Misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s: It Turns Out Kris Kristofferson Has Chronic Lyme Disease

Often chronic Lyme patients spend years suffering before receiving the diagnosis. Lyme disease’s variety of symptoms from debilitating fatigue, muscle pain, arthritis, and neurological issues can lead to suspicion and even treatment of a variety of other illnesses. Ticks are so small, and Lyme diagnosis is so inaccurate that it takes luck to suspect it at the onset of symptoms. Most sufferers never knew they were even bitten by a tick. When chronic Lyme strikes it does not care who you are or what you do, it can take out the best of us. Kris Kristofferson has learned this fact quite recently when he tested positive for Lyme after years of being treated for Alzheimer’s.

Lyme Disease Disguised as Alzheimer’s

Rolling Stones magazine reported last month that 80-year-old Kris Kristofferson has been diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. Memory loss was debilitating, and he had been told it was Alzheimer’s or dementia for years before the test for Lyme came back positive. With the discontinuation of some medications and three weeks of Lyme treatment, his wife began to see real improvements. His wife says he previously couldn’t remember what he was doing from one minute to the next, and suddenly he has days where “he’s perfectly normal and it’s easy to forget that he is even battling anything.”

Kris Kristofferson has had a busy year thanks to his health improvements. He performed at a celebration that was in honor of him with old friends Willy Nelson and Jamey Johnson. He filmed a Western movie, playing the lead role and has recorded a new album. On top of that, he is spending the summer joining Willie Nelson on stage for a series of special summer concert dates. While Kris Kristofferson was lucky to get a positive Lyme diagnosis, it wasn’t until after years of debilitation and suffering. Many suffering won’t ever get the proper diagnosis and treatment. And even those who get treatment may have months or longer to go before they see improvement.

Lyme Disease Prevention

Avoiding ticks and tick bites is the best method of prevention. The easiest way to accomplish this is by eliminating ticks on your own property, where you spend the most time outdoors. With Mosquito Squad of Louisville’s Intensive Tick Treatment, you can enjoy more than 90% fewer ticks on your property thanks to a combination of our tick barrier treatment and tick tubes service. If you spend time outdoors in untreated areas, please always check yourself for ticks when you come back inside. Ticks love to hide behind knees, in armpits, and in your hair. Follow the CDC’s guide for stopping all tick-borne diseases and call Mosquito Squad of Louisville today.