Alzheimer's Signs and Symptoms Questions

1. What would be causing restlessness with dementia?

   Every medication may cause adverse effects and from your description it seems that Seroquel is not good medication for your mother. It may be useful to try another medication for treatment of her delusions and hallucination - Risperdal or Abilify have good effects. Lorazepam should not be used on a long-term basis...
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2. How do you determine which stage of dementia a person is in when their symptoms overlap stages?

   Dementia symptoms are as individual as each person who has the disease. For instance, a person with dementia usually can walk until they reach the moderate stage of the disease and then I meet someone who can still walk without assistance and they cannot speak more than a few words and need extensive assistance with eating...
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3. Is it normal for an Alzheimer's patient to swing very noticeably between good and bad days?

   It is not unusual for persons with Alzheimer's disease to have good and bad days. You can check for effectiveness of medication by decreasing the dose and observing if it makes any difference. However, I am afraid that the condition of your husband will worsen significantly if you discontinue the medications...
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4. At what age do the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to appear in women?

   This website, Caring.com, has several online lists of the signs of Alzheimer's (AD) that are extremely concise and useful. Just type the words "Symptoms of Alzheimer's" into the search mode and you will have immediate results that can be printed and shared with other family members...
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5. Is my mother's behavior typical of old age or dementia?

   Unfortunately dementia is often dismissed as “typical” of the elderly. Whereas some forgetfulness is common as we get older, persistent short term memory loss and confusion are not part of “normal aging.” Rather, these are indications of Alzheimer’s or a rela...
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6. How can I tell if these symptoms are due to my recent surgery or dementia?

   Alzheimer's disease is also a brain disease, so it is not surprising to me with your history of brain tumor and surgery that you would have similar symptoms, such as memory loss. You do not mention in what part of your brain your tumor was removed from in your question...
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7. How do I deal with my husband's delusions and wanting to go home without an argument?

   Disorientation for an Alzheimer patient is often reflected in "I want to go home" statements. The short term memory loss has advanced to the point where they may not remember their present setting but instead retrieve the memory of where they lived from long ago. Thus, they feel afraid and in a strange setting and yearn for the comfort of their 'home'...
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8. Is there an effect of sun, brightness, and heat on someone with Alzheimer's?

   I am assuming the change in temperament and personality you have noted, has been for the worse, not better. High heat and humidity together create discomfort for all of us. In addition, elderly people can be more susceptible to the effects of heat...
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9. My sister thinks other people are eating her food, how should I explain that she is the one eating it?

   One of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s is paranoia. As the disease progresses, loved ones exhibit various behaviors that may not make sense. One of these is hiding things. When it gets really bad they accuse their caregivers of taking their things.
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10. Should I be concerned about my mother's memory?

    Yes, you're right to be concerned any time memory loss is an issue. Alzheimer's or other kinds of dementia are not inevitable side effects of aging. Their incidence does rise with age; only 2-3 percent of people 71 to 79 have Alzheimer's, for example, compared with 29 percent of those over 90.
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11. Is Aricept doing more harm than good with pleasant dementia?

    Aricept may have different effects in different people. I would not recommend starting it again if your mother is doing better without it. However, if her dementia progresses, you might want to try it again.
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12. Is there such thing as Sun Up Syndrome ?

    When you say that your mother is experiencing Sundown Syndrome in the morning, I assume you mean that your mother is agitated and confused. "Sun-up syndrome" is a first for me, in terms of Alzheimer’s.
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13. What is the difference between frontotemporal dementia and Alzhiemer's disease?

    Dementia is a very broad category. Frontotemporal and Alzheimer's are a few "types" of dementia. Different types of dementia depend on the clinical process. Frontotemporal is your husband's clinical process. Alzheimer's is another clinical process.
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14. Are Delusions a Sign of Dementia, Delirium, or Both?

    In older people, delusions -- false beliefs that aren't typical of a person's culture or faith -- can be a common sign of dementia, of delirium, or of both at the same time. Delusions essentially are caused by the mind not working normally.
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15. Could a hypoxic episode cause dementia?

    This is a very difficult response to your question. Yes, a hypoxic episode can cause brain damage which is like a stroke and as you know people who have had a stroke sometimes recover. If he does not become upset try simple word games, flash cards and perhaps pictures of your family, trips you have taken and other happy occasions...
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16. Are blurred vision and headaches common with Alzheimer's?

    Blurred vision and headaches are not common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It is important to have vision of your mother-in-law examined by an ophtalmologist to eliminate the possibility that her blurred vision is due to conditions such as glaucoma or cataract. Vision problem may cause headaches, although headaches could be also due to many other condition...
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17. How do we deal with Mom rejecting us due to dementia?

    Your mother’s rejection must feel like a stab to your heart; of course your feelings are hurt. No doubt this rejection was brought on because of her dementia. An innocent remark or gesture on your part could have brought back something unpleasant from her childhood or youth and because of her dementntia she’s unable to separate the present from the past...
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18. My mother is confused all the time, what stage of Alzheimer's is she in?

    Level of confusion and Alzheimer's stages can be difficult to discern. As you said, characteristics of stages may overlap. Even so, it can be helpful to frame the person's current level of functioning into one of the stages. It can give you information about how the person might function, areas they...
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19. FAQ: Can Alzheimer's Be Diagnosed in Someone Who Doesn't Yet Have Any Symptoms?

    Not yet in routine medical practice. Recently, Alzheimer's tests have been developed that can identify biomarkers known to be linked to the later development of dementia symptoms due to Alzheimer's disease. Because of this, in April 2011, a panel of experts recommended new criteria for diagnosing and defining Alzheimer's disease...
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20. Is my mother-in-law developing Alzheimer's?

    Families are often first notice memory loss, but there are also other symptoms as you well know. You can learn what to watch for here .
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