Dementia and Guam Research

[Guest guest]

Louise,

No native monkeys on Guam and as far as I no tame monkeys that have gotten

loose and into the wild. Guam is well known for having a large pocket of a

disease called locally Lytico-Bodig. It is similar to Parkinson's and is

now classified as Parkinson's Plus. My secretary at the time that I came to

Guam had four brothers who had the disease. In some ways it may be worse,

if possible, than MSA. The disease appears to only affect members of the

local population (Chamorro). The disease seemed to spread after WWII but

today appears to be dying out. A number of distinguished researchers have

come to Guam over the years from the US (and from Japan where there is

another pocket of the disease). The hope was that given the tight

population configuration and the ability to track where people were born

that the cause of Parkinson's could be discovered using demographic studies.

No such good fortune for humankind. Now an extended study using genetic

markers is being carried out by another group of researchers from the US.

The quest of course is to go where the human mind has never gone before. A

Nobel prize waits the person who gets there first. Like all the Parkinson's

plus diseases, the causative agents remain elusive.

Peg brought her Shy-Drager / MSA to Guam with her. Given what is known

about Lytico-Bodig it is highly unlikely that anyone who comes to Guam can

be affected directly by the disease. The advantage for Peg is that she has

access to some famous researchers who would not normally be available in a

small population (about 150,000) like Guam. While there are no cures, they

have been helpful in diagnosing her disease and helpful in suggesting

various configurations of medicines.

I cam to Guam to help rebuild the business office at the local community

college. Peg, for at least a few years, continued her career as a professor

of nursing at the local university.

We are all sorry that you and your loved one have to be " here. "

Unfortunately there are no magic cures for this disease. If we can help in

any way, let us know.

Peg and Jim from Guam

Message: 20

Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 13:05:34 -0600

Subject: Dementia and Guam Research

Hi Peg and Jim, In long ago better days husband Jan spent two years

army draft time on Guam. Doubt he ate Indian food but did get monkey

bites. Jan's dementia and paralysis are near complete , other msa systems

near shutdown and if you've info on current research progress or contacts

I'd love to know. Where are you from stateside or otherwise and why Guam?

LA Louise

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*** Peg & Jim

*** # 29 Cruz Heights

*** Ipan-Talofofo, Guam 96930-4736

*** USA

***

*** Note: Guam is 15 hours ahead of

*** Eastern Standard Time (EST).

*** 14 ahead of EDT.

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