Life No Longer Goes On for Corky's Wife, Amanda

Yet, Chris Burke still walks among us.

[quote] from complications due to Alzheimer’s

Wow. So young.

[quote] Life No Longer Goes On for Corky's Wife, Amanda

Celebrate!

So she wasn't Becky on Glee then?

That's sad. I know people with Downs have much shorter life expectancies due to heart and respiratory issues so I was surprised to see Alzheimer's as the COD. Per Wiki, she had acted as recently as 2019, so that was a fast decline.

[quote] so that was a fast decline.

Much like Bill Smitrovich’s career.

It was a rapid decline. I just looked it up and it's an average of 8 years post diagnosis.

People with Down's syndrome end up with Alzheimer's and dementia at high rates. When I worked in case management for a home health care agency, several clients had Down's and were diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It was a sad situation as a couple of clients pre-Alzheimer's had lived on their own, had jobs, and were involved in Special Olympics, Best Buddies etc.

[quote] So she wasn't Becky on Glee then?

No, that was Lauren Potter.

The actress Robin Trocki who played Sue's sister died of Alzheimer's complications back in 2019.

Ryan Murphy has featured storylines involving characters with Down Syndrome on several of his shows. On Nip/Tuck there was an episode about a young man with DS who wanted plastic surgery to look more like his siblings. A few seasons of American Horror Story have featured actress Jamie Brewer. I have wondered if Ryan Murphy had a relative or someone in his life who has/had Down syndrome.

Corky, why are you turning the wights out?

Womance!

Expanding on what R8 wrote, by the time someone with Down syndrome is 40, they're likely to already have the sort of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's. Diagnosis is one's 40s is common, though a higher percentage are diagnosed in their 50s.

It's an issue that gets quite stressful for families as parent-caregivers age, since their physical decline often coincides with the steep mental decline of their adult children. I know some neurologists and psychiatrists who feel as though the public doesn't have enough understanding of this, particularly when it comes to the shaming (in some quarters) of parents who'd rather terminate than continue such a pregnancy.

[quote] particularly when it comes to the shaming (in some quarters) of parents who'd rather terminate than continue such a pregnancy.

Exterminate!

Wouldn’t be a Corky thread without this.

She was in an episode of SVU, as Lois Smith’s daughter who got knocked up by her manager at the grocery store.

She also appeared on Family Guy.

And, of course, Jezebel weighed in!

This saddens me.

Thank you, r8 and r11. I did wonder about it. All the more tragic because so many people with Downs can and do lead fulfilling lives.

Down!