Man charged over synagogue arson attack
A grandmother from New South Wales is one of the first people in Australia to receive a new medication for Alzheimer's disease.
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7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Young mum, 29, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease shares heartbreaking wish to see her daughter finish school
Single mother Erin Kelly received a life-changing diagnosis in June. But the 29-year-old from Eagleby, Queensland, has known since she was a teenager that one day Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common cause of dementia, could come for her. 'My mum died of Alzheimer's when she was 50,' Kelly told 'The disease took my grandfather at 45, and my aunt when she was the same age. 'I just didn't think it would come for me so soon.' In May 2024, tests confirmed Kelly had inherited a rare genetic mutation called PSEN1 from her mother, Robyne. Carriers of the genetic mutation are at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease — a progressive brain condition that causes memory loss and cognitive decline — often before the age of 65. In June, scans revealed the first signs of damage to Kelly's neurons, which are cells in the brain that carry messages. When the mum-of-one was given the official diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's, Kelly says, 'I was in a bit of denial at first'. While dementia can happen to anybody, it is most common after the age of 65. A diagnosis of any kind of dementia when you're younger than 65 is called early onset dementia, or younger onset dementia, and is extremely rare. While Kelly's doctors can't say how quickly the disease will progress, it will soon begin to affect her memory, thinking and behaviour, with her condition expected to deteriorate over time. 'I've started to notice small changes already,' Kelly said. 'Forgetting words and mixing words together. 'I'll be thinking of something, and I'll just mush the words together. 'It's things I didn't do previously.' There is no cure, but Kelly is determined to spend the time she has left making lasting memories for her daughter, Evie, 8. 'We're not exactly sure how or what to tell her yet. She's still so young,' Kelly explained. 'She will get some information, but we want to protect her for as long as we can. 'The goal is to see her finish school, get married. 'I want to make sure she's an adult before I die.' Erin's stepsister Jessica Simpson has set up a Go Fund Me page for Kelly to raise money for a treatment called lecanemab (LEQEMBI). The treatment could help slow down how quickly the disease progresses. In October 2024, the TGA made the decision not to register the medication in Australia, meaning 18 months of treatment could cost Kelly up to $90,000. 'Even with a confirmed diagnosis, Erin has been told she's too young to qualify for clinical trials in Australia,' Simpson explained. 'This treatment could give her more time to keep working, keep functioning and most importantly, keep being Evie's mum for as long as she can.' According to Dementia Australia, dementia is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of illnesses which cause a progressive decline in a person's functioning. It is a broad term used to describe a loss of memory, intellect, rationality, social skills and physical functioning. There are many types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular disease, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body disease. Today, there are roughly 433,000 Australians living with dementia and there are an estimated 29,000 people living with younger onset dementia, which can include people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. 'Most people don't associate Alzheimer's with someone so young,' Jessica said. 'Someone still packing school lunches, doing bedtime stories and showing up every day for their child. 'But this is Erin's reality. And sadly, it's progressing fast.'
9 News
3 days ago
- 9 News
Man charged over synagogue arson attack
Aussie grandma receives groundbreaking new Alzheimer's treatment A grandmother from New South Wales is one of the first people in Australia to receive a new medication for Alzheimer's disease.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Study shows just one can of diet soft drink increases diabetes risk
If you're the type of person to crack open a diet soft drink at 3pm when you're looking for a pick-me-up without the calories, a new study says that this daily habit might be doing more harm than you think. New Aussie research has found that knocking back just one artificially sweetened soft drink a day, like Diet Coke, Pepsi Max or Zero Sugar Solo, may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by a staggering 38 per cent. ​​​​Surprisingly, that's an even higher risk than those opting for classic full-sugar options, which were linked to a 23 per cent rise. Professor Barbora de Courten, senior author on the study, told that the findings signal a need to rethink current public health strategies. 'It might be time to broaden the policy discussion not just about taxing sugar, but about reducing population-level intake of all harmful beverages, regardless of whether they're sweetened with sugar or synthetic alternatives,' said Professor de Courten, who is also a specialist physician at the Department of Diabetes & Vascular Medicine. Sugar, artificial beverages, and type 2 diabetes ​​​​The longitudinal study, conducted by a team from Monash University, RMIT University and the Cancer Council Victoria, followed more than 36,000 Australian adults over nearly 14 years. ​​​ ​​​​'Drinking one or more of these beverages each day – whether sweetened with sugar or artificial substitutes – was linked to a significantly higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes,' said Mr Hussen Kabthymer, who was involved in the study. ​​​ Professor de Courten said the findings challenge the common belief that artificially sweetened drinks are a better option. ​​​​'Artificial sweeteners are often recommended to people at risk of diabetes as a healthier alternative, but our results suggest they may pose their own health risks,' she said. ​​​ While the connection between sugary drinks and diabetes could mostly be explained by obesity, the connection between diet soft drinks and type 2 diabetes stayed strong even after factoring in body weight, suggesting that these drinks might directly affect how our metabolism works. ​​​​The study, which involved participants aged 40–69 years, also adjusted for other lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, education, and health history. ​​​ What is type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes impacts about 1.3 million Australians and over 500 million people globally, with most cases related to diet and lifestyle. It is a chronic condition where the body either can't properly use insulin or doesn't produce enough of it, causing blood sugar levels to rise. According to Diabetes Australia, it usually develops in adults over 45, but is increasingly occurring in younger age groups. Over time, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart, and lead to serious complications like kidney failure, vision loss and heart disease.
