I have gone to caregiver support groups where both caregivers and social workers have told me not to bother. The reason for her dementia is not important since there is nothing that can be done. Other than her forgetfulness, she is in good health. She only takes vitamins. No other medication.
My mom's mental and physical health changed very abruptly in her early 90's and I was left trying to make sense of it all on my own, that's how I found AgingCare. I never did get any help from any of mom's doctors; her GP had previously sent us to a neurologist who was only focused on stroke prevention, despite brain scans neither of them ever discussed any potential for dementia. The ER docs couldn't see beyond her age and more or less told me she was end of life and the nurse who was in charge of her home care told me the same, nevertheless she lived years beyond that point. I'm pretty sure a diagnosis wouldn't have changed anything but it certainly would have helped ME to understand and make plans.
"Dementia mostly affects older people, and the risk of dementia increases with increasing age. ... Nearly 1 in 4 people aged 85-89 have dementia. It is rare for someone under 65 to have dementia, but it does occur at younger ages and we call this 'younger onset dementia'."
With dementia effecting the elderly at almost 25% of the population, doesn't it seem that it IS an inevitable part of aging?
If it were not for the guardianship we wouldn't have done this. There is no cure, nothing to help her.
If anything is tested, it should be non-dementia tests to rule out other medical issues, such as UTIs, which can cause dementia-like symptoms and are most often treatable!
I wouldn't go to a neurologist just to determine the type, unless regular testing can't determine if it is something like Frontal Temporal, Lewy Body OR as in your case you need it for guardianship or perhaps some medication is needed to help calm a person who has hallucinations, sun-downing, etc and it is bad enough that it needs some control. Otherwise, it is what it is, testing won't change anything, but getting informed about dementia, the various types, what you might expect and a sample progression WILL help those caring for or advocating for a LO will be better prepared to do what needs to be done! Keep in mind that each person's journey is unique - they have similar symptoms and progressions, but progress at their own rate and experience things differently.
I suggest learning the reason for dementia IS just as important, equally so if there is, or is not, any family history. It allows other family members to come to terms with the possibility/likelihood of them contracting the disease, not to mention planning their own futures, and taking advantage of every research development as it comes along.
HOWEVER, you may want to get her to agree now to make you her PoA for financial and medical matters. Without that power, you will not be able to make decisions for her if she is incapacitated.
But identification of the type of dementia might be possible, but not a certainty. That can only be done post mortem with an autopsy.
That is until you know that often times dementia is just a temporary symptom when an elderly person has a bladder infection. UTI’s manifest differently in older people than in younger people. No pain when urinating as when younger. My dad has moderate Alzheimer’s and I moved my mom and dad in with us about two years ago to lighten the load. When he takes a turn for the worse on memory, I know the UTI has returned. Tests are done to confirm, anabiotic’s are prescribed, and by the time the round of anabiotic’s are finished, my pop is back to his cheerful self and much of his memory has returned. I don’t think it’s fair to look at someone’s age to determine whether they should receive care or not. also, when he was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/dementia, he was put on medication and I was amazed at how much it helped! God‘s not done with your mama yet. The fact that she still has breath confirms this. We live in a culture where many have forgotten how to honor our elders. I know it’s frustrating and scary and tough to know what to do. I found that just to take one step at a time is best. Take your mom to the neurologist. The neurologist may forgo some of the tougher tests such as MRI’s and will simply prescribe some of the better medications that can help her memory. And take your mom to her physician or even urgent care and have them test for a bladder infection. You might just be pleasantly surprised, once she’s on medication how much better things will be. To answer your question more specifically… I don’t know that you really need to have an answer of why she has dementia so much as finding ways that you can help her to enjoy the days she has left to their fullest.
If it is early in the diagnosis there are medications that can SLOW the progression but eventually they will stop working.
There are "typical" signs, symptoms to look for or expect with some forms of dementia so that might give you a "heads up" with what might be next in the progression. If you want that as a guidebook as to what might happen in the next 6 months it might help. On the other hand sometimes trips are more rewarding if you don't have a guidebook and you discover territory on your own.
After my Husband was diagnosed, and I/we did not have a lot of testing done, I sort of came to the conclusion after a few years that he probably also had Vascular Dementia along with the Alzheimer's that had been diagnosed. There was no way I was going to put him through testing to confirm. I just kept in the back of my head that at any point he could have a stroke that would possibly kill him before the Alzheimer's would.
Ultimately your call, or yours and moms if she can still make some decisions if you want a full battery of tests done. But I would not put anyone through more than they are comfortable doing.
While it's true that the reason for the dementia is not really important, there are reasons to track her memory loss.
I don't think she needs a neurologist, she needs a gerontologist. For the rest of her life, the gerontologist can help both of you to make sure she's in the best health overall health possible. Definitely limit the number of doctors she sees; a gerontologist is the right doctor for an elderly person.
Good Day.
We never did the "testing" and mom hasn't taken anything other than her usual BP meds, with the exception of antibiotics for a few UTIs and Lorazepam (anti-anxiety) for the first UTI as it caused MAJOR sun-downing. After UTI cured, no need for the Lorazepam.
The next 2 UTIs manifested as night time bed wetting. Go figure! Once treated, bed wetting stopped.
She started the early memory issues around age 90, moved to MC around age 93 and is now 96. Gradual recent memory losses along the way, now she's living life about 40 years ago. Otherwise, she's had no need for other medication. She still knows who I am, but asks about her mother and younger sister, both gone (mother around 40 years ago, refers to sister's grandchild, who is about 40 now, as "that baby" she's taking care of.) Mom is the last of her generation on both sides of the family. I swear she's going to outlive us all!
If you have POA and it says it takes effect when the person is found incompetent, you may want that letter to help put the POA in effect.
I would want a neurologist involved if Mom needed any meds for anxiety or violent tendencies. I took Mom once a year for a while then the Dr. told me there was no reason to come back. It was just allowing nature to take its course.
This will help with legal questions later
By the way, so glad to hear that your mom is doing so well.
Her mom sounds pretty healthy for now -- only taking vitamins? What a blessing! I hope my only issue at 95 is forgetfulness...
It's not that simple. Mom has seen various doctors, neurologists and psychiatrists, not a simple one has written a diagnosis of dementia anywhere. They just list the symptoms.