Update - High Cholesterol Message Board

dak2005 · 02-06-2006, 09:27 PM

It's been quite awhile since I have posted on this page. A quick review. My Dad has been experiencing memory problems since Dec. 2003 and noticably worse this past year. A neurologist appt. in April of 2005 diagnosed dementia. Dad went back in August 2005 and the doctor said it was early onset Alzheimer's. He denied the statins drugs could at all be the culprit. Dad started Zocor in the spring of 2003 and my Mom noticed signficant memory problems in Dec. 2003/winter 2004. He has been off of the drug since June 2005 and unfortunatley no significant change. Dec. 2005 second opinion with Mayo Clinic. They aren't sure what it could be, as is usually the case. Since Dec. 2004 my Dad has had 2 catscans, 2 MRI's, and a spinal tap. The first catscan came back normal. The MRI in April of 2005 showed a small, old and healed stroke. The doctor doesn't think this stroke has anything to do with the memory problems. My Dad is a diabetic which is has been said that they are at a higher risk of Alzheimer's. The second MRI came back the same. No changes. Show some brain shrinkage, which isn't too unsual for his age, they said. The spinal tap came back normal in Jan. 2006. My Dad is no longer working, disibilty started before Christmas. My Dad doesn't drink, has never smoked and tries to exercise as much as possible(walking and working around in his machine shed) No family history of dementia etc.

It has been quite the year. Very uncertain, scary, frustrating. I have emailed several researchers/doctors, in Pittsburgh, San Diego. 50+ articles tell us that statins side effects show a risk of developing cognitive impairment/dementia and 50+ articles tell us the possiblity of treating/delaying the onset of Alzheimer's with statins!!!!!! What are we to believe????? When my Mom mentioned this to one of the top researchers at Mayo, he didn't say much at all. In his words, "Discuss with your primary physican about to going back on Zocor if necessary, take your Aricept and we'll see you in a few months." There you go!!

Thanks for listening............................... .

DAK

JJ · 02-06-2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dak2005

It's been quite awhile since I have posted on this page. A quick review. My Dad has been experiencing memory problems since Dec. 2003 and noticably worse this past year. A neurologist appt. in April of 2005 diagnosed dementia. Dad went back in August 2005 and the doctor said it was early onset Alzheimer's. He denied the statins drugs could at all be the culprit. Dad started Zocor in the spring of 2003 and my Mom noticed signficant memory problems in Dec. 2003/winter 2004. He has been off of the drug since June 2005 and unfortunatley no significant change. Dec. 2005 second opinion with Mayo Clinic. They aren't sure what it could be, as is usually the case. Since Dec. 2004 my Dad has had 2 catscans, 2 MRI's, and a spinal tap. The first catscan came back normal. The MRI in April of 2005 showed a small, old and healed stroke. The doctor doesn't think this stroke has anything to do with the memory problems. My Dad is a diabetic which is has been said that they are at a higher risk of Alzheimer's. The second MRI came back the same. No changes. Show some brain shrinkage, which isn't too unsual for his age, they said. The spinal tap came back normal in Jan. 2006. My Dad is no longer working, disibilty started before Christmas. My Dad doesn't drink, has never smoked and tries to exercise as much as possible(walking and working around in his machine shed) No family history of dementia etc.

It has been quite the year. Very uncertain, scary, frustrating. I have emailed several researchers/doctors, in Pittsburgh, San Diego. 50+ articles tell us that statins side effects show a risk of developing cognitive impairment/dementia and 50+ articles tell us the possiblity of treating/delaying the onset of Alzheimer's with statins!!!!!! What are we to believe????? When my Mom mentioned this to one of the top researchers at Mayo, he didn't say much at all. In his words, "Discuss with your primary physican about to going back on Zocor if necessary, take your Aricept and we'll see you in a few months." There you go!!

Thanks for listening............................... .

DAK

Dak, sorry to hear things have not improved, seems like U have been exploring every avenue but still with no certain answers. I truly hope the drs. get to the bottom of this and can help, as I am sure both you and your mom are totally frustated.

I have no answers, but please keep us posted how things are going and if there is any change. Our prayers are with U and the family. Nothing worse then having a medical problem, but no answers.

Do take care, and all the best from me.......

Lenin · 02-07-2006, 05:14 AM

dak,

I read about the Mayo Clinic's 4 hour battery of neuropsychiatric tests to determine Alzheimer's.
From your dealings with them, are you saying that was their diagnosis or is it in a gray area? Is it STILL really THAT hard to diagnose. I have heard that the only FINAL word is at autopsy.

If the best medical minds think it IS Alzheimer's, then are you trying to make a decision whether to use statins or not to slow the effects of Alzheimer's?

Or are you still looking to prove that Zocor caused his dementia?

I hope you all manage to hold up...Alzheimer's/dementia can be so difficult to endure if push comes to shove.

janeslk · 02-07-2006, 08:06 AM

How old is your dad? My FIL has Alzheimer's and it is horrible. I don't buy the theory that Zocar prevents this disease because he had been on it for a few years before developing the disease about two years ago at the age of 81. He has high blood pressure and there is evidence of a few small strokes. He also had by-pass surgery 15 years ago and we were told the arteries in this neck had plaque build-up. Ironically, he had one of these cleared a few years ago at the beginning of his Alzheimer's and actually seemed to decline more. Terrible disease. I suppose his B-12 levels are normal?

Jane

dak2005 · 02-07-2006, 09:37 PM

My Dad is 61. He did not take the mental exams at Mayo. Only University of Iowa Clinics. The doctor at Mayo figured just by looking at him and talking with him that it is early onset. And yet he is stumped too and told my parents, "We'll get to the bottom of this". Yes.... of course I am hoping that its the Zocor.... maybe, just maybe once it is out of his system he will get some memory back... again I don't know what to think. He is just too young. I know early onset is out there..... but it's my Dad, no one in a million years wants to hear this. It really is a bad dream. I can honestly say without sounding melodramatic, it has been the worst year of my life and my family's life. We have been so fortunate for so long and can't believe it is all happening. It's very difficult to find any happiness in a day. Can't call home and say" Hey, how is everything going?" Try to find some humor but when you see your parents cry on Christmas morning... especially your Dad who is a tough, rugged farmer, it just too much to bear. I don't even look forward to going to my home of my parents to visit. It's just too hard!

Sorry...................:-( Thanks.