Does Alzheimer's disease eventually take a person's life?

soundoff (2 Responses)

1. Melissa Golden
   

   Dr. Gupta – You are incorrect. People do die from Alzheimer's .
   I just buried my beloved mother on April 1 and her death certificate reads "Dementia, Alzheimer's." Do people record cancer victims who no longer eat or the heart stops beating as death by starvation or heart attack?

   Please help us help other families understand that Alzheimer's is a debilitating, incurable, terminal disease that takes planning and care to deal with its slow, but steady and relentless procession to peace.

   End stage cancer may be a few weeks, while end stage Alz may be years. I know because I lived Alz to the bitter end – and the final 4 years of severe end stage Alz (yes, 4 is not a typo) as well as the final vigil week are something I hope no other family needs to go through.

   So I do feel your answer is incorrect to lead people to believe they do not die from Alz. You do – but because it strikes the frail and elderly, many die from another cause before the slow and steady ALZ catches up with them.

   Can you please issue a correction?

   Thank you from all of us Alzheimer's caregivers.

   April 18, 2010 at 6:24 pm |
2. James T Hamilton
   

   What foods help to slow the onset of Alzheimer's

   April 17, 2010 at 7:51 am |