Can MS lead to Alzheimers or are they associated in any way?

Kevin2 · Post by **Kevin2** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:13 pm

I saw a program on TV today, and they showed the brain of a Alzheimers victom. The plaque and lesions showed in the Alzheimers patient seemed to resemble what showed up in my MRI. And of course, I was diagonosed with MS. I realize the diagnoses is based on the Dr's findings in the many office visits, as well as the MRI. Yet, it was scary to hear the same type of MRI key words being used for ALzheimers too.

Having a rather nice day, never the less!

Kevin

bromley · Post by **bromley** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:18 am

Kevin2,

This is one of the aspects of MS that scares me the most. It's bad enough having to cope with any physical disability which comes with this disease but mental problems are an additional nightmare. Often you see cognitive problems and memory loss as symptoms of this disease and I recall someone posting to say that their father had very aggressive MS and after 12 years had dementia. However, there's lots of people who have had MS for 20 years or more who are pretty much on the ball (mentally speaking). Unfortunately which functions MS hits seems to be pot luck. If you are newly diagnosed I wouldn't start worrying too much yet - and remember in 5-10 years time they may have developed neuro-protective strategies to save our brain cells. On the positive side - once you have dementia you will not remember that you have MS.

All the best

Bromley

BeckyLA · Post by **BeckyLA** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:22 am

It is vey scary. I've always been a bit of a klutz, so getting even clumsier is only frustrating. The cognitive stuff though...my intelligence is where I get all my self-confidence. I've only been diagnosed six months, but I have been having more and more problems lately staying focused on things. It's like I have ADD or something. I forget things constantly and have to write everything down. I'd much rather be in a wheel chair than lose my mind.

deehammer · Post by **deehammer** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:57 pm

I feel the same way. It is very scarry. It seemed to scare me more when I was dxed 4 years ago then it does now. Now it's just annoying! Heh, the bright side is that Bromley is right, once it's that bad, you won't remember it!

Dena

OddDuck · Post by **OddDuck** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:55 am

Just to ease everyone's mind:

Alzheimer's disease has a totally different disease pathology than MS cognitive problems. They are two totally separate things. Cognitive problems associated with MS will NOT directly lead to Alzheimers in any way. Nor is there any indication whatsoever that MS cognitive problems will ever get as bad as "dementia".

That is not to say that someone may not come down with Alzheimers along WITH also having MS, but the two diseases are totally separate from each other.

I hope this eases your mind.

Deb

OneEyeBlind · Post by **OneEyeBlind** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:11 am

Hi Deb,

Thats good to hear since there is a history of Alzheimers on both sides of my family! My paternal Grandfather currently has Alzheimers and it really sucks! His sister, my great aunt had it and my maternal great grandmother also had it.

So you can see how/why I have often wondered the same.

Thanks for clearing that up for us Deb.

ttyl,

OddDuck · Post by **OddDuck** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:43 am

Hi, Karen!

Oh, yeah! Believe you me, when I was going through all those horrid cognitive problems, I was frantic thinking I might be coming down with Alzheimers. And you know me, I researched the crap out of it!

Luckily, I don't have Alzheimers that runs in the family, though. At least not to my knowledge.

Stay well!!!

Deb

Kevin2 · Post by **Kevin2** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 8:30 am

Hey all, I had forgotten that I posted this early this week, HA what's new! So, I've not checked to see the replies. Thanks for the input.

Kevin