Battle Over the Mind

“As in the natural, so in the spiritual world: every

power unused will weaken and decay. Activity is the

law of life; idleness is death. ‘The manifestation of

the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.’ 1

Corinthians 12:7. Employed to bless others, his gifts

increase. Shut up to self-serving they diminish, and

are finally withdrawn. He who refuses to impart that

which he has received will at last find that he has

nothing to give. He is consenting to a process that

surely dwarfs and finally destroys the faculties of the

soul.” (COL, p. 364)

Alzheimer’sDisease

•Early onset•Normal onset•60% of dementia diagnoses

DEMENTIA

Vascular(Multi-infarct)

Dementia

Lewy Body Dementia

Other Dementias•Metabolic•Drugs/toxic•White matter disease•Mass effects•Depression•Infections•Parkinson’s

z Fronto-Temporal

Lobe Dementia

• It is NOT part of normal aging! It is a disease• It is more than just forgetfulness • It makes independent life impossible

7. Misplacing things and losing ability to retrace steps

8. Decreased or poor judgment

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

10. Changes in mood and personality

1. Memory Loss that disrupts daily life

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work, or at leisure

4. Confusion with time or place

5. Trouble understanding visual images & spatial relationships

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

• It's not often recognized that dementia is a fatal disease.

• Avg. course of disease post-dx: 7-8 years (range from 4-20)

Dementia is FATAL!

Once considered a rare disorder, Alzheimer’s disease is now seen as a major public health problem that is seriously affecting millions of older Americans and their families.

Current Estimate: 4.5 million AD patients by 2050, 11.5-16 million

6th leading cause of death in the United States today

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

A progressive disease of the brain that eventually destroys memory and thinking skills

It eventually leads to the loss of carrying out the simplest tasks

Today’s modern medicines offer no reversal or cures

Eventually the Medicines or Treatments that are available stop working

What is Alzheimer’s Disease? -Causes

Age

Certain Genes

Abnormal

Protein

Deposits in the

Brain

Environmental Factors

Other Risk Factors /Lifestyle

Immune System Problems

Neuron degeneration/death• First in hippocampus, then goes to rest of brain• Brain mass shrinks

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?: Physical Changes

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?: Chemical Changes

• Hallmark abnormalities are deposits of theprotein fragment beta-amyloid (plaques)and twisted strands of the protein tau

(tangles).

Interferes with nerve cell signal transmissionReduced production of certain

neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) which are necessary for communication between nerve cells

What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Chemical Changes

G. Small, UCLA School of Medicine.

NormalEarly

Alzheimer’s

Late Alzheimer’s Child

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) AD Progression vs. Normal Brains

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?: Functional Changes

Disease process can begin in the brain several years before known symptoms began to surface

Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain and cannot be reasoned with

Disease and Symptoms are Progressive

Cannot be cured by man’s medical interventions

Prevention is key

“As in the natural, so in the spiritual world: every

power unused will weaken and decay. Activity is the

law of life; idleness is death. ‘The manifestation of the

Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.’

1 Corinthians 12:7. Employed to bless others, his gifts

increase. Shut up to self-serving they diminish, and

are finally withdrawn. He who refuses to impart that

which he has received will at last find that he has

nothing to give. He is consenting to a process that

surely dwarfs and finally destroys the faculties of the

soul.” (COL, p. 364)

Carnal-Mindedness

Process can begin in the mind several years before known warning signs begin to surface

Cannot be reasoned with

Progressive

Cannot be cured by man’s interventions

Prevention is key