Age related diseases.

Re: Age related deceases.

steingar said:
Has this fellow been to see an MD? What you're describing is awfully quick, even for rapid onset Alzheimers. There are other treatable disorders that can result in dementia.
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Brain cancer will do the same thing. One day all is well and the next day you can't find your way around your own house.

The problem (usually) with brain cancer is when you have the symptoms it's usually to late (stage 4).

Anyone who starts having strange behavior needs to have an MRI ASAP.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Tom-D said:
6 weeks ago this guy was winning hand after hand at poker night, driving his car, doing his daily errands, and passed his BFR.

Friday the local police brought him home he was walking the dog and got lost 2 blocks from the house.

this is the second guy in 6 months that I know personally that has been effected this way.

Ugly, simply ugly.
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What ever it is, condolances.
 
Sad, but the demographics of the Country say we'll be seeing a lot more of this than "usual".
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Rotor&Wing said:
Brain cancer will do the same thing. One day all is well and the next day you can't find your way around your own house.

The problem (usually) with brain cancer is when you have the symptoms it's usually to late (stage 4).

Anyone who starts having strange behavior needs to have an MRI ASAP.
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Anything that sufficiently restricts blood flow to the CNS will have similar presentation, as I understand it.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Tom-D said:
The friends that know the pilot in question all feel he has quick on set Alzheimer's. When we all compare note we pretty much know it.

His kids have now taken his keys away. So, I feel it's a family matter and will leave the decisions up to them.

thanks Bruce for the address. That's what I really needed.
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Sorry you have to deal with this Tom. You have a tough decision to make, but in reality it is easy.

TomD, you are being a good friend.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

bbchien said:
Yes there is. We call this "gradual cognitive impairment". But you will have to go on record as raising the issue, in writing.

Send the accusation and the airman's name, and address, to Dr. Courtney Scott, Chief, Aeromedical Certification, PO Box 26200, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

He will demand a cognitive evaluation. These are frightfully expensive- about three cylinder kits' worth. Most aimren of that age, when confronted with the demand, simply send in their medical certificates.

The airman in question will be able under FOIA to obtain your complaint and name.

So, choose carefully. If you do it, do it out of love and with no regrets.

Of course, you could also just get a bunch of guys together and meet him in his hangar.....
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Say Doc, can I turn in people for voting the way they do? It is called "gradual cognitive impairment by voting for the same knuckleheads they always do!" :rofl:

Okay, never mind. :rolleyes:

;)
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Lost my mother-in-law to Alzheimers a number of years ago. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Best of luck to you and your friends, Tom.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

steingar said:
Has this fellow been to see an MD? What you're describing is awfully quick, even for rapid onset Alzheimers. There are other treatable disorders that can result in dementia.
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This deserves to be foot stomped.

Please please please try to get your friend evaluated for the other causes of these symptoms. Most are treatable if not curable.

Hopefully it's not Alzheimer's or dementia.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Tom-D said:
6 weeks ago this guy was winning hand after hand at poker night, driving his car, doing his daily errands, and passed his BFR.

Friday the local police brought him home he was walking the dog and got lost 2 blocks from the house.

this is the second guy in 6 months that I know personally that has been effected this way.
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The list of things that can cause a rapid decline like this contains a couple of reversible items. Medical certification issues aside, has this person been evaluated by a neurologist or psychiatrist ?
 
Re: Age related deceases.

No Worries, the family will take good care. I have no control of this
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Tom-D said:
When and how would raise the "enough" flag on a friend?

what's the proper way to do that?
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It's really a difficult call as there are so many variables involved.

The first thing to consider is what is the condition set and is there any risk to self or others? Next question is "What can be done about it?" Lots of conditions are either untreatable, or as often in geriatric cases, the treatment causes more problems than the condition.

Next thing is to look at their quality of life and consider the differences to that in a home; some people will be better off, some worse.

Then there is the condition itself, 'what is it and is anyone positive?'

Good luck with making the call.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Bob Noel said:
This deserves to be foot stomped.

Please please please try to get your friend evaluated for the other causes of these symptoms. Most are treatable if not curable.

Hopefully it's not Alzheimer's or dementia.
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Thank you, I'm going through a bit of this with my dad right now. Mom thinks Alzheimer's, doc says Alzheimer's, but all I'm seeing is forgetting. I saw a good bit of Alzheimer's when my ex wife's grandpa had it, he eventually needed a home or he would end up dead on the ranch living out his life of delusion (it was my personal thought to let exactly that happen when they were looking at homes). In the home I saw a lot of others similar. I don't see any personality changes or poor decision making. He decided to give up driving because he would forget his way around.

Personally I see Alzheimer's as the geriatric version of ADD, way over diagnosed for the condition set.
 
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Re: Age related deceases.

Henning said:
Thank you, I'm going through a bit of this with my dad right now. Mom thinks Alzheimer's, doc says Alzheimer's, but all I'm seeing is forgetting. I saw a good bit of Alzheimer's when my ex wife's grandpa had it, he eventually needed a home or he would end up dead on the ranch living out his life of delusion (it was my personal thought to let exactly that happen when they were looking at homes). In the home I saw a lot of others similar. I don't see any personality changes or poor decision making. He decided to give up driving because he would forget his way around.
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Different people respond differently. Alzheimer's impacts different longterm memory but definitely degrades cognative abilities.

Personality impacts partially result from the emtional distress of not knowing what's going on and not understanding why they can't remember things.

My mother passed away Jan 2011 from Alzheimer's. My mother and father lived with me for almost three years, until we were no longer able to care for her. The Alzheimer's progressed to the point where she would no longer accept help.


Henning said:
Personally I see Alzheimer's as the geriatric version of ADD, way over diagnosed for the condition set.
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My own impression is that many people suffer from denial of the symptoms and therefore don't get help early enough in the disease progressiion.

http://www.alz.org/

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp

One very gross measure is: its ok to forget to forget a phone number. But forgetting what the phone is for is a significant symptom (and generally indicates later stages of alzheimer's).
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Bob Noel said:
My own impression is that many people suffer from denial of the symptoms and therefore don't get help early enough in the disease progressiion.

http://www.alz.org/

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp

One very gross measure is: its ok to forget to forget a phone number. But forgetting what the phone is for is a significant symptom (and generally indicates later stages of alzheimer's).
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That's just it, it's been >7 years and I'm still not seeing progression into the "not ok" issues. He understands when he's forgetting even and has none of the personality issues.:dunno:
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Henning said:
That's just it, it's been >7 years and I'm still not seeing progression into the "not ok" issues. He understands when he's forgetting even and has none of the personality issues.:dunno:
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Even so, there is no such thing as good age related dementia. That said, if his condition is sufficiently benign, his situation needn't change. You just have to keep an eye on it, to make certain he doesn't endanger himself.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Man, so I'm here at the Aerospace Medicine Assn. meeting at the Hilton in ATL. The hot topic is age related gradual congnitive decline, and what you can do in the office for a quick and "dirty" assessment.

One of the AMEs pointed out that the workload of single pilot IFR in bad weather is probably cognitive higher than multicrew part 121, and that the eval is not all "medical". As he was describing the tasks, I was thinking, "that's me". Checkout Flightaware for N 32755 this early AM. I couldn't get a room for the Saturday overnight (a Sunday 9AM session was added late). Crappy weather, 0330 AM departure, 3 hour flight, ending in an approach in 500-3.

Then I'm thinking, "why do I do that?".....sigh.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

How long are you in town for? Hope you parked at Epps! :wink2: (that is where I work)
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Dave, I was at Epps. I legged outta there to home last night about 6PM :)
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Geico266 said:
Fess up Tom, did someone tell you to take Viagra? :rofl:
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LOL. Viagra no longer works for me. I am going pneumatic. Anyone has tried it? I heard that without without the pressure relieve valve you could accidentally mistake joysticks at altitude.:yikes:

José
 
Re: Age related deceases.

bbchien said:
Man, so I'm here at the Aerospace Medicine Assn. meeting at the Hilton in ATL. The hot topic is age related gradual congnitive decline, and what you can do in the office for a quick and "dirty" assessment.

One of the AMEs pointed out that the workload of single pilot IFR in bad weather is probably cognitive higher than multicrew part 121, and that the eval is not all "medical". As he was describing the tasks, I was thinking, "that's me". Checkout Flightaware for N 32755 this early AM. I couldn't get a room for the Saturday overnight (a Sunday 9AM session was added late). Crappy weather, 0330 AM departure, 3 hour flight, ending in an approach in 500-3.

Then I'm thinking, "why do I do that?".....sigh.
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I quit doing that stuff several years ago, I fly for fun, approaches to 500-3 are not fun.

Our friend has a inoperable brain tumor, I saw him yesterday, he's on a morphine drip, and does not know anyone.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Tom-D said:
I quit doing that stuff several years ago, I fly for fun, approaches to 500-3 are not fun.

Our friend has a inoperable brain tumor, I saw him yesterday, he's on a morphine drip, and does not know anyone.
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Wow. That's tough. on everyone. Sorry for your loss, Tom.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

Tom-D said:
Ya just remember, none of us will get out of here alive.
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I think you become a permanent resident after you pass away wih no taxes obligation.

José
 
Sorry to hear that Tom. Terrible way to go. My Father-in-law started slurring his speech one day and was gone within two months. Lost the use of his right side along the way. I guess it would have been worse if it dragged out longer.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

bbchien said:
Dave, I was at Epps. I legged outta there to home last night about 6PM :)
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I saw your plane on the ramp in the morning and saw that it was gone when I got back from my flight that night. Hope my coworkers took good care of you.

Maybe I'll run into you next time you are in town.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

They did indeed. Tell them I said so.

And I find it amazing that Pat Epps is still there everyday. Amazing.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

bbchien said:
They did indeed. Tell them I said so.

And I find it amazing that Pat Epps is still there everyday. Amazing.
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I will pass that on.

Not only is he there every day, he is still a quite actve pilot. Although this is the first year he didn't fly his aerobatic Bonanza routine in the local airshow. He will still take it up and play, just not doing it low level any more. (see, I brought my thread hijack back to the original topic)
 
Ugh. So sorry.

The organic causes (tumor, strokes, poisoning) of mental decline tend to become clear after a short time.
 
Re: Age related deceases.

bbchien said:
Man, so I'm here at the Aerospace Medicine Assn. meeting at the Hilton in ATL. The hot topic is age related gradual congnitive decline, and what you can do in the office for a quick and "dirty" assessment.

One of the AMEs pointed out that the workload of single pilot IFR in bad weather is probably cognitive higher than multicrew part 121, and that the eval is not all "medical". As he was describing the tasks, I was thinking, "that's me". Checkout Flightaware for N 32755 this early AM. I couldn't get a room for the Saturday overnight (a Sunday 9AM session was added late). Crappy weather, 0330 AM departure, 3 hour flight, ending in an approach in 500-3.

Then I'm thinking, "why do I do that?".....sigh.
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Because you fly too high AGL...:D;)

Besides, it's perfect camping weather and with the back seats removed, you can put a nice bed back there and still have middle seats. Some foils in the windows and you're set.
 
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