The news today talked about how Alzheimers is now an epidemic and the 6th highest death rate in the US.
I've read that Lyme (and/or coinfections) can cause the brain damage which occurs with Alzheimers, so its "epidemic" is really part of the Lyme and co. epidemic.
Is this likely a true statement?
Posted by lajamur (Member # 24593) on :
I have wondered this as well.
My grandfather was completely senile by the time he passed away.
He was also an avid gardener who spent most of his free time in his back yard. I don't think he had any knowledge of Lyme & Co.
When I picture him prior to his mental and physical decline, I see him in his yard clothes, covered in bits of cut grass, etc.
Makes you wonder.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Yes, Lyme is suspected to be capable of causing Alzheimer's. There is a pathologist in the movie "Under Our Skin" (showing on some PBS stations soon - see http://www.underourskin.com/tv for details) and the book "Cure Unknown" (by Pamela Weintraub) who took samples from a Alzheimer's brain bank and tested them for Lyme. He found Lyme in most of the samples tested.
I don't think Lyme causes all cases of dimentia or Alzheimer's, but it certainly is capable of it in my opinion...
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
Yes it does. He found it in 7 of the 10 brains he autopsied.
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
Someone posted a link here not too long ago from a speech by an Austrian MD which said that in Europe they recognize 3 phases of Lyme:
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. The Tertiary phase comes later in life as Alzheimer's.
Here, in the US, only the first two, acute, and chronic are recognized.
I should have checked this first for facts, but you can find in a search.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I believe there is likely more than one cause for alzheimers.