Similarities between Aspies and Alzheimer's people

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....except of course for the extreme memory loss and deterioration. Autism is a disability whereas Alzheimer's is a disease, but I'm talking about symptoms and behaviour.

But, as an Aspie, I feel similar to a person with Alzheimer's, only having everything at a certain degree and not getting worse (obviously my brain isn't rotting). The reason why I think this is because I have a close relative with diagnosed Alzheimer's, and she needs routine and a familiar environment, otherwise she will become confused and angry. I feel I become confused and angry (not intensely) when I don't have a routine or familiar environment too.

Also, she gets very agitated and stressed when there are too many people in her home, and so do I. She was NT, but is now losing her ability to socialise normally, and comes out with stupid things, and drifts off into a world of her own. Obviously I was born with lack of ability to socialise normally and always saying stupid things, (except I don't drift off into a world of my own).

Also she has her mind fixed onto one thing and cannot talk of anything else but repeatively this one thing. I know her reason is different, because she forgets that she's said it before, whereas with me I don't forget that I've said about my obsession, I just get so excited about it that I want the spotlight to be onto my obsession.

Also, she needs to be prompted with putting her shoes and coat on, and brushing her hair. I don't need to be prompted, but I do need to make myself a list to stick up on the wall saying what checks I should do, like checking if there is any sleep in my eyes, or any dried skin on lips, et cetera, otherwise I will forget and go out looking like a zombie.

OK, she is incontinent now, whereas I am not. She also cannot wash herself any more, and she can't do other things that I can do. She needs 24-hour care now, whereas I only need a little help at certain times, example like looking for work, et cetera. Those are the differences, and obviously she is getting ill, whereas I am as healthy as anyone else, except I have a condition that holds me back and makes mundane part of life more challenging for me.

Anyone agree with this? Do you know a relative or friend with Alzheimer's, and do you feel you can relate to them at times?

Alzheimer's effects the brain profoundly. It basically makes the retrieval function of the brain from Long to short to working memory obsolete. With aspergers and autism we have something similar I postulate, it's as if there is too much working memory and it's difficult to integrate our thoughts because our brains are very active.

My grandmother has Alzheimer's too but my dad thinks she may have had AS but it's hard to tell now because of the disease she has now. But she has these pictures in her bathroom too that tell her how to go to the bathroom or how to wash her hands or brush her teeth. Just something that autistic people also have. My grandmother never had that before her disease until it got bad.

I have noticed they share similar characteristics. I have noticed the same with babies and toddlers too and autism. They both share similar characteristics except the difference is they outgrow it and the ones who don't outgrow it or need to be taught the skills or learn it late in life or outgrow it late in life, is why they call it a developmental disorder.

My Nanny had it. I couldn't relate to her very well at all.

Interesting topic, I'd never thought of that!! But of course the possible similarities between AS and Alzheimers are misleading, because AS is a lifelong condition with both positive and negative aspects, while Alzheimers is a debilitating, humiliating disease that only ever ends in death after years of suffering.

Another crucial difference is that Alzheimer's leads to the loss of the sufferer's ability to think, remember things, recall memories, recognise people, etc. etc.. It's just downright horrible for everyone, while AS does have some benefits. But I know you already know that

It seems a reach. Alzheimers patients are severely debilitated by the neurofibrils and tangles in the neurons that are destroying their brains. AS sufferers show no sign of degenerative brain disease.

I never said the conditions were similar. I was making a point about the behaviours coming out in similar ways but for different reasons.

To anyone unfortunate enough to suffer this horrible condition (the way I see it) it sort of brings the person full circle.

Starting out as a baby/infant needs constant care and attention, not knowing what's going on.

With Alzheimers, you sadly end that way.

I've not really been around many people with the condition, but I know enough about it to know that it's horrible for the loved ones, just as much as the poor so and so who's suffering with it.

I hope I (or anyone on WP) doesn't fall unwell with this condition, otherwise it's full circle.

I hope I don't either. Alzheimer's is a very cruel condition, because the relative I know who has Alzheimer's is healthy physically, but is slowly losing her physical health because her brain isn't working to it's full extent any more, and so she can't think to get up and make herself something to eat or get up and go to the toilet. She has lost a lot of weight, even though she is being fed. But she isn't eating properly.

I cry for her a lot of nights. So does the rest of her close family.

I've actually thought about this a lot.

I can't say that I relate much to someone with Alzheimer's, but I have wondered if they could be related conditions.

Schizophrenia is most likely genetically linked with autism and is also a condition with a later onset.

I wonder if Alzheimer's patients are seen frequently in families with autistic or schizophrenic members, as well.