Agoura Hills doctor remains confident about a cure for Alzheimer's

Struggling to speak through her tears, Mary Ann Holstrom told a group at Senior Concerns in Thousand Oaks earlier this month that it's difficult to watch a loved one slowly succumb to Alzheimer's disease.

The retired mental health nurse said families dealing with the disease should continue the activities they love to do.

"Do what you've always done the best you can," she said to about 20 people gathered for the Alzheimer's Association's first town hall meeting.

Sitting next to Mary Ann, Norton Holstrom, her husband of 37 years, said they enjoy jazz concerts and camping.

He told the group he's in the early stages of the disease and can function at a high level because of treatment he's receiving through a UCLA research program. He said his grandmother had Alzheimer's, called senility at the time, and he watched as the illness took its toll on his father.

"I know what's going to happen to me," Norton, 76, said.

The Holstroms, who live in the hills southeast of Simi Valley, were part of an expert panel discussion on the disorder that afflicts more than 5 million Americans.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, an umbrella term for brain cell damage resulting in the loss or decline of memory and other cognitive abilities.

Every 71 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and one in seven Americans will have the disease by age 65, according to the Alzheimer's Association website.

Neurologist James Sutton, an Agoura resident with a practice in Oxnard, said having a family member with the disease is a risk factor but current research into developing a cure appears promising.

"We're going to live to see the cure of Alzheimer's disease. It's an exciting time," said Sutton, who's participating in studies on Alzheimer's patients on the effectiveness of two new drugs—one in improving neurotransmission function and the other in reducing plaque formation in the brain. "This is something I think we're going to cure, and I want to be a part of it."

Sutton, whose grandmother had Alzheimer's, said it's hoped the new drugs will improve memory and other cognitive functions and halt the progression of the disease. For more information about the studies, call Pacific Neuroscience Medical Group at (805) 278-4148 or visit www.thisisyourbrain.com.

Psychologist Lisa Hayden, who leads Alzheimer's support groups, said caregivers must make their own mental health a priority because they tend to suffer "an exceptionally high rate" of depression.

With the life expectancy of an Alzheimer's patient as high as 20 years, "You're in for the long haul," Hayden said. "Taking care of you, if you're the caregiver, is not an option—it's a necessity."

Further stressing the need for caregivers to put their health first, Loretta Redd, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association's Central Coast Chapter, said 60 percent of caregivers die before the Alzheimer's patient.

The Holstroms said they attend a support group and have learned much from the experience.

"That's been very helpful to me. I would miss it greatly if I didn't have it," Mary Ann Holstrom said, adding, "It's still not easy."

According to the panel of experts, head injury and diabetes are risk factors for those with Alz-0heimer's. People can reduce their risk by eating vegetables and fruits and avoiding fried foods; increasing exercise routines; keeping body weight, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels; visiting a doctor regularly; maintaining relationships and a sense of humor; and engaging in mental challenges, such as learning a new language.

"Just keep using your brain," Hayden said.

If a person suspects they have Alzheimer's disease, it's critical to see a physician well versed in the signs and treatment of the disease right away, the panel said.

The Alzheimer's Association's Ventura County office, 1339 Del Norte Road in Camarillo, provides a number of supportive services, including care consultation, a 24hour hotline, educational programs and support groups.

The nonprofit's services are free, supported by grants, donations and an annual Memory Walk, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon, Sept. 27 at Ventura Harbor and 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 18, at Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks. For more information, call (805) 485-5597.