Questions About Dementia Types

1. How do we help my father, with Lewy Body Dementia, find the bathroom at night?

   Question - Many people reach a point in their dementia where they are no longer capable of finding their way around. This is often worse at night, probably because of darkness and shadows, and the additional confusion that comes with sleep.
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

2. What can we do if my aunt is about to be kicked out of her nursing home due to anger issues?

   Question - I am very sorry you are having to deal with this very difficult problem. Unfortunately, it is very common that as dementia progresses, people become frightened and confused and this leads to aggressive behaviors. In your aunt's case, her long history of anxiety may be further exacerbating the problem...
   1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

3. I need to find resources for Lewy Body dementia. Any...

   Question - If you haven't already done so, you could check out the Lewy Body Dementia Association that can be found at www.lbda.org. I hope this helps. Good luck.
   1 Community Answer

4. Is a memory care center for Alzheimer's the best place for someone with Lewy Body dementia?

   Question - My husband has Lewy Body dementia, Hydrocephalus (vent. shunt) and he suffered a severe stroke last May (it literally colapsed his right ventricle of his brain). The stroke made the lewy body much more prevalent and now he is in a memory care center with 7 other Alzheimer's patients. Is this the right place for him...

5. How can we control my dad's violent behavior and find a care facility that will accept him?

   Question - Persons with dementia, whether vascular or Alzheimer's in type, may experience fear and confusion especially when they are in congregate settings. They may 'act out', as you mentioned, to protect themselves against perceived danger. When someone approaches, they may delude that they will be hurt unless they 'lash out'...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

6. Is my husband's behavior due to vascular dementia or bi-polar disorder?

   Question - It is not possible to tell apart bipolar disorder and vascular dementia on the basis of information that your provided. If your husband had vascular dementia, he would most likely have other deficits of cognitive function (short term memory, orientation, judgement) in addition to some delusions...
   1 Expert Answer

7. Why is body odor associated with vascular dementia?

   Question - Body odor is an individual thing but why is body odor associated with vascular dementia? Body odor with vascular dementia is like body odor with other dementia. People may become incontinent and wet their pants or not know to change a pad if they wear protection. They also may not remember if they had a bath or if their clothes are cleans...
   1 Community Answer

8. Is there a way to enjoy my respite time and help my husband get past his anger at me?

   Question - I'm sure this is not what you expected going into your marriage. (My husband and I are 20 years apart and I always wonder: if and when.) You have every right to be frustrated and in need of respite. Allow yourself to have these emotions. It's OK!
   1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

9. How do you care for someone with Lewy Body dementia?

   Question - Lewy body dementia (LBD) causes a progressive dementia. The disease causes abnormal structures, called Lewy bodies, to develop in regions of your brain involved in thinking and movement.
   1 Expert Answer

10. Is there any hope after a diagnosis of vascular dementia, or does it just keep getting worse?

    Question - Vascular dementia, which is a dementia caused by multiple small strokes or vascular changes in the brain, effects people differently. In some people, the disease will progress no matter what you do. Others will have great success with medications slowing down the disease.
    1 Expert Answer

11. My mother forgets to turn off the faucet after she uses it, what should I do?

    Question - Goodness. This one is tough. I've been racking my brain to come up with some ideas. My best suggestion is to try posting notes around the sink and bathroom door. Write it in bold large letters. Also, you may consider adding a picture to the note to help her understand the task at hand a little bit better...
    1 Expert Answer

12. What is vascular dementia?

    Question - Someone mentioned it in an e mail to me, and I'd never heard of it

13. Do dementia medications make a person sleep most of the day and night?

    Question - My 86 yr old husband was diagnosed with vascular dementia/early Alzheimer's Disease 2 yrs ago. Since then he has been on 10 mg Aircept and 75 mg of the anti-depressant, Effexor. Recently we visited a neurologist who prescribed 10 mg Namenda .He does have occasional headaches. I am concerned about two behavior problems...

14. Does someone with a very weak heart and vascular dementia have a shorter term life?

    Question - my uncle was diagnoised with vascular dementia he is very sick he has cardiomyopathy from his heart he has had several mini strokes and he has a lot of blockages in his arteries his memory comes and goes and is worse when he don't have his medication he has no strength he has fallen and broke his leg...

15. How do we "read" someone who cannot communicate?

    Question - Our father suffered a debilitating stroke 17 years ago. His speech was restored to the point that, although slow and labored, he could make his needs known and even join in conversations somewhat. Vascular dementia seems to have taken away all of his ability to communicate - he cannot speak and he cannot write...

16. What is the life expectancy of someone with vascular...

    Question - Vascular dementia is often caused by what doctors call “silent strokes” in the brain. What is the life expectancy of someone with vascular dementia would depend on many things. Sometimes, if the small strokes occur often enough and then lead to a major stroke the person may not live too many years. rs...
    1 Community Answer

17. What are the stages of vascular dementia?

    Question - Most people are aware that there are several stages identified in Alzheimer’s. What are the stages of vascular dementia? I’ve read quite a bit and haven’t found any strict vascular dementia stages.
    1 Community Answer

18. Is vascular dementia hereditary?

    Question - The tendency toward vascular disease is hereditary so one may ask is vascular dementia hereditary? There’s a difference between directly inheriting something and having the tendency for something to run in a family. If heart and blood vessel disease runs in a family, then there is likely a higher ririsk of vascular dementia...
    1 Community Answer

19. Could my mother have Alzheimer's, rather than dementia?

    Question - When the doctors say your mother has dementia, they are referring to her symptoms. Dementia is not a disease but a set of symptoms including memory loss, changes in attention and abstract reasoning, and so on. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, but it's not the only one...
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

20. Can a TIA have residual effects?

    Question - By definition, a TIA should cause symptoms that last no more than 24 hours. If your mother is still having symptoms from an event that took place last year, this would be considered a stroke, not a TIA. That said, with regards to vascular dementia, a TIA can cause damage to the brain that is not noticeable to the patient but can be seen on radiologic imaging...
    1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

21. Where can I find a support group for caregivers of people with non-Alzheimer's dementia?

    Question - As you've discovered the majority of dementia support groups target the caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease. The good news is that more and more groups of other types are being created (such as for people with early-onset dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, etc.).
    1 Expert Answer, 7 Community Answers

22. Has anyone had any success with a weighted blanket to help a...

    Question - Has anyone had any success with a weighted blanket to help a restless sleeper? My husband, age 73, has Lewy body dementia and is in stage 6. One of his major problems is sleeping. I am considering a weighted blanket due to his restlesness and inability to stay asleep for any length of time.

23. Can you get vascular dementia from stroke?

    Question - These are great questions, let me try to tackle each one in turn:
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

24. Does Namenda work for Lewy Body dementia?

    Question - If you’re wondering does Namenda work for lewy body dementia, you’ll need to wait for more research to find out a solid answer. Many drugs that are used for Alzheimer’s disease are also used for other types of dementia.
    1 Community Answer

25. How do you handle someone with vascular dementia?

    Question - How do you handle someone with vascular dementia is much like how you would handle someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. You talk in short sentences, and not too fast. You keep our voice low and don’t get anxious, your anxiety will make theirs worse.
    1 Community Answer