From the Los Angeles Times, Santa Barbara Independent:

An 85-year-old California man who attempted to kill his ailing wife and himself last September has avoided jail, receiving a sentence of time served plus three years probation and 100 hours of community service. His wife had Alzheimer’s disease. The pair had been married since 1944.

James Wheeler was arrested after a neighbor noticed a hose running from the tailpipe of his car into the front window of his home. Wheeler told authorities that he and his wife were in the process of committing suicide. He was charged with attempted murder and elder abuse.

Mrs. Wheeler died last November from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, in a small nursing home where she had been living since the incident. Wheeler has spent a total of seven days in jail.

Wheeler’s family and friends told officials that he had acted out of love and desperation.

‘The first step is to talk openly about dementia’

From the [UK] Telegraph:

Best-selling author Terry Pratchett is urging greater awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, and says that discussing “the demon” is the only way to kill it. His remarks came at the launch of a new campaign by the Alzheimer’s Society to reverse stigma associated with dementia.

Pratchett, creator of the multi-million selling Discworld fantasy novels, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s last year and has donated £1 million to research into the disease.

“It’s a strange life when you ‘come out’ — people get embarrassed, lower their voices and get lost for words,” he said.

A report by the Alzheimer’s Society found that  people with Alzheimer’s were being left isolated and even having their diagnosis delayed as friends, relatives and doctors avoided discussing the disease.

From the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Boston Globe:

When Joe Biden suggested that opposition to stem-cell research signals less dedication to people with disabilities, he was highlighting an issue that has been energizing the GOP’s social conservatives.

The Democratic vice-presidential nominee’s comments were apparently aimed at his Republican rival, Gov. Sarah Palin.

Politics aside, stem-cell research appears to hold little promise of mitigating Down syndrome or helping those with the condition. People with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome, and “that is something that does not seem to be easily addressed with stem cells,” said Brian Skotko, whose research and medical practice at Children’s Hospital in Boston focuses on Down syndrome.

The greater potential for stem-cell technologies is as a source of replacement cells and tissues for the treatment of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, spinal-cord injury, strokes, burns, heart disease and arthritis, according to the National Institutes of Health stem-cell Web site.

An Obama spokesman said the Democrats’ support for embryonic stem cell research could provide “real hope” to families dealing with disabilities.

Sen. Obama’s plan to help Americans with disabilities includes increasing education and work opportunities, combating discrimination and supporting independent, community-based living.

USA Today announces the first in an occasional series of news stories about Bob Blackwell, a 30-year CIA veteran who has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Blackwell will also share his experiences at health.usatoday.com.

Blackwell hopes sharing his experiences will build awareness, bust a few myths and blaze new paths toward treatments and a cure: “Putting my experiences out in the light, as opposed to the dark, will help others. I don’t want the next generation to have to deal with it.”

… The Blackwells were disappointed with the lack of guidance at the time of Bob’s diagnosis. Knowing Alzheimer’s can take a path of decline that can last a decade or more and ends in death, they longed for tools to help them traverse the years ahead. “We went away feeling like it was a death sentence. The doctors could have done more than say, ‘You’ve got Alzheimer’s, here’s a website, we’ll see you in six months,’ ” Carol says.

(USA Today photo)

From USA Today:

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association reveals that many patients in the early stages of the disease say they are prematurely treated as if they are debilitated, even by close friends and relatives.

It is estimated that about 2.6 million Americans are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia that slowly destroys memory and independent functioning skills.

Among the top concerns listed by early Alzheimer’s patients:

Frustration with how the stigma and misconceptions affect their relationships.

Dissatisfaction with the medical community, including difficulties in getting the right diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.

A lack of knowledge about the availability of support services.

The prospect of relying more on friends and family to meet daily needs as memory fails.

The desire to stay involved.

Experts say the report is a clear message that people with early stage Alzheimer’s want to be treated with respect and dignity.

From the Baltimore Sun:

Public health experts say the nation needs to set up national health registries, similar to those now in place for cancer, to track trends and focus research on a long list of conditions. Among them are Alzheimer’s disease, autism, multiple sclerosis, asthma and heart disease.

Registries for birth defects are in place in only 15 states, according to the CDC. Cancer registries contain information on the age, race, gender, county of residence, diagnosis, treatment and outcome for patients across the country.

Scientists say the cancer registries have been valuable in learning the causes and trends of cancer, and in developing prevention and treatment strategies. “We also can have those benefits for other diseases,” said Thomas A. Burke, an epidemiologist and professor in the Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. “It takes political will, and it does take funding, but there’s an awful lot of interest there.”

Alzheimer’s strains home and family (Baltimore Sun) Kathleen Kovacsi was only 57, but she had advanced Alzheimer’s disease and died after wandering away from home. Her story illustrates the challenges facing families that try to take care of their loved ones without outside help — estimated at more than 50 percent of affected families. “We don’t give families caring for Alzheimer’s patients enough support,” said one expert.

Early-diagnosis blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease in development (Los Angeles Times) A blood test providing an early diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease may be available before there is a treatment for the condition. Researchers say the test could help people prepare for a future with dementia.

Drugs to reverse Alzheimer’s disease prove elusive (Los Angeles Times) Two highly anticipated medications aimed at halting Alzheimer’s disease prove disappointing after failed clinical trials. Scientists say Alzheimer’s research is at a crossroads.

Study suggests new tack in caring for Alzheimer’s patients (Chicago Tribune) Researchers say patients with Alzheimer’s disease maintain their sense of an adult identity and dislike being treated like children.