Hi, I'm new and got here by accident. I may be bringing up something you already know. I have been researching lyme for 5 years since my 2 daughters and I have it. I came across a link between lyme and alzhiemer @ www.canlyme.com/alannews052006.html.
I know that I have lost where I was, lost memory, and can't get words out at times. It is improving with lyme meds.
Lyme is difficult to diagnose, a rash may not appear from the tick bit, and ticks can be brought indoors by mice. Lyme is an epidemic and something to investgate. There is a ton of information on line.

Bill, thanks for joining in the fray, and thanks for the interesting link. Seems to be worth looking into, the article seemed to say, as one of the ways to get to Alzheimer's Disease.

Seems like I've read that if you live into your 80s, there's half a chance of getting Alzheimer's. My guess is that there are a bunch of illnesses and bad habits that will bring it on sooner. Like Lyme, head injuries, alcoholism, etc.

If I'm reading you right, you're saying that the dementia brought on by Lyme is reversible?

Allan, My dementia was reversed by long term, powerful antibiotics. My other point is that people with rapid memery loss or behavior issues should be tested for lyme because of it's impact on the brain. Lyme can be mis or undiagnosed for a long time. My oldest daughter (PHD) is very accurate in diagnosing lyme in children with behavioral changes.
Most labs are not accurate in lyme testing. Igenix in California is the best in the country.
So, I believe people that develop dementia should be thoroughly tested for lyme by very trained people. Lyme also mimics MS, RA, Parkinsons, and a host of other illnesses.

Alan, there are a number of pathogens linked to dementias, and some success (although not with every patient) in using antibiotics or antivirals to treat the symptoms. If you'd like more info on the pathogens that may be involved, this is a pretty good review:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/574944

JAB, thanks for the link. I really like & trust Medscape, have used it almost since it came out. So many ways of getting to what looks like the same place.