Classic Cars and Alzheimer's Disease

[adamred]

I work in pharmaceuticals on the marketing for a major new Alzheimer's drug and get a bunch of daily newsletters from the various support groups and associations and noticed this article today, thought it was nice...

CLASSIC CARS SPARKS ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS’ MEMORIES


(Source: Shelby County Reporter) – Alzheimer's patients at the Lakeview Estates Assisted Living facility in Birmingham, AL, strolled through rows of antique Oldsmobiles, Fords, Pontiacs, Buicks and Chevrolets last Saturday during a classic car show.

The Alzheimer's patients, who often retain long-term memories while short-term memories disappear, shared stories of learning how to drive their 1929 Ford and the parking lots full of such cars years ago.

Bill Cowart, a patient from the severe memory care unit, took one look at an antique Model-A Ford and spoke for the first time in months. For Cowart and others, the rest of the day was spent shuffling thru the hallways talking to one another excitedly about the cars they had seen.

The idea was the brainchild of Irene Smith and her staff, who though an antique car show might brighten the patients' spirits.

To read the full story go to shelbycountyreporter.com.

Adam

[Neilk]

I believe it. My grandmother who just died (side note- does one die of Alzheimer's or just old age/other disease?) would talk about going home. The only problem was that she hadn't been to the home she was talking about in over 70 years. I can see how seeing cars from their youth would spark their imagination.

[singpilot]

My father was diagnosed with Alzheimers at age 72. As the disease progressed, he would remember today, and then nothing until about 1980. I could discuss at length sailboat races we did then, but he couldn't remember anything after the Reagan Administration (sort of nice, actually).

He could describe every car he had ever had right up to the 1979 Olds he had. Eventually even the today memories went away.

But he loved telling about the 1971 911 that he used to run at Riverside every time he got the chance.

[ae1969]

It is truly a sad disease.

Sadly enough treatments have been costly and on the most part ineffective.

P.S Adamred are you involved in another Cholinesterase inhibitor ?

[adamred]

Hi Alex-
Nope working on the newest offering, memantine an NMDA receptor antagonist....Indicated for moderate to severe disease...

No drug out there right now is nearly enough but they do give people even just a few month to a couple of years more time and help their cargivers who rapidly become the most devistated silent victims of the disease...

Adam