.

However, whatever happens...happens, science is doing a great deal in the field of medicine and it seems (from what I've read) there's good research into treatment for Alzheimers, so further down the line it'll likely be something for us to worry less about. There's so many things out there we're at risk of, I've decided if it happens, I'll just deal with it. I think it's not worth spending your life worrying what's going to happen to you. Just live your life as productively and healthily as you can and if you spot something's wrong, see a doctor (or if there's a higher liklihood of you getting something). That's the best anybody can do.

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old_School
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 17:10 Edited at: 6th Sep 2011 17:12
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I was watching a doc. vid on tv and they showed a guy who made a program that stimulated the brain and reveresed the effects of it. Not sure how but still its the one thing I personaly fear about getting older. My mind is my greatest treasure to my self and I'd hate to lose it.
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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 17:37
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Yeah, I can understand, I mean your mind is one of your greatest treasures. When my Nan had Alzheimers, once she got to a certain point in a way, she had already died (it was how it felt) because as cold as it sounds, she seemed like an empty shell only capable of basic brain functions, she wasn't there. But before it gets that bad, despite having the illness, we were still able to keep her happy and the home looked after her and I wouldn't say she felt miserable in her condition and yes, she later forgot who we were but she still recognised us and enjoyed our company, even when she didn't recognise us, she was happy having visitors to keep her company. So I am glad she wasn't left unhappy in her later years, even if her mind had deteriorated.

What I would fear the most is dying miserable and alone. If I was unable to be the master of my own happiness, I'd hope there would be people out there who cared enough to enjoy my company.


Jeez, what a depressing topic lol. But then you can hardly have a thread entitled "Alzheimer's" and expect it to be cheery, unless of course it's a thread telling us a cure is readily availible.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 18:20
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You summed it up well Seppuku Arts.
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RedneckRambo
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Posted: 6th Sep 2011 21:33
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Quote: "Your 30yrs old for Chrissakes....what is wrong with you?
Please dont post anymore of these whimsical thoughts you have."

I'm glad I'm not the only one that was very irritated when I read that as well.

Alzheimer's is a horrid disease. I've lost a loved one to it and I can assure you, it's probably different than what you would actually expect. I'm not going in to details because honestly, this thread has simply made me mad.

Also, stop referring to yourself as "older" you are 30, good freaking god. That's not even in your middle aged years and it's still far from it. If ANYTHING you are young. You aren't old in the slightest.
Quote: "On the flip side, the younger kids around here are mostly just plain worthless. Sorry to say but are youth needs to grow up alot. I probably sound like a old man complaining now but its true."

That's a quote from your "professional" thread. I'm quoting it because now it is even more pathetic IMO. Calling younger kids pathetic and, again, referring yourself to "old man." The reality is, you aren't old in the slightest. You aren't much older than many people here either. There are plenty of people far older than that and you wouldn't hear many of them constantly call themselves old man.

But I leave this thread at that. I've had enough of this guy, to say the least.

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BlackFox
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Posted: 7th Sep 2011 00:52
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I've lost family to Alzheimer's and to Parkinson's disease. I've been through the final stage as they were in palliative care, and I can identify and emphasize with others that have endured this as well. Certainly nothing I would wish on anyone to have to face, let alone witness.

I am thankful I have my wife at my side


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old_School
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Posted: 7th Sep 2011 00:56 Edited at: 7th Sep 2011 01:00
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Just watched one of my fav uncles die from it. It was fairly hard for me to see it happen as it happend to to over half my fam but with my uncle it was really hard because we always went fishing. So when I would visit he would want to go fish but he could not leave to go because its to dangerous for him. That was his only real hobby and when he got it, thats was pretty much it for him.

At the above post:
Im just making a general statement about my personal fear. Most of my family has had it, so it is kinda scary to me to know I will likely get it in about 30 more years. I know 30 years is a good amount of time away but don't really seem that far away the older I get. Time tends to fly the older I get.
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Grog Grueslayer
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Posted: 7th Sep 2011 06:51 Edited at: 7th Sep 2011 06:52
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Quote: "Yeah made those a while back."


I don't remember Green Acres being so full of stuff.

I'm with Fallout... I wouldn't worry about Alzheimers. We're far more likely to die of something else long before our minds go.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 7th Sep 2011 13:02
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Not with my family history.

I agree there's no point in worrying about it though. Just think about the benefits: when your short-term memory starts to go you can watch your favourite films or play your favourite games time after time without ever getting bored.

Wait a minute! I do that already.
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Plystire
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Posted: 8th Sep 2011 03:21
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Quote: "Just think about the benefits: when your short-term memory starts to go you can watch your favourite films or play your favourite games time after time without ever getting bored."


As great as that sounds, I'd rather not have the disease at all.

Being as skinny as I am, I'd say my brain is the only muscle in my body that's worth anything to me. Everything else can be replaced with prosthetics... heck, I'm already trying to make replacements for my feet and they're still technically very good feet!


~Plystire

A rose is only a rose until it is held and cherished -- then it becomes a treasure.
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 8th Sep 2011 08:49
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I recently read an article saying putting your brain to work can really help prevent the disease. So your worry is no longer being able to program, but in theory, programming is helping prevent the disease!

There is one game i play, it has perfect looking raycasting and is rendered at a very high FPS real time. This game i find very fun. What is this game? This game is life on earth.
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Kevin Picone
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Posted: 10th Sep 2011 17:20 Edited at: 10th Sep 2011 17:21
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on a related note..




Hmm, I wonder what's coming in 2011?
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