I enjoyed (or not really enjoyed) Richard's account of his disease and how he is so disappointed in the reality of a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

I am an administrator for a facility that houses 20 people who have Alzheimer's disease or some other dementia. I've been at Barton House, in Scottsdale, Az. for the past nine years. I've seen every type of dementia, listened to every story a family member would tell me and lived with my residents 40+ hours per week. I have seen, felt, cried, laughed and existed with these unfortunate people.

Richard Taylor sounds like he is early in his disease process, but knows what awaits him. I applaud him for writing books and I would like to know where I can find these books.

Thank you,
L. Berger

I sympathize with Richard and with his unhappiness in the results of the clinical trials so far. All of us, patients and caregivers alike, would like to receive good news rather than these repeated disappointments. However I think any news is better than silence. I still want to know what is being tested and what the results are. I want the researchers to continue testing anything they feel has a chance of working and to keep us informed about what they are doing even if the chance of success is small.

I hope you who Richard calls "eternal optimists," "career researchers," and "public relations specialists" will continue telling us about all the research that is underway. By doing so you give us a ray of hope, something we badly need. Hopefully someday, maybe soon, the results will be less disappointing. Best of all you are letting us know that there are interested and dedicated people working on this problem and drug companies willing to make the huge investments required to conduct these tests and clinical trials.

Please, you optimists, researchers and public relations people, don't hide any information from us. Others may want to stay in the dark but I for one want to know what you are doing.
N. Serra

As a caregiver for my husband, I totally agree with the article by Richard Taylor. My adopted son has Type I diabetes and this reminds me of many years ago when they were saying there would soon be a cure for diabetes! They are no closer now than then. Now my son is hoping for a pancreas and kidney transplant and he's only 43! I love reading Richard's letters.
V. Thompson