A dementia doctor has detailed how a little-known symptom develops in the 50s Alzheimer’s later in life.
Dr. David Gibbs, a neurologist who has studied the disease and treated patients for more than 25 years, became concerned when he began losing his sense of smell in his 50s.
Dr Gibbs told DailyMail.com: ‘Almost all people with Alzheimer’s disease They have at least some sense of smell. But most people don’t know that it comes slowly.
Dr Gibbs’ scent is fading at the age of 55, which joke is a positive thing because ‘I don’t hate it easily. I don’t mind picking up dog barks or doing other stinky jobs.’
A genetic test revealed that he has two copies of the gene, which almost certainly means he will develop Alzheimer’s.
He said that he was very surprised by this discovery because both his parents died in middle age Cancer“But when we look back a generation or two, it’s clear that there is a family history of forgetting.
Nine years after its discovery in 2015 Dr. Gibbs told DailyMail.com that he was able to slow the progression by implementing a series of lifestyle changes.
It encourages people who know others are at risk to make changes in their lives quickly or delay them.
David Gibbs, a leading neurologist who has spent more than two decades caring for patients with dementia, never dreamed the shoe would be on the other foot.
Studies have shown that ancient Chinese martial arts can improve cognitive function, including taking 10,000 steps a day and even taking up Tai Chi.
Several studies have shown that regular exercise can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50 percent, so in that sense, Dr. Gibbs said, ‘the sooner you start, the better.’
Next, the retired neurologist says diet is very important and ‘the evidence for adopting a plant-based diet is as strong as exercise.’
His message to others in his position is to make lifestyle changes as soon as possible, “preferably before cognitive impairment sets in.”
‘For those Having a family history of Alzheimer’sDr. Gibbs adds that these changes can be picked up before diagnosis.
He follows a variation of the Mediterranean diet, which has ‘more emphasis on berries and tighter restrictions on dairy products’.
The diet has been shown to slow the progression of the disease by 30 to 50 percent, says Dr. Gibbs.
He admits that cutting out cheese was a struggle at first since it’s one of his favorite foods, but when he found out he was lactose intolerant, cutting out dairy wasn’t his choice.
Alcohol is another thing Dr. Gibbs has given up.
He normally had a glass of beer or wine every day, but studies show that moderate alcohol consumption can accelerate the development of Alzheimer’s.
Fortunately, the non-alcoholic drink market has grown with a wider range of products to choose from and Dr Gibbs said he was ‘surprised’ to find that non-alcoholic beer tastes ‘very good’.
Sleep is another thing Dr. Gibbs says helps keep you as sharp as possible.
He ‘always’ sleeps almost eight hours.
Dr Gibbs said: ‘My wife Lois (pictured) was an angel. It allows me to live at home for the foreseeable future.’
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion and short-term memory loss
Studies have shown a link between not getting enough sleep and an increased risk of dementia later in life, and 7.5 hours of shut-eye is recommended to prevent this risk.
As dementia becomes more difficult as dementia progresses, ‘engaging socially and cognitively’ is another thing Dr Gibbs advocates.
To keep this up, he arranges to meet with one or two friends at a time.
Meanwhile, to keep his brain active, he eats lunch every day, does puzzles, and tries to keep reading and writing.
Along with socializing, reading and math are things Dr. Gibbs is struggling with more and more now.
He explained: ‘I can still read; But since I can’t really keep it down, I like to read books with fewer characters.
My wife, Lois, handles all the financial matters now. I can’t balance a checkbook anymore.’
Looking ahead, Dr. Gibbs’ biggest hope is that he can continue to put breaks on the progression of Alzheimer’s.
In retrospect, his first symptoms of Alzheimer’s occurred in 2006 at the age of 55, and he realized that his sense of smell was not as sharp.
At that time, he thought it was up to old age. But within five years he ‘couldn’t smell anything he suspected’.
Dr Gibbs was ‘not particularly worried’ until 2012, when he did some genealogy research (his wife Lois thought DNA testing would help fill in some of the missing branches of their ancestral tree), when he discovered he had two copies. APOE-4 allele.
Dr. Gibbs maintains an ongoing blog detailing his health complications and outcomes, Tattoo On My Brain, which is the subject of his first book and a spin-off documentary.
The pie chart above was created from data from Rajan et al. Percentages are not 100 due to rounding
This is a variant of the APOE gene and is the most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease – having one copy triples your risk; Two copies in about 12 fold.
Before, Dr. Gibbs said Alzheimer’s was not on his radar.
He said he was ‘surprised’ by the news. Dr. Gibbs’ diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was confirmed in 2008. It wasn’t until 2015.
He concludes: ‘I want to spend time with my family and friends, continue to advocate for early treatment and die of something else before I reach the final stages of dementia.
As a neurologist, I can see that my pain is gradually improving, probably due to the lifestyle changes I have made, which is very encouraging.
My wife Lloyd was an angel. It allows me to continue living in my home for the foreseeable future.’
Dr. Gibbs will do a follow-up blog explaining the circumstances of his calling Tattoo on my mindThe subject of his first book and spin-off documentary.
His latest book, Messages from Alzheimer’s LandProvides an up-to-date discussion of recent advances and setbacks in Alzheimer’s research.
Dr. Gibbs said the biggest disadvantage was food all taste very similar, not bad, but not very interesting.
He added: ‘I miss the smell of bacon frying in the pan.’
There are also some risks associated with not being able to smell, such as not being able to leak gas or smoke from a house fire.
However, on the flip side, Dr. Gibbs says there are a few notable benefits.
He explained: ‘I don’t waste money on expensive wine. I can’t smell a skunk. And I’m not bothered by cleaning up dog poop or changing diapers.
‘When my sense of smell was completely gone, I became aware of something else. I’m not angry anymore.
At first I thought it was just because I couldn’t smell disgusting things, but it seems like it’s more complicated than that.
‘I have become a more patient person. I talk to a homeless person, which I’m ashamed to admit I wouldn’t have done before.’
Nine years after his diagnosis, Dr. Gibbs told DailyMail.com that he was able to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s by implementing a series of lifestyle changes.
What is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of neurological disorders.
International concern
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe progressive neurological disorders (that affect the brain) that cause changes in memory, thinking, and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of the type, each person experiences dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global concern, but it is often seen in developed countries, where people can live to a very old age.
How many people were affected?
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This will rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting 50 to 75 percent of those diagnosed.
There are an estimated 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the US. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As a person ages, the risk of dementia increases.
Diagnosis rates are improving but many people with dementia are still thought to be undiagnosed.
Is there a cure?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow the progression and, if detected earlier, can be more effective treatments.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association
