Can Alzheimer's be triggered by a traumatic experience?
Physical trauma such as infections, injury, drug-reactions or interactions; dehydration and malnutrition, infections, or even anesthesia can bring on acute and temporary dementia, known as “delirium.” If a person is already disposed to dementia, a single traumatic experience can trigger a sharp mental decline and onset of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Emotional trauma, such as the death of a spouse, sibling, or child, has also been known to have caused acute onset of Alzheimer’s and other dementia; however most likely the person was already prone to the disease.
Any time you have a sudden onset of any of these symptoms, it’s important to be proactive. The person should have a thorough physical exam to eliminate possible reversible conditions of delirium.
I disagree with the "expert" this time. I'm an RN, my Dad had Alzheimer's, I lead Alzheimer's support groups for years as well as grief support groups. As she said, "a single traumatic experience can trigger a sharp mental decline" but I do not agree that it triggers the "onset of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia." The Alzheimer's is already at work, the traumatic emotional or physical event merely makes the symptoms noticable perhaps earlier and more sudden than they would have presented had the "event" not occurred.
Stand corrected on one part. Yes, the disease is already present and the trauma simply brings it to the surface.
After almost two decades working this community, I have witnessed several such dramatic plunges into dementia or a sudden extremem decline in a person with Alzheimer's. Some after major surgery and others brought on by psychological trauma, such as loss of a loved one or major move with no transition.
