memory loss difficulty completing
familiar tasks misplacing things those
are just a few of the signs of the
possible early onset of Alzheimer's
disease doctor say it can strike younger
adults as well in their 40s and 50s
there is a genetic test to identify your
risk and as channel twos anti Shirota
explains tonight there's also help
available for families caring for loved
ones affected by Alzheimer's for local
media blogger Mike macguff life is all
about creating memories with his two
boys James and David who's in that
picture over there
Mike realizes just how quickly life can
change and memories can fade completely
if you look at those pictures you would
not know waited by then she was
disappearing rapidly at that point at
just 53 Mike's mom Elizabeth was
diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's
one of their last conversations was
right before his wedding she looked at
me and said I'm so happy for you and
that was the last time I talked to her
really because after that
you know moves gone Mike's mom died at
age 58 very young and especially you
would never think Alzheimer's at 53 you
always thought of Alzheimer's being in
the elderly population especially at
that point early onset Alzheimer's
also now refer to as younger onset
Alzheimer's affects people younger than
65 doctors say they've seen cases in
people as young as their 40s there's
still no cure for Alzheimer's but
researchers have found a common link
probably the most important thing people
can do is keep their heart healthy
there's a connection between heart
function and brain function dr. Jim Ray
is a researcher with MD Anderson Cancer
Center and has been studying Alzheimer's
for two decades
he says the brains of people with
Alzheimer's begin to change up to 20
years before a person experiences memory
loss or any other common symptoms of the
disease it's a long time before you get
your first symptom you start to get
these things in your brain called
plaques and that may or may not lead you
to develop Alzheimer's disease there's a
risk factor that we understand it's
called apoe4 and you can get that test
done you can get it done and so these
online genetic tests and they'll tell
you whether you have this risk factor or
not once diagnosed dr. Rhea says social
engagement and mental activity are
crucial to the health of Alzheimer's
patients this is part of our memory cafe
we've got the slinkys and typewriters
Sabritas drawn is Community Engagement
Manager with the Houston chapter of the
Alzheimer's Association which provides
classes and other activities for those
suffering with Alzheimer's being around
other people who are facing the same
struggles and it's empowering because
you can also share what you've learned I
was a caregiver for ten years and I wish
that I
you then would I know now Mike is now an
Alzheimer's Association ambassador for
the seventh congressional district he
recently went to Washington DC to lobby
legislators unfunded Alzheimer's
research yeah that's gonna be cool and
he spends every moment he can with his
boys I am living like it could happen by
realized if I go the same way she did I
they won't really know me so I better
spend as much time with them as possible
so at least they have memories of me the
Alzheimer's Association of Houston is
hosting a caregiver conference where
families can learn all about the disease
and how to support their loved ones
living with the diagnosis to learn more
about the event and to see a list of
classes and services offered look for
this story in the health section of
click2houston.com and e sirota KPRC
Channel 2 News