No life insurance company will offer first day coverage for someone with alzheimers or dementia and, technically, the two year wait plans (guaranteed issue) aren't supposed to either since such people aren't supposed to sign contracts. If you want to know how deadly an ailment is, look to how life insurance actuaries view it.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
I'm luckily unfamiliar - when cause of death is listed as Alzheimers, what are the symptoms that caused death? Do vital organs shut down or does one just waste away?

lost my Father to a type of Dementia 12 years ago last month,

he was being treated, medically, fairly well, still living at home with some assistence,

he fell in the house and broke his arm, the pain meds and trama tripped his Dementia up a notch or 4, and he became agressive (sundowners) and eventually had to be hospitalized to regulate the meds etc,
from there he went to a pt rehab, the eventually morphed into long term care,


a rather rapid yet steady decline from mostly independent to dead in about 8 months,

the Doc at the care facility (spelled nursing home) told me males do not usually last 6 months, maybe 9 in a home, while the ladies can last what seems like foreaver, (years)

no explanation why,

however, as my father progressed , he stopped eating and drinking and just kinda faded away,

his death cert read Atherosclerosis IIRC ,



semi related, he had a long term care policy, which started 90 days after he entered the home, he died on the 92nd day,
a family friend was an insurance guy, and was surprised he had the policy, since he (the friend) did not recommend one due to the stats,

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
A family member was diagnosed last month, her husband saw the signs 14 months ago.

She's 76 y.o.

One factor is that family may not treat other health issues aggressively. Treat for comfort yes, but there's no reason to try to extend life when the person is generally unhappy and does not understand what is going on most of the time.

I'm in that position with my older sister as her guardian. She has several significant long term medical issues and now shows increased signs of cognitive decline on top of lifelong cognitive problems.

My approach is very laissez-faire. There is no benefit to screening for heart disease, cancers, diabetes, or other typical old age maladies. My mother and other sister are in the other camp - take every heroic modern medical intervention against every possible medical issue in order to prolong life.

I would advise the husband of your family member to not discuss his wife's other medical situations or treatments with anybody. Learn to make vague generalizations and deflections from the topic. There will be a spectrum of strong opinions from the rest of the family (and friends) about what he should do. He is in a no-win position if others get involved.

My mom went into assisted living the very weekend 2 weeks to slow the spread began in 2020. Got covid and vaxed. In 2022 had to be moved to memory care so she couldn't wander off. She turned 84. Her mom made it to 92. My mom took care of her for 3 years and moved to Indiana in '92. Physiologically my mom is pretty healthy, minimal meds, thyroid and hypertension stuff. No consistent exercise, questionable diet, Aging in place is the biggest illusion in society I fear. Fewer families to take in their parents. Nursing homes haven't changed much in 50 years except to accept people for years instead of months. In the end, all we really are is our brain. I pray everyday to drop dead healthy as late as possible.

There is a definite, though not fully understood, link between the health of the mind and the health of the body.

The problem will run it's course with each individual. My mother lasted a number of years with it, not very comfortable or pleasant near the end. If she never had it would she have lived longer, probably, but she was already in her mid-eighties. Her brother had it, too, didn't last as long. Maybe they'll cure it one day.

Senescent Cells and Brain Aging

Senescent cells in the brain impair neurological function. Senolytic compounds can reduce the senescent cell burden.

By Brian Scott

In recent years, scientists have established that the accumulation of dysfunctional senescent cells is a factor in the development of degenerative illnesses.1,2

It was not always clear, however, what impact cellular senescence had on brain function.

Published research now indicates that senescent cells play a role in cognitive impairment and disorders such as Alzheimer’s3-5 and Parkinson’s.4,6

Studies in animal models suggest that using compounds called senolytics to eradicate senescent cells from the brain can lead to improvements in brain function and even reverse cognitive deficits.7-9

Several plant-based compounds have been identified that help remove senescent cells from the body.

How Senescent Cells Cause Disease

As cells age and degrade, they’re supposed to die off to make room for new cells. But some don’t, instead becoming dysfunctional and steadily causing damage.

These senescent cells release toxic compounds that damage nearby cells and tissues and incite damaging inflammation.

Cellular senescence is a driver of aging and risk for many age-related chronic diseases.1,2

Studies have examined the kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, bones, and other tissues. In every one of them, cellular senescence has been found to be deleterious. Scientists now know that the brain is no different. It has long been accepted that oxidative stress, inflammation, and abnormal protein deposits all contribute to brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Now, scientists have added cellular senescence to the list of neurodegenerative contributors.3-6,10

Cellular Senescence and the Brain

The brain is home to several different cell types that work together.

Neurons are the primary nerve cells of the brain that are wired together into synaptic circuits.

Other cells, including astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, have important roles such as maintaining the synaptic environment (astrocytes), functioning as the brain’s immune system (microglia), and generating the insulating myelin sheath (oligodendrocytes).

These cells work closely with neurons and are required for normal neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt to new information).11-13

Recent studies suggest that cellular senescence is a culprit in brain aging,3-6 affecting neurons and support cells that make up about 50% of the brain.10

With age, the function of all these brain cells is diminished, leading to lower levels of some neurotransmitters, impaired synaptic signaling, and more. The result is deteriorating brain function and risk for dementias.3-5

For example, preclinical and clinical studies show that abnormal deposits of beta-amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease can cause normal brain cells to shift into senescence.14,15 This has been seen in astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, which are all critical to neuronal health.16

What You Need To Know

How Senolytics Protect the Brain

As cells age and accumulate damage, they can enter a state known as cellular senescence. Senescent cells can cause dysfunction and damage throughout the body.
Senescent cells are a major driver of aging and the development of many age-related chronic diseases.
Recent research has confirmed that cellular senescence also affects the cells of the brain, including neurons.
Studies have shown that senescent cells contribute to brain aging and the progression of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
Senolytics are compounds that are capable of eliminating senescent cells, rejuvenating tissues and improving their function.
In animal models, senolytic therapy reverses the pathology associated with neurodegenerative disease and improves cognitive function.

Senolytic compounds are used to help remove senescent cells, slow certain aging processes, and rejuvenate tissues.

The objective is to selectively eliminate senescent cells while not affecting normal, healthy cells. A number of senolytics have shown promise in animal models and a clinical trial. More human trials are underway for a wide range of diseases.1,17

The investigation of senolytics for the management of age-related brain disorders has only recently begun, but has already shown promise.

Multiple preclinical studies have shown that senolytics can effectively remove senescent cells from the brain 7-9 and that this may lead to improvements in cognitive function.

One study done by the National Institute on Aging and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine explored a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.9 In these animals, cells in the vicinity of amyloid plaques show signs of cellular senescence.

Treating these animals with two senolytics, the cancer drug dasatinib and the plant compound quercetin, eliminated senescent cells, reduced brain inflammation, and lessened the load of amyloid deposits.

Most remarkably, this treatment led to a reversal of cognitive deficits.

Human trials of senolytics in adults with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease are currently underway.18,19 They are also using a dasatinib-quercetin combination, but plant-based senolytics may also prove to have brain-aging fighting benefits.

Summary

Research indicates that senescent cells play a role in brain aging and common brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

Senolytic compounds eliminate senescent cells from tissues to slow certain aging processes and reduce degenerative disease risks.

Studies in animal models reveal that senolytics can effectively remove senescent cells from the brain, reversing cognitive deficits.

Plant-Derived Senolytics

Certain plant-derived nutrients have been shown to remove senescent cells from the body.20 They work in different ways and appear to be more powerful together than they are alone.

Scientists searching for a senolytic plant compound that works in a similar way as dasatinib settled on theaflavins, polyphenols derived from black tea. They act by blocking ephrin receptors, a mechanism they share with dasatinib.22,23
Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many plants. It displays remarkable senolytic activity alone but has traditionally been used alongside the cancer drug dasatinib.20,21
Another plant flavonoid, fisetin, is the most potent plant-derived senolytic discovered to date.24,25 It has been shown to be neuroprotective in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and more.
Apigenin—found in chamomile flowers and other plants—reduces the pro-inflammatory compounds emitted by senescent cells, quenching the fire of chronic inflammation.26,27

A combination of these four nutrients attacks senescent cells from multiple angles.

https://www.lifeextension.com/...ells-and-brain-aging

Here is one product that gets rid of bad senescent cells:

https://www.lifeextension.com/.../senolytic-activator

The REAL Cause of Alzheimer's Is NOT Amyloid Plaque in the Brain

I took a course on Alzheimer’s management on-line at “Southern Technical Institute” in Orlando, Fl.
It was very informative and valuable to me in dealing with my 76 year old wife. She already had Broca’s Aphasia due to a brain bleed; the dementia has suddenly gotte progressively worse.

If you have a friend or loved one showing signs of dementia, I highly suggest getting as much education and training on how to cope as a care-giver as possible. Knowledge lends you strength to manage your own psyche.