Subject: Dementia
It is an unfortunate fact that the incidence of Dementia among PWP is about
30%, although a number of estimates have been made at various timmes with
a surprisingly wide spread of conclusions, ranging from 15% to 80% . This
is probably a reflection of the difficulties in diagnosis 'true' PD, not to
mention 'True Altzheimer's'
One of the more optimistic reports suggests that a better way of looking at
it is to say that PWP have about a 10% to 15% greater chance of developing
Dementia than an ordinary member of the public.
According to the neurologists at the University of Nottingham, the only
true test of PD is to carry out a post mortem and look for the presence of
'Lewy Bodies' in the area of the Substantia Nigra. There is a type of
Dementia which outwardly is identical to AD, but in which Lewy bodies are to
be found scattered throughout the brain. This is called Diffuse Lewy Body
disease, and may be the only type of Dementia which is genuinly linked to PD.
I always feel that the care-giver has the worst of it in cases of Dementia;
the person with Dementia is for the most part unaware of the progress of the
disease.
And its raining outside....
Regards, Brian Collins
