topic Re: Alzheimer’s Prevention in Community Chat

23 and me DNA heath testing

Mermaid22 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:06:54 GMT

I recently sent off my specimen for testing.

One of the tests is for early onset Alzheimer’s. I really have not given this much thought before now. I’m nervous but at the same time want to find out the results when they ar available. The reason for my nerves is because I am finally realizing that my mother did have “ dementia, Alzheimer’s type”. She passed away at 87 from a complexity of health issues after living in a nursing home for 5 years. She had some early signs starting around 80 years old. I sort of dismissed them as we didn’t live near each other and I was busy working, raising my family etc.

im now retired and like many people I am revisiting certain issues and the past. Has anyone had a similar experience such as this? I would like to hear from anyone who can relate to this.

PLEASE- I don’t want this to be about the merits of DNA privacy or the merits of finding out the test results or not. Again, I would love to hear from anyone who has a family history and decided to test for the marker. If you tested positive, are you doing anything with the results? How are you coping? Thanks!

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

Lilysmom — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:20:00 GMT

@Mermaid22, if your mom had Alzheimer’s at 80, she didn’t have early onset. That starts much younger. I lost my sister at the age of 59 to this disease. See below...LM

Early-onset Alzheimer's is an uncommon form of dementia that strikes people younger than age 65. Of all the people who have Alzheimer's disease, about 5 percent develop symptoms before age 65. So if 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, at least 200,000 people have the early-onset form of the disease.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

seaBreeze — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:20:45 GMT

I believe genetic testing is key to understanding if one is predisposed to a disease. Keep in mind the chances are usually 10-20 percent that any disease could in fact occur to a descendant (unless it is Huntingdon's that is always 50%). In the case of my family which cancer and heart disease is high .... I blame it on poor eating habits, smoking .... not genetics.

So if a negative result is rendered, various dietary protocols can be used to keep that disease at bay. Best wishes on your results.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

grandma r — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:21:06 GMT

I did do this testing also, for the same reason. Luckily there are no markers for Alzeheimer's for me. The test did state a number of matches (relatives) for me, however, I opted not to explore any further.

I hope you get the answers you want.

Alzheimer’s Prevention

sidsmom — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:29:15 GMT

A good friend, Karla Freeze, lost 200+ with the primary reason

of her Mom developing signs of Alzheimer’s. Karla wanted to

prevent developing this at any means...and here’s her story.

You can Google ‘Karla Freeze’ and many podcasts & interviews

will pop up. Her story is very relatable...even if you’re not

morbidly obese.

Research with Alzheimer’s has started labeling it “Diabetes 3”.

The same treatment to reverse Type 2 Diabetes is the same

treatment for Alzheimer’s prevention....

Low Fat Whole Food Plant Based Diet

Hopefully Karla’s story will inspire you & anyone reading!

🌼💛

https://youtu.be/OGZrOZOUQ2k

Re: Alzheimer’s Prevention

Laura14 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 18:33:24 GMT

With all due respect, that protocol is absolutely incorrect and I can not stress that enough for anyone who is seriously dealing with this issue.

Look up Dr. Dale Bredesen and any other scientist doing work with APOE4 gene carriers (the marker for Alzheimers) and they recommend exactly the opposite and are reversing early symptoms of Alzheimers with a version of Keto and Mediterranean diets which are high in olive oil and other monounsaturated fats. And yes they have the clinical data to prove it if you are interested.

@Mermaid22 I am who you are speaking of so let me be extremely frank and honest with you with what I've learned.

First of all, IF anything comes back on you, you are not set in stone to develop Alzheimers. It just means there are things you can do to stop those genes from turning on and the disease from developing.

Many people with Alzheimers have no genetic marker and many do. Any of us who live past 85 have a 50-50 shot at it no matter what your DNA says.

I will tell you and anyone looking to get their genetic testing done, it is not for the faint of heart. You can have zero history of Alzheimers in your family and still carry a marker for it. That information can and will weigh heavily on you. But, knowledge is power and the sooner you start a protocol to help you if you are in a high risk group, the better you will be.

Re: Alzheimer’s Prevention

Laura14 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 18:15:51 GMT

@Mermaid22 I will also add if you are not a reader or want something more instantaneous, google APOE 4 on youtube and lots of presentations about protocol for APOE 4 carriers come up and they are very well done too. Dr. Dale Bredesen and Dr. Steve Gundry have some good ones.

Re: Alzheimer’s Prevention

sidsmom — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 19:03:35 GMT

Just look to any Blue Zones area w/ small amounts of

degenerative diseases. Those people live longer, fruitful lives

and their diet is basically the same:

Mostly Fruits/Vegetables/Starches & beans/legumes.

What it is Not:

A Keto diet is up to 70% Fat...and it’s a very new concept

which developed from treating epileptic children/adults.

A Mediterranean Diet is mostly fruits/vegetables/beans,

not the glug-glug-glug of massive amount of modern day oils.

The Mediterranean Diet succeeds because of the large amounts

of produce & beans. In the past, if people wanted olive fat,

they ate olives...not pour out amts of oil with no nutritional value.

And we don’t need a test to find this out...all people should be

eating a plant-based diets low in fat for long, richful lives.

Re: Alzheimer’s Prevention

Laura14 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:02:09 GMT

@sidsmom I am very well aware that you espouse and are very passionate about your particular nutritional information.

But I have never seen you say you have studied the APOE 4 gene and the protocols that current researchers are proving works for patients with neurological diseases including Alzheimers.

Brain cells work best on ketones which are produced with high fat diets (multiple studies show that) and the mediterranean vegetables and plant foods you recommend are drenched in olive oil which is a monunsaturated oil highly beneficial to those with brain defecits.

Since I have a personal vested interest in this with my family, I have done nothing but study the recent research and clinical studies that have come out over the past 6 months and followed the leading scientists. Of this, I know.

You are correct that you can reverse a lot of symptoms of diseases with diet and nutrition. I applaud you for that. But for brain diseases, your nutritional guidance is inaccurate based on recent science and frankly potentially harmful.

I ask you to please think about making your statements about the diet you love so much on topics where the evidence is a little more up in the air.

I agree with every bit of it for most people. For this particular disease, science shows at present it is not appropriate.

Re: Alzheimer’s Prevention

sidsmom — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:16:55 GMT

@Laura14

All the current little 100yr old Asian ladies & gents are giggling.

’We don’t need no stinkin’ study’

Primary diet of plants, beans and little fat.

We should all lead by their example.

ETA.

Anything which increase blood flow is good.

Animal products/byproducts, oils & even high amts of plant fat

slow the blood & cause inflammation. It’s common sense.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

mom2four0418 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:18:45 GMT

@Mermaid22 wrote:
I recently sent off my specimen for testing.
One of the tests is for early onset Alzheimer’s. I really have not given this much thought before now. I’m nervous but at the same time want to find out the results when they ar available. The reason for my nerves is because I am finally realizing that my mother did have “ dementia, Alzheimer’s type”. She passed away at 87 from a complexity of health issues after living in a nursing home for 5 years. She had some early signs starting around 80 years old. I sort of dismissed them as we didn’t live near each other and I was busy working, raising my family etc.
im now retired and like many people I am revisiting certain issues and the past. Has anyone had a similar experience such as this? I would like to hear from anyone who can relate to this.
PLEASE- I don’t want this to be about the merits of DNA privacy or the merits of finding out the test results or not. Again, I would love to hear from anyone who has a family history and decided to test for the marker. If you tested positive, are you doing anything with the results? How are you coping? Thanks!

If you get troubling results back, seek out a medical doctor with a specialty in Alzheimers. Best to avoid the "advice" of dueling posters on a shopping channel forum. Best of luck to you.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

ellaphant — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:29:48 GMT

@seaBreeze wrote:
I believe genetic testing is key to understanding if one is predisposed to a disease. Keep in mind the chances are usually 10-20 percent that any disease could in fact occur to a descendant (unless it is Huntingdon's that is always 50%). In the case of my family which cancer and heart disease is high .... I blame it on poor eating habits, smoking .... not genetics.

So if a negative result is rendered, various dietary protocols can be used to keep that disease at bay. Best wishes on your results.

Sea breaze- you are not a doctor and there is ZERO scientific eveidence that any foods/diet keeps diseases 'at bay'. You are irresponsible and flat out WRONG to post this.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

Laura14 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:32:01 GMT

@Mermaid22, in regards to @mom2four0418, it's great common sense advice but a word of warning.

If you come back with an Alzheimer's marker and it is entered into your medical records, it can cause you issues with insurance and possible other long term care benefits.

Just be very careful about that since there is currently no law protecting you from insurers who will choose to disqualify you if they are able to access your medical records.

It's a horrible reality but one to be aware of.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

NicksmomESQ — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:33:59 GMT

JMO but I personally don’t believe in testing to see if your genes are predisposed for Alzheimer’s, or any kind of cancer.DH & I decided that we don’t want to know what are chances are of getting these diseases because the information would impact our quality of life.

There is something to be said in “ignorance is bliss”.It’s one thing to go for regular health screenings.It’s quite another to test your DNA searching for possibilities.Life is to short for that.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

SeaMaiden — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:38:54 GMT

@Mermaid22 I had the same test as you. When I got the DNA test results back, I decided NOT to find out what the test said. There was another test I think for Parkinson's as well....I declined to open that test result too.

I always can at a later date open up the results.........but I decided at this time I just did not want to WORRY the rest of my life about the results if they were not good results.....

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

Laura14 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:49:58 GMT

@ellaphant That is actually incorrect based on what I have previously posted especially with Alzheimers.

I am done posting in this thread since I've made my point and it's becoming off topic.

This is a subject I am well versed in and it's tough to watch misinformation being put out there when the right information could actually help someone or someone's loved ones.

It's one thing to disagree. It's another to sneer at even the possibility of there being a better, scientifically studied way. When we are posting that anything that increases blood flow is good, actual patients who have high blood pressure or the experience of a stroke will tell you differently.

We all remain ignorant and far worse off if we do not keep learning and adusting our knowledge base from time to time when science says we should.

@Mermaid22 If you have any questions about the experience of testing and the protocols that are currently recommended for carriers, I'll be happy to answer them as per your original topic.

My apologies for getting involved in other things for a topic that is beyond personal when you really go through it. I know it's tough when a positive test result comes back for anything, expected or not. I hope you have a negative result and this can be a true non-issue for you.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

tsavorite — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:56:16 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@ellaphant That is actually incorrect based on what I have previously posted especially with Alzheimers.

I am done posting in this thread since I've made my point and it's becoming off topic.

This is a subject I am well versed in and it's tough to watch misinformation being put out there when the right information could actually help someone or someone's loved ones.

It's one thing to disagree. It's another to sneer at even the possibility of there being a better, scientifically studied way. When we are posting that anything that increases blood flow is good, actual patients who have high blood pressure or the experience of a stroke will tell you differently.

We all remain ignorant and far worse off if we do not keep learning and adusting our knowledge base from time to time when science says we should.

@Mermaid22 If you have any questions about the experience of testing and the protocols that are currently recommended for carriers, I'll be happy to answer them as per your original topic.

My apologies for getting involved in other things for a topic that is beyond personal when you really go through it. I know it's tough when a positive test result comes back for anything, expected or not. I hope you have a negative result and this can be a true non-issue for you.

I have thought about doing this testing...maybe sometime in the future I will....@laura14 I enjoy reading about your journey and information as I also have looked into this area trying to understand what is going on with all the different diets and how they are helping various diseases.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

Mermaid22 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 21:26:17 GMT

@Lilysmom wrote:
@Mermaid22, if your mom had Alzheimer’s at 80, she didn’t have early onset. That starts much younger. I lost my sister at the age of 59 to this disease. See below...LM

Early-onset Alzheimer's is an uncommon form of dementia that strikes people younger than age 65. Of all the people who have Alzheimer's disease, about 5 percent develop symptoms before age 65. So if 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, at least 200,000 people have the early-onset form of the disease.

Thank you so much for your reply- yes I meant the test is for late onset. I’m terribly sorry about your sister!

Re: Alzheimer’s Prevention

Mermaid22 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 21:28:12 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
With all due respect, that protocol is absolutely incorrect and I can not stress that enough for anyone who is seriously dealing with this issue.

Look up Dr. Dale Bredesen and any other scientist doing work with APOE4 gene carriers (the marker for Alzheimers) and they recommend exactly the opposite and are reversing early symptoms of Alzheimers with a version of Keto and Mediterranean diets which are high in olive oil and other monounsaturated fats. And yes they have the clinical data to prove it if you are interested.

@Mermaid22 I am who you are speaking of so let me be extremely frank and honest with you with what I've learned.

First of all, IF anything comes back on you, you are not set in stone to develop Alzheimers. It just means there are things you can do to stop those genes from turning on and the disease from developing.

Many people with Alzheimers have no genetic marker and many do. Any of us who live past 85 have a 50-50 shot at it no matter what your DNA says.

I will tell you and anyone looking to get their genetic testing done, it is not for the faint of heart. You can have zero history of Alzheimers in your family and still carry a marker for it. That information can and will weigh heavily on you. But, knowledge is power and the sooner you start a protocol to help you if you are in a high risk group, the better you will be.

Thank you so much for your reply, you have helped me immensely.

Re: 23 and me DNA heath testing

Mermaid22 — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 21:36:38 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@ellaphant That is actually incorrect based on what I have previously posted especially with Alzheimers.

I am done posting in this thread since I've made my point and it's becoming off topic.

This is a subject I am well versed in and it's tough to watch misinformation being put out there when the right information could actually help someone or someone's loved ones.

It's one thing to disagree. It's another to sneer at even the possibility of there being a better, scientifically studied way. When we are posting that anything that increases blood flow is good, actual patients who have high blood pressure or the experience of a stroke will tell you differently.

We all remain ignorant and far worse off if we do not keep learning and adusting our knowledge base from time to time when science says we should.

@Mermaid22 If you have any questions about the experience of testing and the protocols that are currently recommended for carriers, I'll be happy to answer them as per your original topic.

My apologies for getting involved in other things for a topic that is beyond personal when you really go through it. I know it's tough when a positive test result comes back for anything, expected or not. I hope you have a negative result and this can be a true non-issue for you.

I appreciate your candid replies and have actually investigated some of your advice a few days ago. I found a website where people who show the #4 markers can get information, advice and support . Thank you