Sandra Day O'Connor Makes Alzheimer's Plea

(CBS/AP)  Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor took her family's private battle with Alzheimer's disease public Wednesday as she urged Congress to speed research and aid to fight the coming epidemic of the mind-destroying illness.

"Our nation certainly is ready to get deadly serious about this deadly disease," she told the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

She has a personal stake. "My beloved husband John suffers Alzheimer's," she said. "He is not in very good shape at present."

O'Connor stepped down as the first female Supreme Court justice in 2005 to move her husband to an assisted care center in Phoenix, near two of their children. Intensely private, she has said little until now of the family's experience except that she regretted having to leave the high court so soon.

According to a television news report in November, O'Connor's husband struck up a romance with a woman who is a fellow Alzheimer's patient and lives at the same assisted living center as him.

The retired justice wasn't jealous about the relationship and was pleased that her husband is comfortable at the center, the couple's son, Scott O'Connor, told KPNX in Phoenix in a broadcast that aired in November.

"Mom was thrilled that dad was relaxed and happy," Scott O'Connor said.

On Wednesday, O'Connor congratulated Congress for passing legislation that would ban discrimination based on genetic testing for a broad range of diseases, including Alzheimer's. "My own sons I have not wanted to go be tested ... out of fear they would be ineligible for insurance," she said.

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. The number is poised to skyrocket, with 16 million people forecast to have the mind-destroying illness by 2050. Today's treatments only temporarily alleviate symptoms. Already, the Alzheimer's Association estimates that 10 million people share the overwhelming task of caring for a relative or friend with it.

"I suspect that you will not hear from many of my fellow caregivers directly ... simply because they do not have the resources to take time away from their loved ones in order to come before you," O'Connor said in her prepared testimony.

Against that somber backdrop, a group of scientists, former politicians and well-known names like O'Connor have teamed up to create what they call a "national strategy" to jumpstart efforts to speed research into new Alzheimer's treatments and improve help for caregivers.

The so-called Alzheimer's Study Group won't have its report ready until next year, but began pushing lawmakers Wednesday to start thinking about the needed investment despite tight economic times. Public funding for Alzheimer's has been stagnant for five years, O'Connor noted.

"You will never meet an Alzheimer's survivor - there are none," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who co-founded the group, said in his testimony.

[djdinindy]

For too long AD has been thought of as an old person''s disease. It is not. I am now at home caring for my 60 year old husband who was diagnosed 4 years ago. The realy sad thing is that most insurances will not cover certain tests because they think they are excessive although Medicare will. I would think that developing a large database of those who are young with the disease might prove helpful in finding a cure. Information from those like my husband who do not suffer from any other illnesses should be extremely helpful. I am greatful for anyone who can influance COngress to help. Thanks

[honestabe8]

stevador: why include her family in this? i can appreciate not liking shrub, but to wish harm on her family is just low rent.

[ConsiderThis1]

Because of the inordinate reliance on drugs, primarily for drug company profit, there is little said about how vitamin B12 is a factor in memory loss and confusion.

Studies have shown that most Alzheimer''s Disease patients are low in vitamin B12, yet the normal range for vitamin B12 in the United States is hundred of points lower than in some other countries, to include Japan.

If people understood how being low in vitamin B12 affects their nerves, they would be able to take steps to protect themselves, but there is so little true education done on this vital subject.

I have been doing a website on how people can tell in a quick and simple way if they are low in vitamin B12. There are many sites that have copied mine, but many of them are profit oriented and don''t explain that all B12 supplements are not equally useful to our bodies.

Health Boundaries Bite. That''s it in a nutshell. Vitamins aren''t profitable in the same enormous numbers as drugs, so they aren''t advertised on telly. The new drug ads on telly are so dangerous because people see these actor doctors telling them that this or that drug is the answer to their medical problems.

I wish people all knew to look at their fingernails to see whether or not the symptoms they are experiencing are related to low vitamin B12.

[eferrell1]

I totally sympathize with Mrs. O''Connor. My mother has Alzheimer''s and I can understand what she is going through. What I don''t understand is why it has to take someone "famous" speaking up before anybody seems to care? This is not a new disease and thousands of Americans are effected every day. It''s sad that most American maladies are ignored until some like her speaks up.

[babooph]

Cannot be too bad we had 8years of Reagans confusion &they claim he was a great president- Bush is now letting us see a *** can handle the job.What me worry?

[lochlan-2009]

"My own sons I have not wanted to go be tested ... out of fear they would be ineligible for insurance," she said."

Welcome to the fields of sheeple. Now enjoy your *** reaming.

[briannorwood]

I sit on the other side of the political fence from Justice O''Conner on most issues. However, I have always respected her grace and integrety.

Good luck Sandra, maybe you can get those GOP morons in Congress to start supporting stem cell research.

[hungry1968]

Sorry - but the REAL breakthroughs are going to come from embryonic stem cell research.

You''ll have to wait until Obama assumes the mantle of power from the people hater Bush.

[naucoming4u]

A recent study showed that smoking is definitely linked to the increased risk of Alzheimers.

Smoking is known to restrict the blood flow to the brain, robbing it of vital nutrients and oxygen that keeps the brain cells alive and active, thus opening the door to the Alzheimers affect to become active and progress.

Of course, Alzheimers is also highly genetic, like cancer and heart disease, those within the blood lines will automatically have a huge increased risk.

[stn_sage]

both of these posts are repulsive. To say that anyone deserves Alzheimers or anything like it shows a complete lack of humanity and moral character. Such bitter hatred will only destroy you in the end.

Posted by ourtomorrows at 09:36 PM : May 14, 2008
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My response: They do have a point. She undoubtedly has ''taken part'' in some actions that have devastated American families. How is she going to be held accountable HERE on earth? She probably won''t BE!
Maybe the Alzheimer''s IS God''s judgment! I merely speculate, but I wouldn''t be quick to dammm their comments, either.