Yesterday afternoon I went to the doctor for a checkup. She told me that a medication I've been taking for 25 years has been linked with Alzheimer's Disease. I had two great-aunts who had that illness. My mother also basically died of dementia.
Already I have been forgetting things and getting confused about appointments and stuff. I've been chalking it up to sleep deprivation, but damn. I don't want Alzheimer's Disease.
So now we embark on a bold new initiative.
As long as things are dull as dirt, I have a chance.
Alzheimers is one of everyone's greatest fears, isnt' it . . . may it not come true for you, me or anyone we know/love.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask the name of the drug? So I can avoid it...
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ReplyDelete@ debra - so mote it be.
As for the dementia, perhaps a conversation w/your doctor helping clarify the difference between sleep deprivation, age-typical forgetfulness and alzheimer's might be useful.
It is certainly one of the major fears many of us have about aging.
Sharon, the drug is in a class of anti-anxiety, anti-seizure medications. If you take anything for anxiety or seizures, you should speak to your doctor.
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