Could that ‘dementia’ diagnosis really be Lyme disease in disguise?

Musician and actor Kris Kristofferson thought life as he knew it was over.

For years doctors had told him he had Alzheimer’s disease. He had a medicine cabinet full of drugs and even started writing a song about losing his memory.

Then, one of his doctors decided to test Kristofferson for Lyme disease.

Not only did he test positive, but after completing a three-week antibiotic regime, “all of a sudden he was back,” said his wife, Lisa.

Kristofferson was one of the lucky ones. He trashed his Alzheimer’s meds and has continued to improve.

But there are countless seniors with Lyme disease who have never been properly diagnosed — and many are losing their memories as a result.

And if you or someone you love is suffering from memory loss, this may be the most important health alert you’ve read in a while.

‘The Great Pretender’

There’s certainly no shortage of reports about how America is planning on fighting the war against Zika.

But it looks like a far bigger threat to our health — not to mention our memory — can be found right in our own back yards. And it’s all from a tick bite that can transmit a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.

And Lyme disease, which has been called “the great pretender,” can masquerade as lots of other conditions.

It’s said to mimic diseases such as MS, ALS, lupus, fibromyalgia, and, you guessed it, dementia. That means lots of people are either never properly treated for Lyme, or they get round after round of dangerous drugs for conditions they don’t have.

And these meds “all have side effects,” said Lisa Kristofferson.

When it comes to Lyme disease, the symptoms aren’t always obvious, and don’t think that “bullseye” rash is a given, either. Another problem is getting a false negative on a Lyme test. That’s something so common that even the CDC says patients should be treated based on “objective signs and known exposure.”

In other words, don’t rely on a negative Lyme test to think you’re in the clear. Experts say that blood tests should be used for “supporting evidence” only.

That’s why the Lyme Research Alliance recommends that you keep a log book of your symptoms. Common ones include fatigue and joint pain, but the disease can literally hit any part of your body, including your brain.

When it comes to getting tested, here are some other tips the Alliance suggests:

• Ask for both the ELISA and Western Blot tests. The group feels so strongly about this they say that if your insurance will only pay for one, you should consider paying out of pocket for the other.
• You can also ask your doctor about sending the blood tests to more than one laboratory. Apparently results can vary widely from lab to lab.
• Also ask to be tested for co-infections. These are tick-borne illnesses such as Babesia, Ehrlichia, Bartonella and Mycoplasma.

Of course, the best way to “treat” Lyme disease is to not be exposed in the first place. That’s something that’s not always easy, as nymph deer ticks are only as big as a poppy seed. However, there are still some good precautions you can take:

1. If you’ve been in a wooded area, walking in tall grass or even just mowing the lawn, always change your clothing and check yourself for ticks afterwards.
2. If you’ll be spending time outdoors, instead of spraying your skin with toxic pesticides, spray your shoes and socks with a repellent containing 30 percent DEET.
3. Get any ticks off of you ASAP. The longer they stay attached, the greater the chance of transmitting the Lyme bacteria to you. And never squeeze a tick or use chemicals to get it off. Lift the body up and pull it out with your fingers, a tweezer or tick removal device.

Sources:
“Kris Kristofferson: An outlaw at 80” Neil Strauss, June 6, 2016, Rolling Stone, rollingstone.com