Send an e-mail to: Amanda TaylorSend an e-mail to: Amanda TaylorTogether with my other passions in life of Travelling and researching my Family History, I also have a keen interest in Genetics & Hereditary Illnesses.
My interest in Genetics & Hereditary Illnesses began not long after I experienced my first episode of Bi-Polar Affective Disorder (Manic Depression) in December 1996 when I was 37 years of age.
Pathophysiology: Current research advises 'The etiology and pathophysiology of bipolar disorder have not been determined, and no objective biological markers exist that correspond definitively with the disease state. However, twin, family, and adoption studies all indicate strongly that bipolar disorder has a genetic component. In fact, first-degree relatives of a person with bipolar disorder are approximately 7 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder than the rest of the population. Genetic studies of patients with bipolar disorder are ongoing.
I think it important to mention here that in the last few years I was advised that my Bi-Polar Affective Disorder is believed to be in the 25% of those with this illness that is not contributed to any genetic factor.
Diabetes (Type 2) is an illness appearing in both our Taylor and in our Ashdown lines. Although my doctors have advised me that I have a genetic predisposition, it should be noted that Diabetes is a twentieth-century illness of modern times, lifestyle, diet etc.
My mother Yvonne Phyllis ASHDOWN (a descendant of our ASHDOWN maternal line) developed Type 2 Diabetes when she was approximately sixty years of age.
My paternal grandmother Iris Jessie TAYLOR (nee ASHER) (a descendant of our ASHER paternal line) also developed Type 2 Diabetes. Her death (although admittedly at the age of 90) was directly related to complications of this illness, being Cause of Death : Gangrene left leg (weeks). Other causes of her death included Peripheral vascular disease (years) (Clinical studies have identified diabetes as a factor that increases the risk of peripheral vascular disease) and Past carcinoma breast (years).
Hypertension may be a genetic illness in our Taylor line. My father Bryan Henry Taylor's Medical Certificate dated 19/7/99 stated his 'Cause of Death' as given as (1) Cardioresp Arrest - 5mins (2) Emphysema - 9 years (3) Hypertension - 17 years. Therefore he had been diagnosed with this disease at approximately 32 years of age.
I was also diagnosed with this disease at approximately 30 years of age.
My paternal grandfather Felix St. George TAYLOR like his mother, Naomi Grace (Grace) EZZEY was profoundly deaf. Although it is not know at what age Felix became affected we know that he was deaf by the year 1945, as he was considered medically unfit for enlistment in the Second World War due to his deafness.
Felix's mother Naomi Grace (Grace) EZZEY was profoundly deaf and by the time she reached her late teens she had become almost totally deaf, and for the most part relied on lip reading to take part in conversation.
Hereditary Deafness is a well known family affliction of the EZZY descendants, of our ancestor William EZZY born 1767 in Beenham, Berkshire, England,
I personally began to experience hearing loss at about the age of 40 years and find myself today lip reading on more and more occassions.
Diabetes (Type 2)is an illness appearing in both our Taylor and in our Ashdown lines (see above).
I have been advised that both Heart & Kidney Disease are well known family afflictions of the ASHDOWN family.
My maternal great-great-grandather died of both of these diseases when he was only thirty-five years
of age.
Henry William ASHDOWN's cause of Death was 'Disease of Heart and Kidney'.
Henry's sister
Ada Mary Ann BYLES (nee ASHDOWN) died of Congestive Cardiac Failure, Essential Hypertension, Post Operative Shock and Chronic Bronchitis on 27 Nov 1948. However, it should be noted that Ada was seventy-eight years of age at the time of her death.
Henry's son, my maternal great-grandfather Sydney William ASHDOWN's cause of Death was 'Natural causes to wit rupture aneurysm of the aorta'. He was 57 years of age when he died, however his Death Certificate states he was 59 years.
Sydney's mother Annie Louisa SADLER's cause of Death was 'Heart Failure while under anaesthetic, acute intestinal obstruction' at the age of 64 years.
This disease has also been noted on the 14 Dec 1931 death of Samuel William KEWN whose cause of death was 'Senile degeneration of heart'. However, it should be noted that he was 82 years of age at the time of his death and therefore basically should be considered to have died of 'old age'.
Kidney Disease is a well known family affliction of the ASHDOWN family.
The cause of death of my maternal grandfather Arthur George ASHDOWN was 'Carcinoma of Colon (in medicine, carcinoma is any cancer that arises from epithelial cells) and Renal Failure'(eg. where the kidneys fail to function properly). (See notes below for 'Cancer').
My maternal grandmother Irene Sylvia KEWN's cause of Death was (1) Pneumonia 6wks (2) Abdominal lymphoma - months. I am presently researching the genetic causualties of this disease
Nan's (Irene KEWN's father) Samuel William KEWN's cause of death was (1) Cachescia & (2) Carcinoma Colon (eg. Cancer). Cachexia or Emaciation (wasting) is usually due to cancer malnutrition or malaria. However, as the secondary illness of 'Carcinoma Colon' is noted on his death certificate, the primary cause of his death can be confirmed to be cancer.
Although the Cause of Death of my ancestor Mary Ann LAWS was 'Cancer of Liver. Duration - 2 months' it should be noted that she was 85 year of age at the time of her death on 7 Feb 1911.
My complete Rootsweb database can be seen at Amanda Taylor's Genealogy
Surname List of my Direct Ancestors Individual Name Index
Send an e-mail to: Amanda Taylor