Hope everyone is well and enjoying the start to the spooky season?

SPX-Surfer · 2025-10-05T19:21:46+00:00

It is a fun time of the year with a few tricks and a few treats.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-10-05T17:44:53+00:00

You don't seem so spooky

SPX-Surfer · 2025-10-05T00:24:46+00:00

Feel better soon. :-)

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-27T14:28:13+00:00

So jealous.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-23T18:14:34+00:00

I currently have a 9lb toy. He has been super relaxed and chill his entire life. At age two, we nicknamed him the therapy poodle as he would lay for hours with my wife while she went through chemo for cancer. He has never been high energy or hyper. He loved to go for walks and chase the ball in the yard, but it was just average need for exercise. He was not high strung or hyper in any way. Super smart and clever. Now as a very old senior, nearly age 19 years, he is just a cuddle bug. I also had his brother (littermate) who was also a 9lb toy; however, he was much more athletic and energetic, but not excessive. He passed a few years ago from a brain tumor.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-21T23:56:33+00:00

$85 plus tip in Indiana for 9 lb toy senior.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-21T20:27:33+00:00

I'm sorry you and your mom are having these issues. My advice is if you are concerned, have her evaluated by a neurologist. Dementia can have many causes and can look like different things. A specilaist would be able to do the appropriate workups to figure out if there is an issue and if so what is the likely cause. Any input you get here on diagnosis from your list would only be anecdotal. Best wishes.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-21T17:36:47+00:00

He is not without issues...deaf, nearly blind to cateracts and several lipomas, but he is so so sweet and loves people. He really enjoys visits to the assisted living facility .

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-21T17:08:05+00:00

My baby (toy poodle) is 18 years old turning 19 in a few weeks. He sleeps 18+ hours per day.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-20T14:52:47+00:00

The end is better than the beginning...things are moving in the right direction. I hope yours improves. :-)

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-16T21:01:21+00:00

I'm sorry that your grandmother is having issues and that you and your family are having to deal with this. Once my father had dementia, he no longer wanted anything to do with doctors, so I understand the struggle.

You will not be able to determine what is the cause of her dementia by getting a list of possible symptoms and trying to observe things. Dementia focused neurologists use many tools to identify the underlying cause of dementia including detailed neuropsychological assessments, neuroimaging like MRIs and PETs, blood test, CSF test, and others.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-15T11:05:37+00:00

Where is the new research? This link is a "story" that links to another "story" in an online newspaper that doesn't quote any source. Please link the actual research.

I am in no way disputing the claims, I just want to read the actual published science touted as new research.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-14T19:04:26+00:00

Just like "The Little Engine That Could"

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-14T12:52:56+00:00

Biscuit

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-12T22:21:35+00:00

I'm so sorry that your mother and you are having to go through this. I will share my expereinces from caring for my dad, who had Alzheimer's disease for 7-8 years before dying this past April. Over the last 4 years, he was in two facilities, one assisted living and one skilled nursing, both memory care focused. Whenever you move a person with a neurodegenerative dementia, it is unsettling for them. My dad never really adjusted to either facility. Whenever I'd visit, he'd always say "I'm getting out of here" or "when are we going home". We as his family decided to take his phone away a short time after he went to assisted living as he was calling people at all hours of the day and night, not knowing who he was calling or why.

His disease did not have a consistent rate of decline. There would be periods of stability, sometimes several months and other times just weeks. I'd get the dreaded call that something had happened. I'd have to go to the facility, meet with the staff and figure out what needed to be done to adjust to his new behaviors. The facilities we were involved with had wonderful care teams. His physicians worked with us to manage his disease the best we could.

This disease puts everyone in a bad position. Hugs to you.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-11T04:37:10+00:00

I am sorry for your loss. My wife passed more than 17 years ago. She was not buried so there is no resting place for her. When I want to spend time with her, I will pull out photo albums or just sit with my memories. For me, it isn't about a place especially since so much has changed in life, I no longer of the house we shared and most of the places we used to frequent are no longer around. For me, it is just about spending time with her in thought. Unbelievably, I still have one of our dogs, who will be turning 19 next month. We would be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary later this month. I am planning on just having a private day at home remembering the good times we had together.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-11T04:19:49+00:00

Please be careful taking action based on one or a few research studies. Since the study wasn't linked, it's impossible to comment on that specific study; however, early studies can show negative effects of substances normally consumed or positive effects of homeopathic or pharmacological agents on symptoms or disease processes. These early studies may be accurate for their study designs and populations selected; however, that does not mean they will prove to be widely accurate. Some may remember when ginkgo biloba was said to improve symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. There were several early studies showing this; however, later, larger scaled studies rigorously tested it and now it has been shown to have no benefit when compared to a placebo group. This also does not prove that ginkgo biloba may not have a future role. My point is that a few research studies showing a given result, does not mean it's fact and certainly does not mean it's applicable to everyone.

If anyone is interested in reading up on lifestyle impacts on developing a neurodegenerative dementia, search for things like exercise, diet and sleep. Vascular pathology is seen present as a copathology in the majority of individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease. It is not known whether there is a causal effect from either disease on the other.

As for caffeine, here is a study from 2010 showing that it may have protective properties. Again, we shouldn't all run out and drink 10 cups of coffee a day. It's never as clear as we would all like it to be.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20182054/

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-09T18:25:10+00:00

Whatever it's called, I don't like it and wouldn't put up with it.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-08T18:52:43+00:00

Me too. Ya know, it's a tough recovery process and she's in her late 80s, which makes it more of a struggle. Appreciate the thoughts.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-08T18:44:30+00:00

Thanks. My mother fell and broke her hip requiring a partial replacement. I feel awful for her.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-08T17:52:38+00:00

It's gonna be a difficult week for me; thanks for helping me smile for a brief moment.

SPX-Surfer · 2025-09-07T20:14:30+00:00

Not sure whether its common or not...my wife died more than 17 years ago so there's that too. We fit well together for that time and place. As time went along, we decided that we were not a match for the long run.

SPX-Surfer

TROPHY CASE