Letters: Jun. 4, 2001

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Unlocking the Secrets of Alzheimer's

God bless the nuns of the Order of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for having the foresight and brains (available for study) to help us aging baby boomers better understand the devastating illness of Alzheimer's [HEALTH, May 14]. Having just turned 50, showing symptoms of my family's history of heart disease and with slight problems with memory recall, I plan on following the findings of David Snowdon's study. Thanks to all the nuns who had the courage to participate so that people like me may have the opportunity to age with health and grace. J. KAREN KUGELMAN Queensbury, N.Y.

The nuns in Snowdon's study appear to have lived relatively stress-free lives--no mortgages, doctors' bills, credit-card payments or children to worry about. I am curious to learn how stress will affect us aging baby boomers. Many of us have characteristics of the nuns that were mentioned in the article, such as higher education, intellectual endeavors and good nutrition. But no generation can escape negativity, and keeping a positive outlook is very difficult at times. The concerns of two jobs per household, escalating prices and other pressures of day-to-day living--it would be interesting to know what effect those factors have. LEE ELLIOTT Atlanta

Society owes a tremendous debt to the 678 Catholic nuns who volunteered for Snowdon's Alzheimer's research. These women, after devoting their lives to God and their community, continue to serve humanity by opening their hearts and, literally, their minds to scientific inquiry even after death. These nuns have much to teach us, not only about this disease but also about generosity, optimism, faith and joy. Their quiet example stands in marked contrast to the selfishness, hate, violence, greed and materialism of today's world. KEVIN KAWAMOTO Seattle

How nice to learn that exercising our mental muscles may help stave off Alzheimer's. After we have created a generation of folks who need pocket calculators to balance their checkbooks, computers with spell-check to write letters and cash registers that tell how much change to give back to customers, now you tell us that using our brains is good for us? Duh! TIMOTHY TAYLOR WEBB Redding, Conn.

Head injuries and strokes are not the only culprits that can damage our precious brain reserves. I wonder if those drug experiments of years past might actually have taken something very important away from people's brains. Boomers may find some solace in their assertions that they "didn't inhale," but maybe they just don't remember anymore. DORIS HINDRICHS Lynden, Ont.

--Former pupils of the School Sisters of Notre Dame wrote us about how their teachers' contribution to the Alzheimer's study reflected the nuns' tradition of inspirational guidance. "The sisters' involvement in the Nun Study reminds me of the help and encouragement they gave me in school," wrote a Texas woman. "It doesn't surprise me in the least that they have responded so generously to the study," a Chicago woman noted. "It's just like them to keep on giving." Said a New Yorker: "It's no wonder the nuns are donating their brains, since they gave their hearts and souls to me and 50 classmates. What a group of angels!"

Ford Goes Green