$424 a month druggie

My mom is now taking an anti-alzheimer's drug, which has been recommended against by the UK's National Institute for Clinical Excellence,on the grounds that its high cost outweighs the benefits of treatment in most patients. It costs $153/month. has been associated with a moderate decrease in clinical deterioration in Alzheimer's disease, and has a small positive effect on cognition, mood, behaviour, and the ability to perform daily activities in moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

Oh yippee.

I asked her last week, "So, how is it to be 90 years old?" She said, "I don't like it. What do you think I should I do?" I was too surprised by her question to respond, but honestly, now that I've thought about it, I still don't know what to say.

I was over at the Chute again today - Mom was lying in bed so I didn't stay long. But I sat on the bed and we watched the birds landing on the tree outside her apartment window (eating the berries in the snow). I asked her again, "Is it OK to be 90?" She said, "No, but what can I do?"

I decided to pursue it. "What can you do?"
"I don't want to be old."
"How can you keep from getting old?"
"I can get out," she said, waving her hand away over her shoulder.
"You can? How will you do that?"
"I don't know."

Ah, heck, what's $424/month. Let's keep this show open.