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I lost my Mom to dementia, it was so hard. Toward the end she didn't always know who I was but the last time I saw her I told her I loved her and she looked me in the eyes and said it back. I was so grateful for that last gift. â€
@litebriteeyes - Same here. My dad hadn't recognised anyone for years (he had Alzheimers), but the last time I visited him in the care facility, he looked, smiled, and called me by his own pet nickname for me. It was the best gift ever! He then told me how awful it was, not to be able to recall anything. That made me very sad: he was aware of not being "aware" đą
I had that. My friend had never said that he loved me. But a month before he died he came up to me in the home he was in and hugged me and said 3 times I love you I love you I love you. Then in a dream that wasn't a dream, he came to me 4 months after he died and did the same thing again. R.I.P Tomđ
The first time I noticed something very off was when my Mom asked me âwhy do I have a house payment â BOOM đ„ I was in shock. I explained to her that her husband my step father left her their house in his will. She was furious and asked me why in the hell did he do that. I told her he also left her enough money to make the house payments. This was about 5 years ago. So between that incident and 2 years ago she has been diagnosed with Dementia. She doesnât remember that she has been living with us since 2016. I am her caregiver along with a nurse visit once a week and a CNA 2 times a week. I donât go anywhere unless a family member is home with her. She had 4 horrific seizures and spent a week in ICU. That was last year. The medication she is on seems to be helping with seizures none for a year. I want to tell all caregivers we will get through this. Stay strong and Blessed â€
1) memory loss..significant things, 2)challenges following through steps or solving problems (paying bills, follow recipe, medications). 3) forgetting rules or familiar tasks (game rules, driving routes), 4) confusion dates or time, 5)trouble gauging spatial relationships (more clumsy, parking closer to wall or other cars), 6) difficulty speaking or writing, 7)misplacing things forgetting where they are, canât retrace to find, 8)increased poor judgement, 9)withdrawal from activities they used to like, 10)changes in behavior or personality (withdrawn, anxious, etcâŠ). Thank you! Seeing many of theseâŠnothing not on this list. Maybe 6/10 things. Time to try again to see Dr.
1. memory loss (important information, well learned information) 2. challenges in following through with steps or solving problems 3. forgetting rules or familiar tasks (rules of a game, going to familiar location) 4. confusion of place or time 5. trouble gauging spatial relationships (tripping going up or down stairs, parking, bumping into things) 6. difficulty speaking or writing 7. misplacing things, forgetting where things are, trouble retracing steps 8. increased poor judgment (falling for scams, giving out more information) 9. withdrawal from social activities and hobbies 10. changes in behavior and personality
Appreciate your humor as dementia is a serious problem, we still need the laughterâŠwe as family members lose our loved ones right before our eyes and wish we can slow dementia down or reverse it.
My father thought people were stealing water from the outside spout. He put a lock on it. Then he thought people were stealing mulch from around our trees. I had to explain to him that it deteriorated and gets washed away with the rain.
Oh God! The paranoia is the worst sign. My mother is convinced thar her neighbor has the key of her home and is coming at night , when she's sleeping, to steel ( insignificant things, btw). And the rage phase that comes with is terrifying.
My aunt accussed family visitors of stealing her bed linens. They'd put them in the dirty clothes hamper as they always had done! When they told her that, she was adamant it was a different set of sheets.
My Momâs first signs of dementia was restlessness at night. She would vacuum at midnight, would sleep on the couch or instead of her bed, and had trouble finding words - sheâd say âPut the things in the whatchmacallitâ (put the clothes in the washer). She stopped reading. She started occasionally saying mean things to friends. When she started to deteriorate, sheâd be looking at photographs or napping, and suddenly jump up and run out the door. I could not believe she could move so quickly! We had to put latches on the top of door (thankfully she was petite) so she couldnât run away. My Momâs deterioration was slow, it was over 10 years of little âquirksâ that built on one another. No matter what happened, she never forgot my Dad. She forgot she had children, her home of over 50 years, but not my Dad or the little apartment the had when first married.
The same happened with my mother after the passing of my father. Her demencia suddenly worsen.The paranoia and the rage were inbelievable. The force she is able to get to destroy things is terrifying.
For my mother's earlier signs noticed first: 1-Memory loss 2-Speaking-Using incorrect words for things 8-Poor judgement 10-Changes in mood And almost all the others to follow She is still good at playing poker and is very socially interactive and compassionate She is 87 I am trying to watch out for myself. I am 64 and sometimes concerned. I do have a stressful job and concerned about my mother being happy and not feeling alone. Thank you for what you do for us! đ
One thing is to avoid statins, as they are known to increase Dementia risk. Avoid all sugars, most carbs, that increases risk too. (Dementia is called Type 3 Diabetes)
My mother-in-law is sadly in the final, most severe stage. So, it gave my husband and I the impetus to see a neurologist at the earliest of signs from him. Our neurologist suspected MCI and referred us to a fantastic UCLA Research Study. Because we are participating in the Alzheimer's Research Study, they have underwritten all cognitive tests, physicals, blood draws, PET Scans, MRIs, etc. It has been a godsend knowing we are getting eyes on my husband early, and also for me to know that my tracking him and participating as his study partner empowers me to not feel so lost and helpless. This channel is a godsend too. It's hard to come to terms with what we are facing, and the support given here is tremendous. Thank you!
@@larisarockenback3727 He is recently retired, so we are spending much more time together. I initially noticed short-term memory lapses, in a variety of settings. I was making note of the lapses, and our adult children had also noticed slight issues. We then started watching a well-loved TV fantasy series, and he had an extra tough time following the family plot lines. His mother is in severe, late stage Alzheimer's, so he is much more focused on doing everything he can to prevent the onset of the disease and extend his wellness. The Research Study has been a lifesaver, as is this channel---I am quite new here. With two APOE-4 genes, we know that it's important that he get early medical support (especially in creating a baseline of where he is in reference to the disease) and that we both stay current on all information available, as much as possible.
@@marlenegold280 he is, but there are also studies reporting the opposite. His doctors are aware of our concerns, so he is staying on it for now. We are definitely monitoring it, thanksâŠ
The first time I *SHOULD* have noticed something was off was when I got a notice from the tax assessor that my mom had not paid her property taxes. I asked my mom about this. She fumbled through a drawer, handed me an envelope and said, "I keep trying to pay them but they keep sending it back to me." She had made out the check properly, but had addressed the envelope to the tax assessor at her own address. More than once. She never noticed the error. When I pointed it out, she said, "well they should have just called and told me. They don't need to keep sending it back without explanation." I just thought she was juggling too much and not really paying attention. The next two years were a very rapid downward spiral. It's only in this past year in Memory Care that she has stabilized a bit.
Iâve been sewing and mending clothes all my life. The other day I couldnât tie a knot in the thread. My brain seemed disconnected from the task. I was bewildered at not being able to figure out what I was doing wrong. It was frustrating and scary. The next day I was going to put a styling gel in my hair. I looked at the products on my sink, deodorant, hand lotion, perfume, etc, and had no idea which one was the correct item to use. I eventually figured it out. Needless to say I am shocked at this new development. I told my daughter all about it in case it gets worse.
anything can cause that. urinary tract infection, as the comment below said, thyroid?, infection, fatigue, low blood sugars, micronutrient deficiency. Nutrition is the number one consideration when you get old, I make sure my mom eats a good steak four times a week, salmon four times a week and loads of eggs. Yes a full blood test and then analyse your diet, and good luck to you, even dehydration can cause brain fog.
I gave my BF's mom a book that I read and figured she'd enjoy it too. She finished it right away and loved it. A few months later, she was so excited to recommend me... the same book. A couple months after that, she "discovered" the same book in her house that she thought a guest must've left behind...so she read it again, but she thought it was her first time reading it.
I try to read 50 books a year. I have always had short term memory issues unless I really lock it in. If I have to present about a book that tends to help me. the good news is that I can reread an interesting book and enjoy it as if itâs the first time or almost the first time
@@MrSurferDoug I've been this way with books and movies my whole life. Enjoy them while I'm reading/watching, then forget the plot soon after. I've always insisted that it's because I consider them to be "entertainment" and when the show is over, it's time to move back to my "real" life. I do, however, always recognize (if I start the same book/movie again because I didn't recognize the title) that I've read or seen it before because it feels familiar. Now that I'm a senior (at 72) I guess I need to be sure my kids know that this has always been the case for me so they don't think it's a sign of decline.
My husband had bvFTD for 20 years before he died; however, we had no idea what he had for the first 11 years. On your list of early warning signs, he had #9 and #10, but no one would listen to our children and me when we tried to say how much he had changed. Looking back, I recognize little things like not lining up his shirts in the closet the way he had always done, not hanging the towels after showering, but mostly it was his apathy and lack of empathy that was most noticeable. He had always been the kindest, most caring person, and he became cruel and indifferent. Also, he lost his love of music, which was very painful to observe. He looked so lost.
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, dr.porassss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I wish they were readily available in my place. Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac. He's constantly talking about killing someone. He's violent. Anyone reading this Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
My MIL had 9 of these early on but also hoarding of papers and lots and lots of lists. Lists of names, dates, old shopping lists and what she'd bought etc
I've found that changes in (or withdrawal from) personal practices like exercises, stretching, meditation, or prayer can be an early sign. Sudden unhealthy (fast) food cravings too? These changes can exacerbate any health issues. Thanks for making this video! đżđđż
Watching your videos helps explain so much that happened with my husband. I hadn't been around anyone with dementia in my family, luckily, so I missed so much about his. Plus I can now trace the more obvious signs starting around when he had covid. I wrote some of them off to that, some off to his drinking too much due to self treating of anxiety. But his forgetting to pay bills was the last straw. He had been an accountant. He never didn't pay the bills. After I took over paying bills I found out he had been spending too much money behind my back. Little things that I wrote off as, he is retired and it is hard to remember what day it is, because he would ask Alexa a dozen times a day what day and time it was. He stopped driving most of the time, said it was because it was my car and he didn't want to drive it. We found out he wasn't taking all his meds everyday. He would claim I never told him about an appointment when I had. So many little things I didn't really pick up on excused away. He just had other health issues that masked this new one. We were just starting to plan for the dementia when we found his cancer, so we never got past his moderate stage.
I hear you, I am living this now with my husband. His mother was our first we experienced having dementia, then my father lived it for 10 years. My mother took good care of him, after he passed my mother started to have dementia. It is heartbreaking. Many blessings to you.
The day my Dad forgot who I was will forever be burned in my memory, and brings me to tears just thinking about it. I know he couldn't help it, but it still doesn't lesson the pain. I'm so thankful my Dad didn't have the "angry sort of" Alzheimer's.
I walked into my grandmothers room in the Alzheimers Unit one day and she asked âWhen have you seen that Leah?â It was a little like a gut punch, but I made her laugh when I said âThis morning when I looked in the mirror.â She laughed, but you could tell she had the name but she still couldnât put my face with it. It was her first grandchild, a girl after she had 3 boys. We were very close. â€
I know your pain. I sent my mom a few photos of me and when I asked her if she received the photos I sent she said yeah I go them, but who's the old lady? I tried telling her it was me and she kept saying no it's not!
I know that feelingđą. Although my mom forgot us later, it still burns, her dementia progressed so quickly... delusion before any early signs noticed 6 if 10 symptoms before diagnosed in mid 2021.... she was in denial for 2 years. Now, she is in late stage... and lucky me she has aggressive behaviors.
Thank you, such a useful video. I think itâs memory but it was definitely repeating themselves with a story, or telling me my story back to me as if it were fresh information. The time between these incidents became shorter and shorter. Also being driven in the car becomes stressful because she cannot judge the spatial distance, so often thinks I am about to have a bump or put her in danger. Very stressful for both driver and passenger but so isolating for dementia sufferer. Itâs all heartbreaking.
When my mother landed in the hospital for a UTI, they would not release her because of her apparent dementia, and sent her to a nursing home. There they doped her up so much that she and I both got frightened. I flew out to advocate for her, and was eventually able get her home. I was used to her repeating herself during phone conversations, and knew she was having trouble completing certain tasks, but I was horrified to see that she had difficulty learning something as simple as how to use a glucose meter and finger stick. She also had no idea what to do when we encountered an elevator, and made an excuse that it had been a long time since she had used one. She was generally confused. She spent hours in the grocery store. Her living room was covered with piles of lists and notes and things she meant to read. She would blame others for misplaced objects. Her penmanship had deteriorated and she eventually spoke with a stammer. She went steadily downhill and was gone in seven years. Pure torture, and terribly sad. It all started after she got a bunch of dental implants. First trigeminal neuralgia, gabapentin, necrotic jaw bones at the implants, then the list of 10âŠ
Physical trauma like surgery is often a trigger for dementia. Your poor mom had a terrible experience with her dental issues! Makes my hair stand on end.
Yes, medications for anesthesia can cause dementia to worsen. It is said that often people have already had dementia for 10 years before they are ever diagnosed, because symptoms can be subtle or easily explained.
I feel like I've heard about people having issues after dental implants before. The actor, Peter Falk (Columbo), was said to have suffered cognitive decline after dental work too.
I can see the dental implants causing it due to the closeness of mouth to brain. There has to be so many nerves in the jaws that they could get disrupted during the process.
My mother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in January but her "brain fog" as she calls it has been around for quite some time. I think the first thing I noticed was that she was repeating stories as far back as 2019. When Covid hit, she was so isolated - her partner was severely immunocompromised - and the lack of socialization really did a number on her. Then at the end of 2021, her partner and her brother died within two weeks of each other and I think "widow brain" just accelerated the dementia. She was scammed out of thousands of dollars before I was able to get control of her finances. She felt ashamed at the time, but now has no memory of it, thankfully, sort of.
My momâs early signs forgetting and repeating herself. When I mentioned it to her doctor he shrugged me off as if I was the problem. Soon after, when adult protective services got involved he changed his tune quickly declaring my mom incompetent. I tried changing doctors before than but really struggled getting help within the medical community. Nothing but a nightmare followed, my advice, take action before the state does.
Dementia/Alzheimers + medical community is a nightmare in itself. My sisters father in law had to go to a memory care facility. It was a beautiful place but that was all it was. $7000 a month. He would roam the halls at night. No nurses on the floor. He would of course forget where his room was and they would find him sleeping on chairs/sofas the next morning. He had so many falls. He couldnât cut his meat but they would put big chunks of chicken in front of him without an offer to cut it up. When my bro in law complained about the treatment, they âevaluatedâ him and said that he fell too much and he had to be moved to another facility. Guess for $7000 they wanted the âeasy stable dementiaâ patients that sat in a corner babbling to themselves. It was so very sad. He went downhill when he was moved and subsequently died a few months later.
Progressive decline: My husband began to have trouble remembering which buses to take to go to his PCP visits. He had to check the schedules (including transfer). Then he couldn't read the schedules and know how much time between buses. Then he couldn't figure out what time to leave to walk to the bus stop in time. Then he couldn't figure out how much time it took to get ready. Then he forgot which side of the street to wait. A couple of times he'd miss the second bus at the depot. I was usually at work so he was on his own. One time I was home and the doctor's office called because he hadn't arrived. That's just one thing.
My husband diagnose with mild symptoms but is allowed to drive on local roads 12month driving licence itâs second nature to him and I always felt because heâs tall and seems confident let him drive but I feel dreadful when he goes past turnings I get angry poor guy says I know what Iâm doing I feel so sorry for him and I feel that Iâm like a abuser and a horrible person but I think Iâm going to drive and take it off him This illness is the worse thing to happen to anyone his poor sad face when we have gone through this familiar thing each time we go out I wish this had never happened Five years ago he had a operation for heart valve He has said it would have been better that he had died We were so happy that he had his life back I nursed him through that I loved him needed with me he is /was a dear husband .
I see all of them. Iâm still dealing with it. Itâs getting harder every day. Itâs my 84 yo aunt. Never had children. Husband died 5 years ago and she has no one except me. By the time I took over caring for her, everything in her life was in such a mess that it took months to straighten things out. Unpaid bills, taxes, HOA fees, what a mess. Thanks for your videoâs. So helpful!
Your Aunt & Uncle are so lucky to have you... and even in her ill mind, I'm sure she is grateful. My mom in her stage says 'thank you & sorry' occasionally. I know they have lucid moments. Hang in there, you are doing an awesome job.
Love you, Nat, and you have been SO HELPFUL on so many levels. I do want to stress (not to you, Nat, but to those seeking help), though, that this is SO TRICKY! They really need to have a professional evaluation if there is a concern. Every one of those items could be attributed to 'something else'. Recent cataract lens surgery, medication side effect or too many meds, stress!, overwhelmed other circumstances/worry; the list is endless. Get a professional diagnosis! It will be worth it. They may just be needing a little extra help (KIND help!) to get past something that is taking up too much time in their brain... Love ya, Nat, and THANK YOU!
My mom's 6 early signs 3 yrs before diagnosis were: Familiar Tasks... forgetting recipe ingredients; Confusion... getting lost within 2miles of home; Misplacing... lost her purse 3 times within few months; Poor Judgment... dated a guy who took all her money; Withdrawal Socially... her friends called me; Personality Change... her friends told me her demeanor changed. Also not on your list, one of mom's very first symptom I noticed was her delusion of people in TV coming into our house through underground tunnel... she told this to me and her friends. Thank you Dr Nat for all your insightful coachings. Been watching you for last 3yrs... and I've learned a lotđđ
I noticed my mom becoming increasingly confused about how to work the tv remote as well as the phone. Also she was becoming somewhat obsessive about various things like finding something in her closet or looking at the calendar to see when her dr appointments were. The thing that ultimately made her dementia worsen was her breaking her hip. Itâs a tough road â€
Well, most of these are showing up in my husband. He acknowledges that he needs me to "keep him going" but Mr. Marine refuses to get evaluated. It's a day to day work in progress for me trying to stay ahead of whatever poor judgement decisions, endless repetitions, removing donation requests from the mail, writing checks,etc. Any hints for convincing him to be evaluated? He refuses to see himself as anyone other than a 29 year old Marine and MY caretaker.
I just told my husband that our insurance is requiring we get evaluated, so we are both going, it takes all the anger and frustration out. I havenât told him I suspect, my husband was born with cerebral palsy and requires forearm crutches heâs been using them since he was one year old, the doctors at The Shriners hospital for crippled children did an amazing job. Heâs had some issues with getting lost and I talked him into using his GPS so it will tell him if thereâs a traffic issue plus an ETA to get home so I can time dinner. But heâs denied saying things to me within minutes of saying them, and heâs had two bad falls, requiring staples and ER visits, very out of character. I donât think Iâm wrong, but he would never go if I came to him, heâd think I was being critical, heâs always leaned to be defensive anyway, which I understand, people are still very comfortable staring, bad being discriminating towards people with disabilities. Itâs mind blowing.
Could u ask him to get tested to give u peace of mind? Also telling him if there's nothing wrong (in his opinion) then there is nothing to be afraid of. I hope that helps đ
10 signs of dementia, all applied although I find myself having a couple of those traits as well. My loved one is very much in denial and basically refuses help. It is very, very frustrating. Your videos are an excellent source of information and have helped me tremendously. Thank you for being there Dr. Natali!!
Withdrawl was a big sign for my mother with dementia and we missed it. She stopped going to church, family and class reunions during the covid years....and never went back. The social isolation really kick-started the symptoms of her dementia.. She gave the excuse of, "I don't want to get the virus! (and she never did)" which we totally accepted as reasonable, but hid what she was actually doing, which was withdrawing because of the dementia. She didn't want anyone to notice the changes in her.
My husband had a head injury last year , he has had memory loss since itâs progressing , he spends up to two hours in the bathroom in the morning , cleaning his teeth up to three times , not shaving very well etc , he has trouble paying money doesnât seem to be able to recognise the coins or notes value , canât recognise time on the clock , dressing inside out , back to front ! Cannot sign his name , fears making phone calls , doesnât understand his computer anymore , loosing things every day , short term memory is gone , driving is scary because we live in Portugal but our original country is uk , he often tries to drive on the wrong side of the road , weâve been money scammed out of thousands because he doesnt realise what is happening , he gets sleepy ,finds swallowing difficult , itâs hard for him to concentrate , he doesnât seem to react to things , his modesty has gone . He seems cheerful all the time and doesnât react to problems that are important ! I havenât had him assessed yet , should I do it ? He is 64 years old , his grandfather had Alzheimerâs .
Hemochromatosis increases risk of Type 2 Diabetes, and that increases Type 3 Diabetes risk (Dementia). Taking statins worsen the increase in risk for Dementia.
With oncoming dementia, a family member told me she wouldnât know she was not remembering important things except that others told her. A doctor later told me that not being aware youâre forgetful is more serious than when you know your memory is not as good as it was due to maturity onset.
I feel for all of you. I went through this with my Mom, and have been fretting about myself as I have become more aware of so many of these problems. But I realize I also have ADHD!!! Just now diagnosed at almost 60! So many of these signs parallel ADHD problems, but I see now there really is a differing degree.
I am close to your age and began treatment for ADHD in my fifties. I cannot drive my car without Ritalin. Forget the meaning of traffic lights, forget how to work the car, have great trouble with spatial relationships - especially in parking lots. In my case, I was diagnosed with MS in my thirties so I always blamed that for any cognitive issues I experienced. Honestly, my childhood memories are classic ADHD.
@@xNialx my mom is in hospice now. She has lived years past expectations. I just took care of her by myself 24/7. I was saw the deterioration, i didnât realize how bad. Till i came back from visiting some friends.
People suffering dementia often act very clear headed when family members visit. My elderly brother had been a psychology major in grad school so he was clever enough to fake clarity when he was tested by a professional. đ He should have been put in a care facility years before. But it wasn't until the last few weeks of life that the family was able to convince doctors to refer him.
One of the earliest signs was my husband having trouble reading a menu and picking out something to order. Another - related to personality change - was this formerly reserved, never outgoing person was suddenly talking to anyone. Meaning strangers in stores or on the street. It's been embarrassing and inappropriate a couple of times. It reduces my interest in taking him places.
With my case my husband had a stroke but his symptoms went back 7 months before but I never recognized them. He would forget where he was driving too. He forgot how to put gas in the car.
5:14 got me laughing even though this is a serious subject. I saw many of these symptoms leading up to current status of my mother. I think we all wish we could predict these things 10+ years before they become an issue. We could prepare. Thanks for sharing and making these videos.
For the symptoms. Memory loss for sure my mother would get lost going to her sister's house in the early days but we brushed it off. Planning was an issue as well trying to keep up with projects around the house or coordinating plumbing, gardening was an issue. This is more advanced but the ability to do laundry, cleaning the house and cooking started to fall off. The confusion with time and place is often. She will wake up at any time of the day thinking it is the morning even though it is totally dark outside. Being able to use the TV remote was always an issue we had to use universal remotes with 8 buttons instead of the cable tv remotes. Speaking wise she sometimes talks to me even though I cannot hear, or I am in another room but speaking wise seemed ok. Misplacing things have always been an issue. Judgement in the early days... I am pretty sure it happened, but I was not aware until the later stage. She used to be involved with Mexican dominoes with her sisters on a weekly basis then fell off totally during covid and never restarted. Mood and personality changes seems to be easily triggered emotionally over small things so yes.
My husband had surgery and had some difficulty coming out of it, but i was not sure if it was normal or not for him, he had not had been put under for that long in the past, i mentioned it to the doc that day. Nothing came of the inquiring. Then within the next 6-8 months started showing signs of several this with memory, confusion and feeling strange,(spacial effects). Later diagnosed with lewy bodies dementia. Can or do you address issues with surgery or big events kicking off the symptoms? Thanks for all you do
My MIL is currently showing all of these signs, but I think I would say we noticed 10. Personality changes first - she started becoming very judgmental, easy to anger, and paranoid. As more of the signs became apparent, it made sense this was the first sign vs just normal aging.
I kep tabs on myself as I donât have âloved ones.â The only one I notice is being more clumsy, a bit off balance. Itâs really frightening to contemplate what could be oneâs medical future!
I saw all of these signs very early and so wish I had this information then. Also, he had trouble understanding the television. He said the people were talking too fast.
I noticed this in my step father 8 years ago. No one in his family would believe me. Now my mom and I are the caregivers. He has been diagnosed. Unfortunately I now see my mom where I saw him all those years ago. I don't know if I can handle both at the same time.
I feel for you! Discovered my father had Alzheimerâs while caring for my mother during her own diagnosis. They were at different stages - mum mostly not mobile but would once in a while surprise us while Dad was still very physically active but had poor judgment which put him in danger. Luckily, there were five of us kids and we worked well together so didnât feel alone. I hope you donât have to be alone đ
Yes I use to put the little things to the side only when I mention it to the doctor he said we test for uti but she got lost on the way back from the toilet he said said thereâs more to this and we had a test
I have been following you for information. You have a lot of helpful advice. I will say though some of the pictures you show, the people look more agitated, when some of my husbands early symptoms arenât quite what the pictures portray, but I know thereâs definitely symptoms of dementia.
The problem isnt getting my loved one to go for a workup. The PROBLEM is finding someone who will do the work up and take your concerns seriously. I took my mom to her doctor and voiced my concerns. His first question to me was where did I get my medical degree. Even tho my loved one expressed some concern about her behavior too.the doctor just blew if off..well he did send his nurse in to do a check list of things..like ask her what year it was, who is the presdient. Took the nurse about 5 minutes to do. Then she was dismissed with a clean bill of health. BUT slowly the behavior is getting worse AND now we can add violence to the mix, where NONE existed. What do I do? We live in an area where there are not many doctors and few specialists. So is law enforcement my only option? It's just sad we have no health care in America, especially for the elderly.
I am so enraged by the incompetence of doctors! Why is it the most incompetent are also the ones doing the gaslighting and making disparaging comments? I wish I had an answer for you - specifically about the regional lack of access to healthcare. Wonder if there is a senior service organization that covers your area. Wishing you well.
Hal Cranmer owns three retirement homes in Mesa Arizona, he put some of the residents who had dementia on meat/carnivore. (Children agreed to bringing in no sweets) Some of the residents reversed their dementia, some went home to live a regular life.
This may fall under poor judgement, but, using objects improperly...My mom started rubbing Neosporin all over her arm instead of her lotion, she used siccors to trim branches and put peices of tape over pealing paint on the outside of her house, etc.
How would you list this: My father started eating food that had gone bad. My mother divorced my dad. I was left living with him. I was only 18. I knew nothing about dementia and was left to deal with him on my own. One afternoon I happened to be home he told me to fry up a pork chop for him. I told him it needed to be thrown in the trash, it was turning green. I threw it away. I then checked the refrigerator to see if anything else might be going bad. I found O.J. that had soured. I left the kitchen and a few minutes later I heard the sound of the pork chop being fried. I knew something was very wrong.
For me it was my mom having a few significant falls within a span of a few months. I used to work as an aide in physical therapy and that was one of the issues mentioned with elder clients who came in with balance issues. Several falls within in a year or less is a sign of cognitive decline. My mom also started having hallucinations (bugs crawling that didn't exist, etc).
I was the one to notice the 'black hole' in my father's memory on a visit.He loved quizzes , especially 'Who wants to be a Millionaire', but when I came to visit and put a disc with photos to look at in his laptop he said,'Oh, where did that come from,' referring to the drawer and I said,' That's where you put your disc when you play on Millionaire.' And he said, 'I never play on Millionaire.' I went straight out and said to my mother and sister, 'He needs to see a doctor asap.' My narcassistic, victim presenting, bully of a mother said, 'Oh he's always been like that. 'Even after he was diagnosed and his symptoms much worse, she was still bellyaching about how she'd told him something but he still hadn't done it. I blame myself for not removing him from that toxic atmosphere. When he was in a residential home and sitting in a chair without noticing anything around him, I put some headphones on him, attached to an MP3 with songs from the shows on, something he loved. He had a really good voice and loved to be in a choir. He began tapping his fingers to the tunes and it broke my heart.
My mother was telling stories about people visiting her that were not there. Keep an anecdotal record of events. Be sure to include time of day and dates. This will help at the doctor.
Oh, God! Another difficulty is trying to get the person to agree to be tested. When it's early stages, their own fear can make them incredibly obstinate.
My husband began not being able to follow a conversation. He constantly interrupts whoever is speaking with, âWho did you say?â or âWhat did he do again?â He masks it by saying he doesnât hear well. So sad!
My MIL is increasingly isolating. Turning down company or activities we want to do with her. She hangs up on us. Idk if sheâs severely depressed or whatâs going on. But itâs not like her to be this way at all. She jumps at the chance to be with her family and loves going out and socializing.
My mom is similar. She has dementia and as it has been progressing, she's been less and less willing to go out and visit. I find if I give her a bit of encouragement and offer to bring her home immediately if she's not having fun, it often gets her going. Once she's out, she usually enjoys herself. Hang in there. You're not alone :)
One specific problem with speaking than my mom exhibited in early dementia was using pronouns without antecedents. For example, saying "She gave me that" without ever saying who "she" is.
The first thing I noticed in my Dadâs wife when they would stay with us was not organizing like things together. For instance, she would stack different sets of dishes together when putting bowls, etc into the cupboard.
Looking back⊠the wife is always the last to know đ . The two big warning signs I missed- or helped him cover for- were 9 and 10. He stopped playing senior ice hockey which he loved . At 85 I thought it reasonable but unlike him. He was so fit and youthful. And my normally calm and rational loved one was increasingly argumentative and quick to anger. Soon I realized he was getting lost on familiar routes and his long time friends told me they thought something wasnât right. Iâll admit I was in denial for awhile but once I found Dr Natali and learned what was happening to him - and how I could adjust my behavior and expectations to support him- we had a wonderful few years together. He was walking , talking and his fun old but younger self until he died at 90. I feel lucky to have had all this time with him.
I noticed all of these signs in my mother but not necessarily on the order given. I knew something was way off when I found a bill from her cable company saying they would not accept anything but cash payments from her in the future and they were about to cut her service off. My mother never had a history of paying anything late and always had excellent credit. And yes, she was easily agitated, accused us (her kids) of selling her house out from under her and taking her money. She couldn't remember being involved in selling her home and then living off the money she received from it. These are just a few things but she did display all of these changes prior to is having her diagnosed.
I have to also add lower sex drive and hygiene neglect when his whole life he was meticulous. Some of his friends called him the Peacock. This whole thing is so sad.
Problems with social filter- saying inappropriate and sometimes hurtful things to people she knows - including children - and to strangers as well. Speaking out when in the past she would have known better. Spending the entire day in her night clothes, sleeping or lying in bed a great deal perhaps watching TV or looking at social media when she was a sociable person in the past. However moving into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) at this point I think can make it more difficult or one can see the changes in deterioration more easily in a new setting.
1. I posted lists of instructions and phone # on wall in front of her. But she didn't "see" it. 2. Open fridge, look, close it. Open fridge, look, close it. Repeat. 3. Pieces of paper with names and phone numbers in multiple rooms. Like she "remembered" and needed to write it down at that moment. 4. Using sexual language that she wouldn't ever say. 5. Overeating and always hungry because couldn't remember that she had already eaten.
I donât know if this is one but for me, what I noticed first was repeating a story as if it hadnât been said in a conversation (not the same story repeated many times over time).
My husband is aware of a paternal tendency for Alzheimer disease. He is going on 80. Heâs had several cognitive tests and has been prescribed several medications. I see #5 (trouble understanding visual info) and #6 (problems with speech) the most. His gait has definitely changed and I would like to have you address that. Thanks for helping me understand what he is facing as he ages so I can be the most helpful partner possible.
Oh! Well I have been noticing most of these happening to me over the past 5-10 years. I think I need to address this. What is the first step? Discussing it with my primary care Dr?
Iâll give you another reason why itâs hard to get diagnosed: the doctor. My mother told her dr I thought she had dementia. Iâve spoken with my own dr about symptoms. They both said, âwell, youâre bringing it up with meâ as if to say then itâs not a problem. So, nguess it wonât get diagnosed until itâs worse?
Husband was diagnosed with MCI in 2008 and then with dementia in 2019. The very first sign I noticed was apathy and an unwillingness to help (something that had characterized him previously). He was diagnosed fairly quickly. I believe that one MD, who said he had AZ in 2013 and was the ONLY one to say that, was actually right. I believe my LO had enough reserves that for the most part, he was able to compensate for many issues, as long as he was not stressed. Oh yes, they checked for deperession and ADD. Now it is undeniable that he is not mentally "all there" any more. It is so sad.
I was caregiver for my husband wish I would have noticed signs quicker to help him and his was also getting a lot of UTI's which didn't help. I miss him a lot and this very hard for me to move on.
One we noticed that isnât on the list is collecting things. For example, business cards, anything placed out like brochures, newspapers ⊠many of the same. Then sugar packets and creamers. Then tea bags, jelly packets and rolling silverware into napkins. Each time we ask her why she is collecting, she always has a good answer that typically has to do with providing for others. Now it is pretty much anything she can pick up including empty cups, even used. However, she is agreeable about getting rid of most things if we can convince her it isnât necessary or she has enough⊠but the compulsion to collect is Real.
Sorry, forgot to say that my husband went into a kind of shock after his failure to come off well in course appearance as an expert witness and his downward spiral became acutely noticeable. He became a changed man, quiet and withdrawn, sleeping a lot and poor appetite. Until he got confused at the airport on arrival and couldnât tell immigration officer where he flew in from and broke into tears. Only then did we test for a brain tumour. Turned out it was Alzheimerâs.
So i live alone and no family. Is there any way i would be able to recognize these signs in myself? Is it always other people who notice first? Im only 73 and im good now. But how could i manage this by myself?
if you go in for a test... insist and let me repeat this ..insist on an MRI... my parent was diagnosed with dementia and had a catscan.. yes it was dementia they said... 12 months later that family member died ... autopsy showed that literally half the brain had been eaten away by cancer... and MRI would have picked it up...
About two years before my wife was diagnosed with vascular dementia, she had to hold on to something when she was standing and walking. We called it "furniture walking". It progressed to a stair lift and then to a wheelchair. I wonder now if that was a warning sign of dementia.
I saw 1-8 & 10 in my mother. I really started noticing the signs when she was probably in the latter stage of early dementia. About 8 yrs before it became full-blown dementia.
- changes in mood and personality: I always hear: they are more irritated or grumpy. I knew someone who was always very serious and introvert, but in his early days of dementia he started waving at old acquaintances and smiling and chatting with people. What I missed: restlessness, the urge to wander
Subtle changes I observed with my in-laws recently were something like, losing wallet in a middle of a move, when they normally keep things in the same place. Inability to retrace steps and forget to complete the task and start to do something else. Forgetting the urgency to pack and move out of home because escrow closed. Keeping secrets, talking in circles without really answering questions. Long pauses with questions of how to do something like switching on light breakers or as to their location. Signing escrow papers and hiding them in a safe place that they don't even know where it is. Driving without a license and not remembering when or where they lost their wallet. Asking the same simple question multiple times. Somethings can be related to being overwhelmed, fatigue, lack of sleep. But, I can't buy all of it. I work in healthcare, and see dementia daily. So with that being said, we have to seek a diagnosis and prepare for their safety.
Explore our Care Collective for personalized support, live Q&As with dementia experts, and a supportive caregiver community:
careblazers.com/new-member-welcome-offer/
@@DementiaCareblazers Thanks. However, my mom passed away last month. Was just sharing.
I lost my Mom to dementia, it was so hard. Toward the end she didn't always know who I was but the last time I saw her I told her I loved her and she looked me in the eyes and said it back. I was so grateful for that last gift. â€
@litebriteeyes - Same here. My dad hadn't recognised anyone for years (he had Alzheimers), but the last time I visited him in the care facility, he looked, smiled, and called me by his own pet nickname for me. It was the best gift ever! He then told me how awful it was, not to be able to recall anything. That made me very sad: he was aware of not being "aware" đą
I had that. My friend had never said that he loved me. But a month before he died he came up to me in the home he was in and hugged me and said 3 times I love you I love you I love you. Then in a dream that wasn't a dream, he came to me 4 months after he died and did the same thing again. R.I.P Tomđ
The first time I noticed something very off was when my Mom asked me âwhy do I have a house payment â BOOM đ„ I was in shock. I explained to her that her husband my step father left her their house in his will. She was furious and asked me why in the hell did he do that. I told her he also left her enough money to make the house payments. This was about 5 years ago. So between that incident and 2 years ago she has been diagnosed with Dementia. She doesnât remember that she has been living with us since 2016. I am her caregiver along with a nurse visit once a week and a CNA 2 times a week. I donât go anywhere unless a family member is home with her. She had 4 horrific seizures and spent a week in ICU. That was last year. The medication she is on seems to be helping with seizures none for a year. I want to tell all caregivers we will get through this. Stay strong and Blessed â€
Was she ever on statins?
Those are notorious for Dementia risk.
Took care of my mom for 5 years. It's pure hell on everyone. So sorry for you and your mom!
wowwee scarry
@@marlenegold280 not true, some statins were but others don't cross the blood brain barrier.
1) memory loss..significant things, 2)challenges following through steps or solving problems (paying bills, follow recipe, medications). 3) forgetting rules or familiar tasks (game rules, driving routes), 4) confusion dates or time, 5)trouble gauging spatial relationships (more clumsy, parking closer to wall or other cars), 6) difficulty speaking or writing, 7)misplacing things forgetting where they are, canât retrace to find, 8)increased poor judgement, 9)withdrawal from activities they used to like, 10)changes in behavior or personality (withdrawn, anxious, etcâŠ). Thank you! Seeing many of theseâŠnothing not on this list. Maybe 6/10 things. Time to try again to see Dr.
Awesome
Thank you for the list!
Thanks for this. I've had dementia since I was 6, I guess.
@@edennis8578đđ
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1. memory loss (important information, well learned information)
2. challenges in following through with steps or solving problems
3. forgetting rules or familiar tasks (rules of a game, going to familiar location)
4. confusion of place or time
5. trouble gauging spatial relationships (tripping going up or down stairs, parking, bumping into things)
6. difficulty speaking or writing
7. misplacing things, forgetting where things are, trouble retracing steps
8. increased poor judgment (falling for scams, giving out more information)
9. withdrawal from social activities and hobbies
10. changes in behavior and personality
And please dont forget aggitation.
Sounds like Joe Biden.
â@@KMF3seriously I was just thinking the exact same thing only about trump đ€
@@micaonyx5301 give me examples of how it applies to Trump
@@micaonyx5301 exactly!
I'm 84 and do not forget anything because I don't remember anything.
Hahaha LOLđâ€
đsounds like my pop. L o Lđ
Appreciate your humor as dementia is a serious problem, we still need the laughterâŠwe as family members lose our loved ones right before our eyes and wish we can slow dementia down or reverse it.
đđđđ
Just take one moment at a time & celebrate life in the way it unfolds each day. GOD BLESS YOUâ€
Another big warning is paranoia-thinking someone is stealing from them
My father thought people were stealing water from the outside spout. He put a lock on it. Then he thought people were stealing mulch from around our trees. I had to explain to him that it deteriorated and gets washed away with the rain.
Oh God! The paranoia is the worst sign. My mother is convinced thar her neighbor has the key of her home and is coming at night , when she's sleeping, to steel ( insignificant things, btw). And the rage phase that comes with is terrifying.
My aunt accussed family visitors of stealing her bed linens. They'd put them in the dirty clothes hamper as they always had done! When they told her that, she was adamant it was a different set of sheets.
steal
@@n.h.8520 steal?
My Momâs first signs of dementia was restlessness at night. She would vacuum at midnight, would sleep on the couch or instead of her bed, and had trouble finding words - sheâd say âPut the things in the whatchmacallitâ (put the clothes in the washer). She stopped reading. She started occasionally saying mean things to friends. When she started to deteriorate, sheâd be looking at photographs or napping, and suddenly jump up and run out the door. I could not believe she could move so quickly! We had to put latches on the top of door (thankfully she was petite) so she couldnât run away. My Momâs deterioration was slow, it was over 10 years of little âquirksâ that built on one another. No matter what happened, she never forgot my Dad. She forgot she had children, her home of over 50 years, but not my Dad or the little apartment the had when first married.
The same happened with my mother after the passing of my father. Her demencia suddenly worsen.The paranoia and the rage were inbelievable. The force she is able to get to destroy things is terrifying.
For my mother's earlier signs noticed first:
1-Memory loss
2-Speaking-Using incorrect words for things
8-Poor judgement
10-Changes in mood
And almost all the others to follow
She is still good at playing poker and is very socially interactive and compassionate
She is 87
I am trying to watch out for myself. I am 64 and sometimes concerned.
I do have a stressful job and concerned about my mother being happy and not feeling alone.
Thank you for what you do for us! đ
One thing is to avoid statins, as they are known to increase Dementia risk.
Avoid all sugars, most carbs, that increases risk too. (Dementia is called Type 3 Diabetes)
My mother-in-law is sadly in the final, most severe stage. So, it gave my husband and I the impetus to see a neurologist at the earliest of signs from him. Our neurologist suspected MCI and referred us to a fantastic UCLA Research Study. Because we are participating in the Alzheimer's Research Study, they have underwritten all cognitive tests, physicals, blood draws, PET Scans, MRIs, etc. It has been a godsend knowing we are getting eyes on my husband early, and also for me to know that my tracking him and participating as his study partner empowers me to not feel so lost and helpless. This channel is a godsend too. It's hard to come to terms with what we are facing, and the support given here is tremendous. Thank you!
That's great that he was willing to get diagnosed early... I am curious as what his early symptoms were that led him to get tested?
@@larisarockenback3727 me too
@@larisarockenback3727 He is recently retired, so we are spending much more time together. I initially noticed short-term memory lapses, in a variety of settings. I was making note of the lapses, and our adult children had also noticed slight issues. We then started watching a well-loved TV fantasy series, and he had an extra tough time following the family plot lines. His mother is in severe, late stage Alzheimer's, so he is much more focused on doing everything he can to prevent the onset of the disease and extend his wellness. The Research Study has been a lifesaver, as is this channel---I am quite new here. With two APOE-4 genes, we know that it's important that he get early medical support (especially in creating a baseline of where he is in reference to the disease) and that we both stay current on all information available, as much as possible.
Has he taking a statin?
Those increase risk of Dementia.
@@marlenegold280 he is, but there are also studies reporting the opposite. His doctors are aware of our concerns, so he is staying on it for now. We are definitely monitoring it, thanksâŠ
The first time I *SHOULD* have noticed something was off was when I got a notice from the tax assessor that my mom had not paid her property taxes. I asked my mom about this. She fumbled through a drawer, handed me an envelope and said, "I keep trying to pay them but they keep sending it back to me." She had made out the check properly, but had addressed the envelope to the tax assessor at her own address. More than once. She never noticed the error. When I pointed it out, she said, "well they should have just called and told me. They don't need to keep sending it back without explanation." I just thought she was juggling too much and not really paying attention. The next two years were a very rapid downward spiral. It's only in this past year in Memory Care that she has stabilized a bit.
Iâve been sewing and mending clothes all my life. The other day I couldnât tie a knot in the thread. My brain seemed disconnected from the task. I was bewildered at not being able to figure out what I was doing wrong. It was frustrating and scary. The next day I was going to put a styling gel in my hair. I looked at the products on my sink, deodorant, hand lotion, perfume, etc, and had no idea which one was the correct item to use. I eventually figured it out. Needless to say I am shocked at this new development. I told my daughter all about it in case it gets worse.
Check for Hypothyroidism
Check for any form of Diabetes
Be aware of meds you may take which increase memory fog or Dementia risk⊠like statins.
anything can cause that. urinary tract infection, as the comment below said, thyroid?, infection, fatigue, low blood sugars, micronutrient deficiency. Nutrition is the number one consideration when you get old, I make sure my mom eats a good steak four times a week, salmon four times a week and loads of eggs. Yes a full blood test and then analyse your diet, and good luck to you, even dehydration can cause brain fog.
Pretty much all of these signs I have witnessed. The change in personality was the most easy to spot.
The shuffle. Their walk changed.
I have a shuffle it's called osteoporosis đ very painful. Boomer here
@@deborahwhit118 my apologies. I too have RA. My dadâs shuffle was distinct and I wa stinking of that shuffle. The Iâm lost shuffle. .
I gave my BF's mom a book that I read and figured she'd enjoy it too. She finished it right away and loved it. A few months later, she was so excited to recommend me... the same book. A couple months after that, she "discovered" the same book in her house that she thought a guest must've left behind...so she read it again, but she thought it was her first time reading it.
I try to read 50 books a year. I have always had short term memory issues unless I really lock it in. If I have to present about a book that tends to help me. the good news is that I can reread an interesting book and enjoy it as if itâs the first time or almost the first time
@@MrSurferDoug I've been this way with books and movies my whole life. Enjoy them while I'm reading/watching, then forget the plot soon after. I've always insisted that it's because I consider them to be "entertainment" and when the show is over, it's time to move back to my "real" life. I do, however, always recognize (if I start the same book/movie again because I didn't recognize the title) that I've read or seen it before because it feels familiar. Now that I'm a senior (at 72) I guess I need to be sure my kids know that this has always been the case for me so they don't think it's a sign of decline.
My husband had bvFTD for 20 years before he died; however, we had no idea what he had for the first 11 years. On your list of early warning signs, he had #9 and #10, but no one would listen to our children and me when we tried to say how much he had changed. Looking back, I recognize little things like not lining up his shirts in the closet the way he had always done, not hanging the towels after showering, but mostly it was his apathy and lack of empathy that was most noticeable. He had always been the kindest, most caring person, and he became cruel and indifferent. Also, he lost his love of music, which was very painful to observe. He looked so lost.
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, dr.porassss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I wish they were readily available in my place.
Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac.
He's constantly talking about killing someone.
He's violent. Anyone reading this
Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
Is he on instagram?
Yes he is dr.porassss.
One thing I noticed looking back was making up stories or or exaggerating or mixing up different events.
Losing things, stopping activities (gardening, cooking), confusion with time, repeating a conversation we had five minutes ago.
My MIL had 9 of these early on but also hoarding of papers and lots and lots of lists. Lists of names, dates, old shopping lists and what she'd bought etc
I noticed hoarding as well with paperwork! You should have seen the amount I took to be shred!!
@@SCSig1971same heređ€Šââïž
I've found that changes in (or withdrawal from) personal practices like exercises, stretching, meditation, or prayer can be an early sign.
Sudden unhealthy (fast) food cravings too?
These changes can exacerbate any health issues.
Thanks for making this video!
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Watching your videos helps explain so much that happened with my husband. I hadn't been around anyone with dementia in my family, luckily, so I missed so much about his. Plus I can now trace the more obvious signs starting around when he had covid. I wrote some of them off to that, some off to his drinking too much due to self treating of anxiety. But his forgetting to pay bills was the last straw. He had been an accountant. He never didn't pay the bills. After I took over paying bills I found out he had been spending too much money behind my back. Little things that I wrote off as, he is retired and it is hard to remember what day it is, because he would ask Alexa a dozen times a day what day and time it was. He stopped driving most of the time, said it was because it was my car and he didn't want to drive it. We found out he wasn't taking all his meds everyday. He would claim I never told him about an appointment when I had. So many little things I didn't really pick up on excused away. He just had other health issues that masked this new one. We were just starting to plan for the dementia when we found his cancer, so we never got past his moderate stage.
I hear you, I am living this now with my husband. His mother was our first we experienced having dementia, then my father lived it for 10 years. My mother took good care of him, after he passed my mother started to have dementia. It is heartbreaking. Many blessings to you.
The day my Dad forgot who I was will forever be burned in my memory, and brings me to tears just thinking about it. I know he couldn't help it, but it still doesn't lesson the pain. I'm so thankful my Dad didn't have the "angry sort of" Alzheimer's.
I walked into my grandmothers room in the Alzheimers Unit one day and she asked âWhen have you seen that Leah?â It was a little like a gut punch, but I made her laugh when I said âThis morning when I looked in the mirror.â She laughed, but you could tell she had the name but she still couldnât put my face with it. It was her first grandchild, a girl after she had 3 boys. We were very close. â€
I know your pain. I sent my mom a few photos of me and when I asked her if she received the photos I sent she said yeah I go them, but who's the old lady? I tried telling her it was me and she kept saying no it's not!
I know that feelingđą. Although my mom forgot us later, it still burns, her dementia progressed so quickly... delusion before any early signs noticed 6 if 10 symptoms before diagnosed in mid 2021.... she was in denial for 2 years. Now, she is in late stage... and lucky me she has aggressive behaviors.
I totally understand
My father shortly before he died thought that I was his mother. đą
Thank you, such a useful video. I think itâs memory but it was definitely repeating themselves with a story, or telling me my story back to me as if it were fresh information. The time between these incidents became shorter and shorter. Also being driven in the car becomes stressful because she cannot judge the spatial distance, so often thinks I am about to have a bump or put her in danger. Very stressful for both driver and passenger but so isolating for dementia sufferer. Itâs all heartbreaking.
When my mother landed in the hospital for a UTI, they would not release her because of her apparent dementia, and sent her to a nursing home. There they doped her up so much that she and I both got frightened. I flew out to advocate for her, and was eventually able get her home. I was used to her repeating herself during phone conversations, and knew she was having trouble completing certain tasks, but I was horrified to see that she had difficulty learning something as simple as how to use a glucose meter and finger stick. She also had no idea what to do when we encountered an elevator, and made an excuse that it had been a long time since she had used one. She was generally confused. She spent hours in the grocery store. Her living room was covered with piles of lists and notes and things she meant to read. She would blame others for misplaced objects. Her penmanship had deteriorated and she eventually spoke with a stammer. She went steadily downhill and was gone in seven years. Pure torture, and terribly sad.
It all started after she got a bunch of dental implants. First trigeminal neuralgia, gabapentin, necrotic jaw bones at the implants, then the list of 10âŠ
Physical trauma like surgery is often a trigger for dementia. Your poor mom had a terrible experience with her dental issues! Makes my hair stand on end.
Yes, medications for anesthesia can cause dementia to worsen. It is said that often people have already had dementia for 10 years before they are ever diagnosed, because symptoms can be subtle or easily explained.
I feel like I've heard about people having issues after dental implants before. The actor, Peter Falk (Columbo), was said to have suffered cognitive decline after dental work too.
I can see the dental implants causing it due to the closeness of mouth to brain. There has to be so many nerves in the jaws that they could get disrupted during the process.
Or perhaps the work or anesthesia have triggered mini-strokes?
My mother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in January but her "brain fog" as she calls it has been around for quite some time. I think the first thing I noticed was that she was repeating stories as far back as 2019. When Covid hit, she was so isolated - her partner was severely immunocompromised - and the lack of socialization really did a number on her. Then at the end of 2021, her partner and her brother died within two weeks of each other and I think "widow brain" just accelerated the dementia. She was scammed out of thousands of dollars before I was able to get control of her finances. She felt ashamed at the time, but now has no memory of it, thankfully, sort of.
My momâs early signs forgetting and repeating herself. When I mentioned it to her doctor he shrugged me off as if I was the problem. Soon after, when adult protective services got involved he changed his tune quickly declaring my mom incompetent. I tried changing doctors before than but really struggled getting help within the medical community. Nothing but a nightmare followed, my advice, take action before the state does.
Dementia/Alzheimers + medical community is a nightmare in itself. My sisters father in law had to go to a memory care facility. It was a beautiful place but that was all it was. $7000 a month. He would roam the halls at night. No nurses on the floor. He would of course forget where his room was and they would find him sleeping on chairs/sofas the next morning. He had so many falls. He couldnât cut his meat but they would put big chunks of chicken in front of him without an offer to cut it up. When my bro in law complained about the treatment, they âevaluatedâ him and said that he fell too much and he had to be moved to another facility. Guess for $7000 they wanted the âeasy stable dementiaâ patients that sat in a corner babbling to themselves. It was so very sad. He went downhill when he was moved and subsequently died a few months later.
@@patl.4170 shit :(
Progressive decline: My husband began to have trouble remembering which buses to take to go to his PCP visits. He had to check the schedules (including transfer). Then he couldn't read the schedules and know how much time between buses. Then he couldn't figure out what time to leave to walk to the bus stop in time. Then he couldn't figure out how much time it took to get ready. Then he forgot which side of the street to wait. A couple of times he'd miss the second bus at the depot. I was usually at work so he was on his own. One time I was home and the doctor's office called because he hadn't arrived. That's just one thing.
We were worried about dad, but he finally beat Medicare
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@@jcisking9622 I was wondering if anyone would catch that đ
Thatâs hilarious
Ass!
@@wildthings980 gotcha! đ
My husband diagnose with mild symptoms but is allowed to drive on local roads 12month driving licence itâs second nature to him and I always felt because heâs tall and seems confident let him drive but I feel dreadful when he goes past turnings I get angry poor guy says I know what Iâm doing I feel so sorry for him and I feel that Iâm like a abuser and a horrible person but I think Iâm going to drive and take it off him This illness is the worse thing to happen to anyone his poor sad face when we have gone through this familiar thing each time we go out I wish this had never happened Five years ago he had a operation for heart valve He has said it would have been better that he had died We were so happy that he had his life back I nursed him through that I loved him needed with me he is /was a dear husband .
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Did the doctors put him on a statin after the procedure?
Those are known to increase risk of Dementia.
I see all of them. Iâm still dealing with it. Itâs getting harder every day. Itâs my 84 yo aunt. Never had children. Husband died 5 years ago and she has no one except me. By the time I took over caring for her, everything in her life was in such a mess that it took months to straighten things out. Unpaid bills, taxes, HOA fees, what a mess. Thanks for your videoâs. So helpful!
Your Aunt & Uncle are so lucky to have you... and even in her ill mind, I'm sure she is grateful. My mom in her stage says 'thank you & sorry' occasionally. I know they have lucid moments. Hang in there, you are doing an awesome job.
Love you, Nat, and you have been SO HELPFUL on so many levels. I do want to stress (not to you, Nat, but to those seeking help), though, that this is SO TRICKY! They really need to have a professional evaluation if there is a concern. Every one of those items could be attributed to 'something else'. Recent cataract lens surgery, medication side effect or too many meds, stress!, overwhelmed other circumstances/worry; the list is endless. Get a professional diagnosis! It will be worth it. They may just be needing a little extra help (KIND help!) to get past something that is taking up too much time in their brain... Love ya, Nat, and THANK YOU!
My mom's 6 early signs 3 yrs before diagnosis were: Familiar Tasks... forgetting recipe ingredients; Confusion... getting lost within 2miles of home; Misplacing... lost her purse 3 times within few months; Poor Judgment... dated a guy who took all her money; Withdrawal Socially... her friends called me; Personality Change... her friends told me her demeanor changed. Also not on your list, one of mom's very first symptom I noticed was her delusion of people in TV coming into our house through underground tunnel... she told this to me and her friends.
Thank you Dr Nat for all your insightful coachings. Been watching you for last 3yrs... and I've learned a lotđđ
Did she ever take a statin?
Those are known to increase Dementia risk.
@@marlenegold280 hello... yes she was on it for about 4years before being diagnosed.. her two older sisters as well suffered almost 10yrs before her.
@@marlenegold280 yes she did but only for brief period of one year
I noticed my mom becoming increasingly confused about how to work the tv remote as well as the phone. Also she was becoming somewhat obsessive about various things like finding something in her closet or looking at the calendar to see when her dr appointments were. The thing that ultimately made her dementia worsen was her breaking her hip. Itâs a tough road â€
Well, most of these are showing up in my husband. He acknowledges that he needs me to "keep him going" but Mr. Marine refuses to get evaluated. It's a day to day work in progress for me trying to stay ahead of whatever poor judgement decisions, endless repetitions, removing donation requests from the mail, writing checks,etc.
Any hints for convincing him to be evaluated? He refuses to see himself as anyone other than a 29 year old Marine and MY caretaker.
I just told my husband that our insurance is requiring we get evaluated, so we are both going, it takes all the anger and frustration out. I havenât told him I suspect, my husband was born with cerebral palsy and requires forearm crutches heâs been using them since he was one year old, the doctors at The Shriners hospital for crippled children did an amazing job. Heâs had some issues with getting lost and I talked him into using his GPS so it will tell him if thereâs a traffic issue plus an ETA to get home so I can time dinner. But heâs denied saying things to me within minutes of saying them, and heâs had two bad falls, requiring staples and ER visits, very out of character. I donât think Iâm wrong, but he would never go if I came to him, heâd think I was being critical, heâs always leaned to be defensive anyway, which I understand, people are still very comfortable staring, bad being discriminating towards people with disabilities. Itâs mind blowing.
Could u ask him to get tested to give u peace of mind? Also telling him if there's nothing wrong (in his opinion) then there is nothing to be afraid of.
I hope that helps đ
10 signs of dementia, all applied although I find myself having a couple of those traits as well. My loved one is very much in denial and basically refuses help. It is very, very frustrating. Your videos are an excellent source of information and have helped me tremendously. Thank you for being there Dr. Natali!!
Is it coincidence that this popped up on my feed following the recent presidential debate?
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Withdrawl was a big sign for my mother with dementia and we missed it. She stopped going to church, family and class reunions during the covid years....and never went back. The social isolation really kick-started the symptoms of her dementia.. She gave the excuse of, "I don't want to get the virus! (and she never did)" which we totally accepted as reasonable, but hid what she was actually doing, which was withdrawing because of the dementia. She didn't want anyone to notice the changes in her.
My husband had a head injury last year , he has had memory loss since itâs progressing , he spends up to two hours in the bathroom in the morning , cleaning his teeth up to three times , not shaving very well etc , he has trouble paying money doesnât seem to be able to recognise the coins or notes value , canât recognise time on the clock , dressing inside out , back to front ! Cannot sign his name , fears making phone calls , doesnât understand his computer anymore , loosing things every day , short term memory is gone , driving is scary because we live in Portugal but our original country is uk , he often tries to drive on the wrong side of the road , weâve been money scammed out of thousands because he doesnt realise what is happening , he gets sleepy ,finds swallowing difficult , itâs hard for him to concentrate , he doesnât seem to react to things , his modesty has gone . He seems cheerful all the time and doesnât react to problems that are important ! I havenât had him assessed yet , should I do it ? He is 64 years old , his grandfather had Alzheimerâs .
My loved one is me and I have had some of these all my life. I'm the same as I was in my 20's and before and therefore, I've always had dementia.
If you've be this way all your life it may not be dementia... seems like it could be something like ADD.
One man wrote a book about his dad who seemed to have dementia, but turned out to have Hemochromatosis-too much iron in his blood.
Hemochromatosis increases risk of Type 2 Diabetes, and that increases Type 3 Diabetes risk (Dementia).
Taking statins worsen the increase in risk for Dementia.
With oncoming dementia, a family member told me she wouldnât know she was not remembering important things except that others told her. A doctor later told me that not being aware youâre forgetful is more serious than when you know your memory is not as good as it was due to maturity onset.
I feel for all of you. I went through this with my Mom, and have been fretting about myself as I have become more aware of so many of these problems. But I realize I also have ADHD!!! Just now diagnosed at almost 60! So many of these signs parallel ADHD problems, but I see now there really is a differing degree.
I am close to your age and began treatment for ADHD in my fifties. I cannot drive my car without Ritalin. Forget the meaning of traffic lights, forget how to work the car, have great trouble with spatial relationships - especially in parking lots. In my case, I was diagnosed with MS in my thirties so I always blamed that for any cognitive issues I experienced. Honestly, my childhood memories are classic ADHD.
Praying for your strength.â€đ
The stiff walking, the not making sense when speaking to a group of people, the falling up stairs, the freezing up for minutes at a time
Elder abuse by Jill!
Sad seeing it play out on the world stage . . .
He has been on a statin for years, these increase risk of Dementia and Parkinsonâs and sugar cravings (Type 3 Diabetes). đŠ
Itâs Parkinsonâs disease.
I didnât realize how far along my mom was until i got a week off caregiving. I was shocked.
Some are very good at masking their symptoms, for a time.. but when you spend more time with them... it's all there in plain sight.
@@xNialx my mom is in hospice now. She has lived years past expectations. I just took care of her by myself 24/7. I was saw the deterioration, i didnât realize how bad. Till i came back from visiting some friends.
People suffering dementia often act very clear headed when family members visit. My elderly brother had been a psychology major in grad school so he was clever enough to fake clarity when he was tested by a professional. đ He should have been put in a care facility years before. But it wasn't until the last few weeks of life that the family was able to convince doctors to refer him.
@@janetstonerook4552 ty for sharing.
One of the earliest signs was my husband having trouble reading a menu and picking out something to order. Another - related to personality change - was this formerly reserved, never outgoing person was suddenly talking to anyone. Meaning strangers in stores or on the street. It's been embarrassing and inappropriate a couple of times. It reduces my interest in taking him places.
With my case my husband had a stroke but his symptoms went back 7 months before but I never recognized them. He would forget where he was driving too. He forgot how to put gas in the car.
5:14 got me laughing even though this is a serious subject. I saw many of these symptoms leading up to current status of my mother. I think we all wish we could predict these things 10+ years before they become an issue. We could prepare. Thanks for sharing and making these videos.
For the symptoms. Memory loss for sure my mother would get lost going to her sister's house in the early days but we brushed it off. Planning was an issue as well trying to keep up with projects around the house or coordinating plumbing, gardening was an issue. This is more advanced but the ability to do laundry, cleaning the house and cooking started to fall off. The confusion with time and place is often. She will wake up at any time of the day thinking it is the morning even though it is totally dark outside. Being able to use the TV remote was always an issue we had to use universal remotes with 8 buttons instead of the cable tv remotes. Speaking wise she sometimes talks to me even though I cannot hear, or I am in another room but speaking wise seemed ok. Misplacing things have always been an issue. Judgement in the early days... I am pretty sure it happened, but I was not aware until the later stage. She used to be involved with Mexican dominoes with her sisters on a weekly basis then fell off totally during covid and never restarted. Mood and personality changes seems to be easily triggered emotionally over small things so yes.
My husband had surgery and had some difficulty coming out of it, but i was not sure if it was normal or not for him, he had not had been put under for that long in the past, i mentioned it to the doc that day. Nothing came of the inquiring. Then within the next 6-8 months started showing signs of several this with memory, confusion and feeling strange,(spacial effects). Later diagnosed with lewy bodies dementia. Can or do you address issues with surgery or big events kicking off the symptoms? Thanks for all you do
My MIL is currently showing all of these signs, but I think I would say we noticed 10. Personality changes first - she started becoming very judgmental, easy to anger, and paranoid. As more of the signs became apparent, it made sense this was the first sign vs just normal aging.
I kep tabs on myself as I donât have âloved ones.â The only one I notice is being more clumsy, a bit off balance. Itâs really frightening to contemplate what could be oneâs medical future!
I'm so sorry that you don't have loved ones
I saw all of these signs very early and so wish I had this information then. Also, he had trouble understanding the television. He said the people were talking too fast.
I noticed this in my step father 8 years ago. No one in his family would believe me. Now my mom and I are the caregivers. He has been diagnosed. Unfortunately I now see my mom where I saw him all those years ago. I don't know if I can handle both at the same time.
I feel for you! Discovered my father had Alzheimerâs while caring for my mother during her own diagnosis. They were at different stages - mum mostly not mobile but would once in a while surprise us while Dad was still very physically active but had poor judgment which put him in danger. Luckily, there were five of us kids and we worked well together so didnât feel alone. I hope you donât have to be alone đ
They were showing that a Carnivore Diet is very beneficial.
This takes out all the carbs which convert to sugars in the body.
Yes I use to put the little things to the side only when I mention it to the doctor he said we test for uti but she got lost on the way back from the toilet he said said thereâs more to this and we had a test
I have been following you for information. You have a lot of helpful advice. I will say though some of the pictures you show, the people look more agitated, when some of my husbands early symptoms arenât quite what the pictures portray, but I know thereâs definitely symptoms of dementia.
The problem isnt getting my loved one to go for a workup. The PROBLEM is finding someone who will do the work up and take your concerns seriously. I took my mom to her doctor and voiced my concerns. His first question to me was where did I get my medical degree. Even tho my loved one expressed some concern about her behavior too.the doctor just blew if off..well he did send his nurse in to do a check list of things..like ask her what year it was, who is the presdient. Took the nurse about 5 minutes to do. Then she was dismissed with a clean bill of health. BUT slowly the behavior is getting worse AND now we can add violence to the mix, where NONE existed. What do I do? We live in an area where there are not many doctors and few specialists. So is law enforcement my only option? It's just sad we have no health care in America, especially for the elderly.
I am so enraged by the incompetence of doctors! Why is it the most incompetent are also the ones doing the gaslighting and making disparaging comments? I wish I had an answer for you - specifically about the regional lack of access to healthcare. Wonder if there is a senior service organization that covers your area. Wishing you well.
Hal Cranmer owns three retirement homes in Mesa Arizona, he put some of the residents who had dementia on meat/carnivore. (Children agreed to bringing in no sweets) Some of the residents reversed their dementia, some went home to live a regular life.
True.
I read that too.
Carbs/all sugars should be avoided.
Another risk are statins⊠they increase Dementia risk as well.
Psych drugs too.
Thank you, continue in your gift.
Changes in basic driving safety practices. In can definitely see that even though they did not get lost. đđ
This may fall under poor judgement, but, using objects improperly...My mom started rubbing Neosporin all over her arm instead of her lotion, she used siccors to trim branches and put peices of tape over pealing paint on the outside of her house, etc.
How would you list this: My father started eating food that had gone bad. My mother divorced my dad. I was left living with him. I was only 18. I knew nothing about dementia and was left to deal with him on my own. One afternoon I happened to be home he told me to fry up a pork chop for him. I told him it needed to be thrown in the trash, it was turning green. I threw it away. I then checked the refrigerator to see if anything else might be going bad. I found O.J. that had soured. I left the kitchen and a few minutes later I heard the sound of the pork chop being fried. I knew something was very wrong.
For me it was my mom having a few significant falls within a span of a few months. I used to work as an aide in physical therapy and that was one of the issues mentioned with elder clients who came in with balance issues.
Several falls within in a year or less is a sign of cognitive decline.
My mom also started having hallucinations (bugs crawling that didn't exist, etc).
A really good and helpful summary.
I was the one to notice the 'black hole' in my father's memory on a visit.He loved quizzes , especially 'Who wants to be a Millionaire', but when I came to visit and put a disc with photos to look at in his laptop he said,'Oh, where did that come from,' referring to the drawer and I said,' That's where you put your disc when you play on Millionaire.' And he said, 'I never play on Millionaire.' I went straight out and said to my mother and sister, 'He needs to see a doctor asap.' My narcassistic, victim presenting, bully of a mother said, 'Oh he's always been like that. 'Even after he was diagnosed and his symptoms much worse, she was still bellyaching about how she'd told him something but he still hadn't done it. I blame myself for not removing him from that toxic atmosphere. When he was in a residential home and sitting in a chair without noticing anything around him, I put some headphones on him, attached to an MP3 with songs from the shows on, something he loved. He had a really good voice and loved to be in a choir. He began tapping his fingers to the tunes and it broke my heart.
FYI your title says gauging not gaging. Thx for the video, itâs helpful!â€
My mother was telling stories about people visiting her that were not there. Keep an anecdotal record of events. Be sure to include time of day and dates. This will help at the doctor.
I believe you mean to use the word anecdotal.
@@JW-kh9bm you are correct. I was talking and not typing.
Thank you for your teachings â€ïžđâ€ïž
Oh, God! Another difficulty is trying to get the person to agree to be tested. When it's early stages, their own fear can make them incredibly obstinate.
My husband began not being able to follow a conversation. He constantly interrupts whoever is speaking with, âWho did you say?â or âWhat did he do again?â He masks it by saying he doesnât hear well. So sad!
My MIL is increasingly isolating. Turning down company or activities we want to do with her. She hangs up on us. Idk if sheâs severely depressed or whatâs going on. But itâs not like her to be this way at all. She jumps at the chance to be with her family and loves going out and socializing.
My mom is similar. She has dementia and as it has been progressing, she's been less and less willing to go out and visit. I find if I give her a bit of encouragement and offer to bring her home immediately if she's not having fun, it often gets her going. Once she's out, she usually enjoys herself. Hang in there. You're not alone :)
I would add loss of focus for reading or even listening to books on tape .math skills also diminished
Boring book or movie ? Boomer here.
One specific problem with speaking than my mom exhibited in early dementia was using pronouns without antecedents. For example, saying "She gave me that" without ever saying who "she" is.
My mum has been doing that since the restrictions.
The first thing I noticed in my Dadâs wife when they would stay with us was not organizing like things together. For instance, she would stack different sets of dishes together when putting bowls, etc into the cupboard.
Looking back⊠the wife is always the last to know đ . The two big warning signs I missed- or helped him cover for- were 9 and 10. He stopped playing senior ice hockey which he loved . At 85 I thought it reasonable but unlike him. He was so fit and youthful. And my normally calm and rational loved one was increasingly argumentative and quick to anger. Soon I realized he was getting lost on familiar routes and his long time friends told me they thought something wasnât right. Iâll admit I was in denial for awhile but once I found Dr Natali and learned what was happening to him - and how I could adjust my behavior and expectations to support him- we had a wonderful few years together. He was walking , talking and his fun old but younger self until he died at 90. I feel lucky to have had all this time with him.
Very helpful.
I noticed all of these signs in my mother but not necessarily on the order given. I knew something was way off when I found a bill from her cable company saying they would not accept anything but cash payments from her in the future and they were about to cut her service off. My mother never had a history of paying anything late and always had excellent credit. And yes, she was easily agitated, accused us (her kids) of selling her house out from under her and taking her money. She couldn't remember being involved in selling her home and then living off the money she received from it. These are just a few things but she did display all of these changes prior to is having her diagnosed.
I have to also add lower sex drive and hygiene neglect when his whole life he was meticulous. Some of his friends called him the Peacock. This whole thing is so sad.
Thank you!
Problems with social filter- saying inappropriate and sometimes hurtful things to people she knows - including children - and to strangers as well. Speaking out when in the past she would have known better. Spending the entire day in her night clothes, sleeping or lying in bed a great deal perhaps watching TV or looking at social media when she was a sociable person in the past. However moving into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) at this point I think can make it more difficult or one can see the changes in deterioration more easily in a new setting.
1. I posted lists of instructions and phone # on wall in front of her. But she didn't "see" it.
2. Open fridge, look, close it. Open fridge, look, close it. Repeat.
3. Pieces of paper with names and phone numbers in multiple rooms. Like she "remembered" and needed to write it down at that moment.
4. Using sexual language that she wouldn't ever say.
5. Overeating and always hungry because couldn't remember that she had already eaten.
I donât know if this is one but for me, what I noticed first was repeating a story as if it hadnât been said in a conversation (not the same story repeated many times over time).
Thank you
My husband is aware of a paternal tendency for Alzheimer disease. He is going on 80. Heâs had several cognitive tests and has been prescribed several medications. I see #5 (trouble understanding visual info) and #6 (problems with speech) the most. His gait has definitely changed and I would like to have you address that. Thanks for helping me understand what he is facing as he ages so I can be the most helpful partner possible.
Avoid statins which increase Dementia risk.
Oh! Well I have been noticing most of these happening to me over the past 5-10 years. I think I need to address this. What is the first step? Discussing it with my primary care Dr?
10/10 but we were in denial and work and hobby partners saw them first and finally brought to our attention
It's hard not to be in denial. I'm sorry.
Iâll give you another reason why itâs hard to get diagnosed: the doctor. My mother told her dr I thought she had dementia. Iâve spoken with my own dr about symptoms. They both said, âwell, youâre bringing it up with meâ as if to say then itâs not a problem. So, nguess it wonât get diagnosed until itâs worse?
So true. My Mum was showing signs 1 and 7 and we brought it up with her doctor. Doctor brushed it off as just a sign of normal aging
Find another doctor!
@@CarolDawn-rh6zk already gone through 2âŠ.sigh
@@ronica2623 I'm so sorry! Prayers for you! đ
My moms Dr was so dismissive. Now she's gone. My poor beatiful mom. Yes please go to another dr.
Husband was diagnosed with MCI in 2008 and then with dementia in 2019. The very first sign I noticed was apathy and an unwillingness to help (something that had characterized him previously). He was diagnosed fairly quickly. I believe that one MD, who said he had AZ in 2013 and was the ONLY one to say that, was actually right. I believe my LO had enough reserves that for the most part, he was able to compensate for many issues, as long as he was not stressed. Oh yes, they checked for deperession and ADD. Now it is undeniable that he is not mentally "all there" any more. It is so sad.
I was caregiver for my husband wish I would have noticed signs quicker to help him and his was also getting a lot of UTI's which didn't help. I miss him a lot and this very hard for me to move on.
One we noticed that isnât on the list is collecting things. For example, business cards, anything placed out like brochures, newspapers ⊠many of the same. Then sugar packets and creamers. Then tea bags, jelly packets and rolling silverware into napkins. Each time we ask her why she is collecting, she always has a good answer that typically has to do with providing for others. Now it is pretty much anything she can pick up including empty cups, even used. However, she is agreeable about getting rid of most things if we can convince her it isnât necessary or she has enough⊠but the compulsion to collect is Real.
Sorry, forgot to say that my husband went into a kind of shock after his failure to come off well in course appearance as an expert witness and his downward spiral became acutely noticeable. He became a changed man, quiet and withdrawn, sleeping a lot and poor appetite. Until he got confused at the airport on arrival and couldnât tell immigration officer where he flew in from and broke into tears. Only then did we test for a brain tumour. Turned out it was Alzheimerâs.
So i live alone and no family. Is there any way i would be able to recognize these signs in myself? Is it always other people who notice first? Im only 73 and im good now. But how could i manage this by myself?
A change in the person's sense of taste and smell can be a very early warning sign, also.
if you go in for a test... insist and let me repeat this ..insist on an MRI... my parent was diagnosed with dementia and had a catscan.. yes it was dementia they said... 12 months later that family member died ... autopsy showed that literally half the brain had been eaten away by cancer... and MRI would have picked it up...
About two years before my wife was diagnosed with vascular dementia, she had to hold on to something when she was standing and walking. We called it "furniture walking". It progressed to a stair lift and then to a wheelchair. I wonder now if that was a warning sign of dementia.
I saw 1-8 & 10 in my mother. I really started noticing the signs when she was probably in the latter stage of early dementia. About 8 yrs before it became full-blown dementia.
- changes in mood and personality:
I always hear: they are more irritated or grumpy. I knew someone who was always very serious and introvert, but in his early days of dementia he started waving at old acquaintances and smiling and chatting with people.
What I missed: restlessness, the urge to wander
Subtle changes I observed with my in-laws recently were something like, losing wallet in a middle of a move, when they normally keep things in the same place. Inability to retrace steps and forget to complete the task and start to do something else. Forgetting the urgency to pack and move out of home because escrow closed. Keeping secrets, talking in circles without really answering questions. Long pauses with questions of how to do something like switching on light breakers or as to their location. Signing escrow papers and hiding them in a safe place that they don't even know where it is. Driving without a license and not remembering when or where they lost their wallet. Asking the same simple question multiple times. Somethings can be related to being overwhelmed, fatigue, lack of sleep. But, I can't buy all of it. I work in healthcare, and see dementia daily. So with that being said, we have to seek a diagnosis and prepare for their safety.
My husband repeated the same question over and over again.
Also a person can only retrace their steps to find a misplaced item - if they live in a tidy & organised environment! đ