An Inspiration
Tony Bennett is facing his Alzheimer's disease diagnosis with class (“Tony Bennett Demonstrates the Power of Music Against Alzheimer’s Disease,” February/ March 2022). I spoke with him when he received the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC. At the formal dinner after the awards, I thanked him for so much great music. I also thanked him for his courage in 1965 when he went to Selma, AL, to support Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights marchers on their way to Montgomery to call for voting rights. Tony Bennett is one of a kind. His life and music will inspire others for decades to come. —James E. Patterson, Washington, DC
My husband and I had the great pleasure of attending Tony Bennett's last concert in Tucson, AZ, and were amazed at both his voice, which has improved with age, and his presence. He sang to each audience member as if they were the only ones in the hall. It was that special. —Valerie and Ted Golembiewski, Tucson
Another Benefit of Genetic Testing
The article on genetic testing (“Genetic Testing May Influence Treatment of Neurologic Disorders,” February/March 2022) was timely and welcome. I especially appreciated the section on questions to ask a genetic counselor. Counseling helps people understand not only how to interpret the results, but which genes are being tested for and their relationship to the disease. I would add another question: Can my genetic information advance scientific understanding of the disease? The answer is yes—and it may lead to better treatments by revealing new targets for therapy. The Parkinson's Foundation has developed a gene-mapping program; to learn more about it, visit PDGENEration.com. —James Beck, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Parkinson's Foundation, New York, NY
Surgical Solution
I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (“New Myasthenia Gravis Drugs Offer More Options to Patients,” February/March 2022) in 1998 at age 50. Three weeks later, I had my thymus removed. Just two weeks after that, I was back playing tennis. Since then, I've had only the most benign symptoms and only after rapid, repetitive physical action such as hoeing or sweeping. A thymectomy may be the first line of defense for some patients with myasthenia gravis. —Lawrence R. Mead, PhD, Hattiesburg, MS
Reading the article on myasthenia gravis made me feel blessed. I was diagnosed with the disease in 1994 following a year of doctors' appointments and tests. After finally being referred to a neurologist, I was diagnosed within minutes. Soon after, I had a thymectomy, which eliminated my symptoms. I am still symptom-free today. I consider my surgery the best thing I could ever have done. I can't say it will work as well for everyone, but those considering it need to know it can work. I am living proof. —Alice Miner, Hendersonville, TN
Music as Medicine
The editor-in-chief's column (From the Editor, February/ March 2022) mentioned that music may engage parts of the brain untouched by stroke or dementia. I am proof of that. Six or seven years ago, I experienced memory loss related to encephalitis. I have to write down everything I do, including when I've eaten and taken my medication. I can't tell anyone what I did yesterday without looking in my diary, but I can go to the piano and learn a new piece. During the pandemic, I joined an online singing group for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, which inspired me to play music for my 93-year-old grandmother who has dementia. Seeing the difference music made in her was just plain wonderful. For both of us, music is the best medicine we could ask for. —Clair Bennett, York, England
Rare Connection
The profile of Janet Young, who has cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), was wonderful (Healthy Living, February/ March 2022). I have this genetic disease, for which there is no treatment and little awareness. Seeing the story in your publication has given the condition some validation. I hope to see more about it in the future. —Claudette Sandoval, Albuquerque, NM
Diet and PSP
I wonder if the ketogenic diet (The Keto Diet May Ease Neurologic Symptoms, February/March 2022) has ever been used to treat neurodegenerative diseases like progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). My wife had PSP and died from it, and I don't recall the diet ever being mentioned. —Sherwin Katz, Buffalo Grove, IL
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: The ketogenic diet has been studied most extensively in patients with epilepsy. As noted in the article, a small trial published last year in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy suggested that it may have a positive effect on symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. To our knowledge, the keto diet has not been studied in patients with PSP.
More About PSP
I must second the request for more information on PSP (Letters, December 2021/January 2022). My sister, who was five years younger than I, died of it four years ago. I've been a subscriber for several years, as my daughter has MS and my late husband had both stroke-related dementia and Alzheimer's. I've found your information and suggestions to be very helpful and comforting. I hope you can shed some light on PSP, thankfully a rare disease. —Virginia Voedisch, Hendersonville, NC
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: In response to so many letters about PSP, we plan to include an article on the condition in our Disorders department later this year.
Healthy Eating and Living
The article about a plantbased diet (A Plant-Based Diet May Protect Against Stroke, December 2021/January 2022) seemed contrary to the advice in the same issue's Ask Your Neurologist. The Ask Your Neurologist column says that deficiency of vitamins B12 and E has been linked to certain neurologic problems and that these vitamins are found in red meat, eggs, and dairy; in Healthy Living, it says to avoid these foods to protect against stroke. My husband is 86 and I'm 70, and this is how we stay healthy: We eat breakfast at 5 a.m. and lunch at 2 p.m. and don't eat dinner. We eat very little processed or junk food, work all day on a ranch (right now we're feeding cattle in below zero temperatures at 8,000 feet), and go dancing on the weekends. We subscribe to your publication because our daughter, who worked in the neurology department at the University of Arizona in Tuscon, suspects I have essential tremor and recommended your magazine. —Monika Helbling, Pie Town, NM
The use of stevia as a sugar substitute was missing from the article about a plant-based diet (Healthy Living, December 2021/January 2022). Stevia doesn't increase the blood glycemic index and can be used in the same proportion as sugar in recipes. Elevated blood sugar is a major contributor to stroke, so if hyperglycemia can be prevented, this risk factor can be minimized. —Curtis Quinn Marti, OTL, Jenks, OK
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recommends the Mediterranean diet—which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, and emphasizes lean protein and high-fiber foods such as brown rice and whole grains—to reduce the risk of stroke. A well-balanced diet also includes small amounts of eggs, dairy, and other vitamin-rich foods.
Health Equity
The article about health inequities (December 2021/January 2022) can help everyone be more proactive regarding our health care, regardless of skin color. —Ruth Trowbridge, Oklahoma City
The article on health disparities implies that poor treatment of a patient was caused by institutional racism. I am a stroke survivor, who was sent home from the emergency department three times despite my family's pleas to conduct further testing. When I had a seizure on the fourth visit, the doctors finally decided to conduct the tests necessary to diagnose my condition. I am a white male in my forties. I’ve had plenty of other white friends complain about their treatment by medical professionals. Poor treatment can happen to anyone. —Adam Jones, St. Paul, MN
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: While it’s true that poor treatment can happen to anyone, people of color are more likely than white people to receive subpar care and to have poorer outcomes, including greater disability and death, often due to biases and social and economic inequities that disproportionately affect people of color. As the article suggested, the goal of neurologists is to improve health care for all patients regardless of race or socioeconomic background.
Other Gift Guide Ideas
After reading your great article on presents for people with neurologic disorders (December 2021/January 2022), I was reminded of a suggestion I made many times while working as a geriatric clinical nurse specialist. Grab bars, available at any hardware or home improvement store, can be attached to a door frame vertically in the space between the storm or screen door and the regular door. This makes it easy for people to manage stepping into their house in a safe way. —Susan Law, Ridgefield, CT
I have found that resistance bands, also sometimes called theratubes, are useful for building muscle strength, stretching, and easing stiffness; they come in different strengths, don't take up much room, and are extremely portable. Something to consider. —Bob Maguire, East Syracuse, NY
Hear This
I would appreciate an article about tinnitus. Apparently 50 million people have it and there is no conclusive evidence of the cause. I recently began experiencing a whooshing noise. I would greatly appreciate any information about this in your magazine —Susan Evans, San Francisco
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: As always, we appreciate ideas for stories. We have written about tinnitus several times. Please search “tinnitus” to see our articles on the condition.
A Different Perspective
I have temporal lobe epilepsy, and in 2006 I underwent a temporal lobe resection. A year later, I sustained a traumatic brain injury. I’ve had memory problems and personality shifts since then, and I have lasting feelings of loneliness and alienation. I understand that your magazine wants to present a positive picture of life with a neurologic disorder, but I’d like to know that others are in a similar situation and feel the same way. —Heather Moe, Rochester, MN
