But he sometimes feels isolated and it is a strain - his eyes well up as he talks to me.

BBC: Club eases the pain of dementia

The strain affecting the patient was isolated and grown in the lab, and biochemical analysis found that the bacteria prevented the immune system responding as normal by "shooting the messenger".

BBC: NEWS | Health | How the flesh-eating bug attacks

It was reported that Mark had shown signs of strain with pending litigation and an isolated lifestyle as a result of many of his close friends losing money in the Madoff scam.

FORBES: Madoff's Mark