Alzheimer's.

[sandyRoe]

If someone dies of Alzheimer's is it because the brain stops instructing some vital bodily function to continue its work?

[barry1010]

Yes 

[naomi24]

https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/how-does-dementia-cause-death/

 

[sandyRoe]

Thank you both.

Not the happiest question for a bright Spring morning.

[naomi24]

It's a truly cruel disease.

[Patsy33]

That makes a lot of sense. Always wondered about this.

[brainiac]

Dementia (in all its forms) is now the biggest killer in the UK, a frightening statistic.  I'm doing a charity walk in the summer to aid the Alzheimer's Society, in memory of a friend who died in February.

https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/dementia-is-the-uks-biggest-killer-we-need-political-action-to-save-lives/

[sandyRoe]

brainaic

I'm sure some here in AB would like to donate.

Have you a link?

[brainiac]

Yes, have a JustGiving page, but has my full name, so would rather not post link here.

[sandyRoe]

OK.  That's sensible.

[ladybirder]

Sandy there is a Donate page on Naomi's link.

I think I have this but would rather not know.

[Peter Pedant]

they just drift away

[sandyRoe]

"they just drift away"

At the end, perhaps, but the journey there can be harrowing for all concerned.

 

[DTCwordfan]

they don't die three or four times as per the Alzheimer's Society ad - I hate that ad and 3500 others, apparently, complained to OffCom...  I took up the cudgels with somebody I know within the organisation and we agreed to disagree. My argument is that it gives the completely wrong impression as sufferers lose functionality but they don't die. They put the ad out so as to shock people into giving...... While I can understand it, I don't agree with their stance.

[naomi24]

Alzheimer's doesn't affect all sufferers in the same way.  It has many faces.

[douglas9401]

Seems there are fewer and fewer ends that don't involve dementia or cancer.

Is this desire to make people hang around just because we can a good thing? Especially when we apparently can't afford the care.

Sometimes I despair of and despise medicine and it's practicioners.

[sandyRoe]

We all have to go somehow.  Advances in medical science, better hygiene, and a higher standard of living, mean those diseases that might have carried off our great grandparents are rare now.  Cancers and dementia might be the price we pay for a few more years.

[jno]

some of my more elderly ancestors have "decay of nature" or "senile decay" given as the cause of their death. It's always been a problem but not nearly as many used to live long enough to become senile.