Browse Questions About Alzheimer's Symptoms - Page 1

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

What are the first signs of Alzheimer's?

Question - Yes, memory lapses are often the first sign of Alzheimer's recognized by family members. But it's important to realize that many different factors can also cause memory impairment, including other dementias, depression, and drug interactions. (See a list here...

1 Expert Answer, 10 Community Answers

Can stress cause Alzheimer's?

Question - There is no evidence to suggest that psychological trauma or other psychological difficulties cause Alzheimer's Disease or any other dementia. On the other hand, psychological difficulties, most commonly depression or anxiety, can impair memory. These memory effects are fortunately reversible with proper treatment...

1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

What are some symptoms of dementia?

Question - Classic symptoms include the following: Memory lapses, confusion over word choice and use, marked changes in mood or personality, trouble with abstract thinking, difficulty completing familiar actiities, disorientation (to time, place), misplacing items, and poor ior impaired judgment. You can find details here...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Is dementia the same as Alzheimer's?

Question - Not exactly. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is not a disease; it's a set of symptoms that affect daily functioning (such as memory loss and changes in abstract reasoning and attention) caused by deterioration in the brain...

1 Expert Answer, 20 Community Answers

Is this Alzheimer's or normal memory loss?

Question - My 84 year old mother has been diagnosed with 1) depression (2 doctors), 2) mild to moderate dementia (1 doctor) and 3) vascular dementia (1 doctor and 1 Nurse Practitioner ---- although the social worker who is hell bent on putting my mom in a nursing home now claims they said it's Alzheimer's)...

6 Community Answers

Is forgetting words you intend to say a sign of Alzheimer's?

Question - Not necessarily, and by itself, not probably. Every adult has had the experience of a word being "on the tip of my tongue" or forgetting what she meant to say next. Occasional forgetfulness does not mean you have Alzheimer's; it means your brain is aging just like anybody's, a process that starts in your 20s...

1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

Is repetition a sign of early Alzheimer's?

Question - Hello lovinlife3,

5 Community Answers

Can Alzheimer's symptoms lessen if brought back to a familiar setting?

Question - My 74 year old Dad has Alzheimer's. He was being cared for in his apartment by my brother, me, a health aid and his girlfriend -- all on a rotating basis. Recently, we moved him to an assisted living dementia unit where he declined in one week to not being able to walk or feed himself very well...

How can I calm down someone with Alzheimer's when they're crying?

Question - I think there are two issues here – the emotions behind the tears and an evaluation for depression. Constant crying is very often a sign of depression which affects people with Alzheimer’s at a higher than average rate. If the person had diabetes, we would treat that. With depression, we should ald also treat it...

1 Expert Answer, 21 Community Answers

What if my dad's doctor doesn't think it's Alzheimer's?

Question - It's not unusual for me to encounter a situation in which a parent has gone to a particular doctor for years, even decades, who is now hesitant to accept that there's a dementia process going on. Social skills often are the last things to go, so if the parent seems normal during a visit, the doctor won't notice anything wrong...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

What could be causing my mother, who has Alzheimer's, to obsessively rub her eyes?

Question - Dear Dinah,

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

How Do I Know If Someone With Dementia Is Depressed?

Question - Unfortunately, you can't always know if someone who has dementia is depressed. Dementia can make depression much trickier to diagnose, since the symptoms of depression and of dementia can overlap. For example, anxiety, agitation, apathy, and/or irritability can be seen in either dementia or depression, or in both...

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1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

Is my wife's Alzheimer's causing her to fall asleep frequently during the day?

Question - Dear caregiving husband:

1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

FAQ: What Is Clinical Alzheimer's Disease?

Question - Clinical Alzheimer's refers to Alzheimer's that's been diagnosed by a clinician (a physician, neurologist, or other medical expert). It's what people usually mean by the term "Alzheimer's disease" or "Alzheimer's dementia."

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1 Expert Answer

FAQ: Can Alzheimer's Be Diagnosed in Someone Who Doesn't Yet Have Any Symptoms?

Question - 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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1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Which Alzheimer's symptoms get worse over time?

Question - Your mother-in-law is probably approaching the advanced stage of Alzheimer's disease. Her symptoms will become more debilitating as the disease progresses. Her difficulty swallowing may be the first acute symptom you will face. Make sure everyone who cares for her learns what to do if she chokes...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

FAQ: What Is Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease?

Question - Preclinical Alzheimer's disease means that Alzheimer's biomarkers are detected in the brain and blood, but no symptoms of the disease are yet apparent. It's also called "presymptomatic Alzheimer's."

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1 Expert Answer

How do we convince my father to see a doctor about possible Alzheimer's symptoms and hearing loss?

Question - It can be tricky, especially because friends and family of someone with Alzheimer's often recognize a possible problem first. Or your dad may have noticed problems himself and is scared of a diagnosis, or in denial. Here are some suggestions that have worked for others.

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

How do you know that a person is the last stages of Alzheimer's?

Question - When a person with dementia reaches the advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease, he or she usually displays the following physical and cognitive signs:

1 Expert Answer, 9 Community Answers

How do I go about diagnosing Alzheimer's for my mom?

Question - A doctor diagnoses Alzheimer's disease by process of elimination -- making sure there is no other possible cause for the worrisome symptoms. Many different things can cause memory loss, for example. He also will run some simple cognition tests that have a high accuracy in diagnosing dementia. See this article, "The Path to an Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

Is my mother-in-law developing Alzheimer's?

Question - 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 .

1 Expert Answer

What is considered normal memory loss?

Question - Amazingly, brain cells start to deteriorate by the 30s, with the effects of this becoming more apparent by one's 40s, 50, and 60s: forgetting what you just walked in a room to get, losing your keys, blanking on a name. These are examples of normal memory loss, especially when they occur just every once in awhile...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

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

My loved one with Alzheimer's is getting worse. Most of the time, he does not know me. What to do?

Question - Dear Ann:

1 Expert Answer

Should we take my Dad to a neurologist for Alzheimer's dizziness?

Question - A visit to the doctor to discuss new behaviors never hurts. In this case it seems like a good idea particularly if the dizziness is a new symptom for him. However, I want to address his reaction to the near fall.

1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

What Are Early Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Question - Memory lapses are often the first sign of Alzheimer's, and they tend to be recognized by family members more than by the person affected.

1 Expert Answer

Can Alzheimer's suddenly get worse?

Question - Yes, Alzheimer's symptoms can and do worsen suddenly, once described by a man with Alzheimer's as the "come and go" disease. Although the progression of disability and memory loss in Alzheimer's is generally slow and insidious, people with Alzheimer's may have small strokes, episodes of delirium...

1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

Should my mom's house remain unchanged even though she has memory problems?

Question - Changing the environment drastically is usually very disorienting to someone with dementia or Alzheimer's. It's best to maintain familiar surroundings.

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

How can I deal with my mother's aggressive behavior?

Question - Yes, it's common for a person with memory loss not to recognize a family member. Your mother is now living in the past when you were a young child; she doesn't remember you as an adult. Please seek help immediately. You must not allow your mother to abuse you in any way...

1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

What are the best activities for Alzheimer's patients?

Question - You don't specify what stage of Alzheimer's, but beneficial activities don't have to involve pencil-and-paper. Anything that stimulates the mind to focus and think, and/or that involves social stimulation with other people, is useful. This can include a surprising number of everyday activities...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Can the symptoms of Alzheimer's be reversed?

Question - It is very likely that your father had a mild stroke that affected his memory. The sudden onset and recovery are strong indications of this. You might want to talk to his physician about antiplatelet medications to prevent stroke recurrence.

1 Expert Answer

Can early signs of Alzheimer's be mood swings and feeling unsettled?

Question - A single occurrence or two of unusual behavior should not cause too much concern. Signs of early Alzheimer’s may include the behaviors you describe. However sitting in the car, horrible mood swings, and feeling unsettled by themselves can also be signs of other issues, such as depression, low-grade e infections, aches and pains, or bad drug reactions...

1 Expert Answer

My mom no longer is able to read, is this normal for someone with moderate Alzheimer's?

Question - Yes this inability to read does follow the pattern of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the moderate stage. There are many facets to this particular ocurrence. Rather than a problem with pronunciation, the loss of the ability to read seems to be more a loss of comprehension combined with other losses caused by AD...

1 Expert Answer

Can my wife's silence and staring mean her Alzheimer's is getting worse?

Question - My wife has Alzheimer's and I visit her three times a week. She does a lot of jabbering and smiling like she is telling me things, but lately she is quiet and stares. I was wondering if this is temporary or is it a sign that she is going to another stage?

Should I teach my mother sign language to keep her communicating with me?

Question - I have never heard of a sign language being useful in Alzheimer's disease. The problem is that the person with dementia has impaired memory so she would not be able to remember the meaning of the signs. However, you might be able to communicate non-verbally with your mother using common gesture, e.g...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Is it normal for an Alzheimer's patient to have unusually high pain sensitivity?

Question - Is it normal with dementia or Alzheimer's for the patient to have an unusal sentive pain by merely touching their hands or arm? My husband constantly says it hurts by simple touching him to direct him somewhere. I touch very lightly but he still complains so I dont know if he really is having pain or just says that...

Is vertigo common in Alzheimer's patients?

Question - I have not heard of vertigo as a symptom of Alzheimer's disease(AD). The AD folks I have known, who have shown signs of lighthead or dizziness, have found answers in further medical workups which revealed such treatable issues as inner ear infection or wax buildup, allergies, visual changes, metabolic...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Do Alzheimer's patients lose the ability to tell extreme hot or cold?

Question - There is data that supports that there is such a phenomenon as Alzheimer temperature sensitivity. The question seems to be whether it is an actual physiologic change or if it is simply another example of how the brain ceases to interpret information as Alzheimer's disease (AD) progresses. I am in accord with Everdebz response related to bathing...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Why do Alzheimer’s patients misplace things?

Question - As Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, judgment grows increasingly impaired and putting keys in the freezer makes perfect sense (open the door and put the keys in safe place where they won't get lost, close the door). Even placing dishes in the bathtub makes sense when you consider a bathtub is where things (and people) get clean...

1 Expert Answer

Is it possible for a forty year-old to have dementia?

Question - Yes indeed there is such a thing as '40 year old dementia' and yes, it is different from clinical depression although it may at times mimic it. Early Onset Alzheimer's (AD) is a topic of great interest to the professional aging community and in recent years has gained much-needed public awareness...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

Can cancer worsen Alzheimer's symptoms?

Question - There may be couple reasons for faster decline of you mother's dementia. Her cancer may have spread to the brain and cause additional symptoms. It is also possible that increased stress caused faster decline.

1 Expert Answer

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

Question - I found that Alzheimer’s symptoms vary greatly. This Caring.com article describes behavioral changes during the progression of the disease.

2 Community Answers

How can I deal with my husband's worsening Alzheimer's symptoms?

Question - You are a spouse caring for a husband with Alzheimer’s. I wish we could call you a warrior instead of a caregiver.

1 Expert Answer

Why does my mom hide toilet paper, napkins and tissues everywhere?

Question - A red flag symptom of dementia is memory loss so it is very common for someone to ask questions repeatedly. Another symptom is forgetting how to perform familiar tasks requiring one to ask how to do something they always did so well. 'Hiding' and 'hoarding' are also very common behaviors for persons with dementia...

1 Expert Answer

Could Mom's worsening symptoms be the next stage or due to a new medication?

Question - You did not say which medication was changed. However, the best way to find out if the change is due to the medication is to stop it or go back to the old medication. Lot of treatments of Alzheimer's disease uses "trial and error" strategy.

1 Expert Answer

Is it normal for someone with Alzheimer's to stop "seeing" pictures and the television?

Question - Vision problems as a consequence of Alzheimer's disease are rare. Most likely, your mother does not recognize what she sees because of lack of comprehension caused by the Alzheimer's disease. It is quite common for individuals with Alzheimer's disease to live in the past and consider current people to be persons from their past...

1 Expert Answer

Is constant humming or singing common with Alzheimer's?

Question - Constant humming and singing with Alzheimer's is considered to be a method of communication. It is very common and seems to provide comfort to the individual. It often reflects emotion (for instance, anxiety) or an internal mood and serves as an alternative means for one who has lost the 'gift of gab'...

1 Expert Answer

Can we force my father-in-law to get evaulated for Alzheimer's?

Question - My father-in-law obviously has Alzheimer's and refuses to go to the doctor. He won't wait either even if you could get him to go. If he can't go in right away he leaves. He can't drive anymore cause he gets lost. He doesn't know what day it is...

How can I stop my mother with Alzheimer's disease from walking constantly?

Question - People in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease are prone to pacing. If they start to shuffle it may well be part of the natural progression of the disease, but their pace, balance and posture can also be aggravated or even caused by medications and other reversible external fac...

1 Expert Answer

Is walking in baby steps a sign of severe dementia progression?

Question - Dear Ann:

1 Expert Answer

How can I regulate my mother's bowel movements so they happen in the day time?

Question - I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this challenging problem.

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

My 89 yr. old mother has been hearing and seeing people who aren't there.

Question - My 89 yr. old mother has been diagnosed with mild/moderate alzheimer's. She has been living "independently" in an apt. building for seniors for several years. She has stated in the past that she has been awakened during the night by someone knocking at her door, or otherwise attempting to enter her apartment...

Is it normal for mid-stahe Alzhimer's paitents to laugh and talk loud?

Question - Mom makes comments about people when out in public and laughs really loud.

My husband has been sleeping several days and feeling weakness in his limbs. Is that AD as well?

Question - Husband is 82 with AD x 10 years, neuropothy of the legs and kidney challenges. Should I allow him to sleep or awaken him to eat and do things? He is still pretty pleasant and willing, confusion is growing, cognition is poor, he enjoys golf but must ride up to tee, and then sleeps for a week..what helps him best...

Is having an itchy head a symptom of Alzheimer's disease?

Question - In my experience, I have not heard or seen any research that shows that an itchy head is a sign of Alzheimer's Disease. I do know that many people with Alzheimer's will often do repetitive behaviors, like tapping or saying the same phrase over and over. Perhaps scratching a body part, like their scalp, could fall in this category...

1 Expert Answer

Can I take the MMSE test without a doctor ordering it?

Question - I am guessing you are guarded about having a physician involved regarding your memory issues. It can be a time filled with uncertainty and fear. You asked about taking a MMSE test without a doctor ordering it. If you searched hard enough you might find someone willing to do it.....

1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

My mom doesn't care that she's soiled herself, is this a sign of Alzheimer's?

Question - Your mother’s behavior may be an indicator of Alzheimer’s or another dementia. As a rule of thumb, we look for a pattern of three or more of these markers to indicate dementia:

1 Expert Answer

Is my wife's short term memory and dissociative thinking caused by her Alzheimer's disease?

Question - Alzheimer's Disease affects the entire thinking process at all stages and although there are common cognitive losses, each afflicted person manifests impairments differently. Some persons lose the gift of speech and have difficulty finding words, confabulate or speak tangentially...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

How can I convince my mother to see a doctor, when she thinks her memory loss is due to grief?

Question - Your mother is likely overwhelmed by your father’s passing, which is further aggravated by the apprehension of being left alone. She’s lucky that you’re there for her.

1 Expert Answer

FAQ: How Close Are We to a True Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic Test?

Question - We're getting close to a true Alzheimer's disease diagnostic test, although it's difficult to say when something definitive will be available on a mass scale. You should realize that these tests may not be able to answer the questions people often have when they're asking about an Alzheimer's diagnosis...

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1 Expert Answer

My mother says she can't taste anything, and everything makes her feel bloated; is this a symptom of Alzheimer's?

Question - It may be a combination of both. Most of side-effects associated with Aricept involve the GI track; typical reactions include loss of appetite; muscle cramps; nausea; tiredness; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weight loss. There are some reports of bloating as well. A few people experience serious intestinal bleeding, indicated by a black, tarry stool...

1 Expert Answer

What would cause an Alzheimer's patient to stop talking?

Question - Some people with Alzheimer’s develop what’s known as aphasia, which makes it difficult for them to pronounce words or make sentences. It’s not that unusual that they simply stop talking altogether. In those cases we need to be aware that they may still understand some or much of what they hear....

1 Expert Answer

Can Alzheimer's be triggered by receiving bad news?

Question - Can Dementia/Alzheimer's be triggered by receiving or being given bad news? My mother was diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's over a year ago. A year prior to her diagnosis she had some bad news which make her angry and upset for a long while. Could this have contributed to it? She also had a stroke about 15 years ago...

Is it possible for someone with Alzheimer's to sleepwalk if they can not walk consciously?

Question - My mother is in the moderate stages of dementia and lives in an assisted living facility. Before any of it started, she prefered to not walk due to arthritis in her knees. She is now only able to stand briefly to shift from chair to her wheelchair...

Is my mother's behavior caused by strokes or is she developing Alzheimer's?

Question - Hallucinations and delusions could be symptoms of both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Very often, both of those diseases are found together when the brain of pople who died with dementia are examined. Rapid changes are more likely caused by vascular dementia (small strokes) and there may be some improvement later...

1 Expert Answer

What to do about mom's disrobing habits?

Question - Does anyone have a problem with their parent stripping under the covers at night?? several times a wk I go to get her up in the morning and she has taken her PJ's & depends off and laying there. She is now on an antibiotic for a small leg sore infection and anyone knows what antibiotics do to the gastro system...

Could Mom's bad behavior be the start of Alzheimer's? And what type of doctor should we see?

Question - The geriatrician's input would be certainly useful. If your mother has a short-term memory deficit, she is most likely developing Alzheimer's disease. However, that may not be the main reason for her behavior. She may be refusing help and doing activities because she is depressed...

1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

What are the symptoms of late stage Alzheimer's?

Question - According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the symptoms of late stage Alzheimer’s include:

1 Community Answer

What are the physiological signs of Alzheimer's?

Question - As a caregiver, I observed a number of physiological signs of Alzheimer’s disease. In early stages, the patient feels tired, does not seem to enjoy meeting with others and can’t sleep. For my experience, most telling is the significant loss of short term memory, including misplacing common householehold...

1 Community Answer

What are the advanced symptoms of Alzheimer's?

Question - According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the advanced symptoms of Alzheimer’s are:

1 Community Answer

Do people experience pain with early onset of Alzheimer's?

Question - My father-in law has had a Alzheimer's diagnosis for several years. We have recently discovered that his nerve endings have become hyper sensative and causing extreme back pain. The pain management director has expressed that this is mostlikely a symptom of his illness...

2 Community Answers

Does Alzheimer's cause tremors?

Question - Parkinson’s disease is known for tremors and some people with Parkinson’s have Alzheimer’s as well. But Alzheimer’s itself doesn’t generally cause tremors. Some drugs have the side effect of tremors, as well.

1 Community Answer

Does Alzheimer's cause sleepwalking?

Question - People who have Alzheimer’s often have a hard time sleeping, but there’s no evidence that I know of that says Alzheimer’s does cause sleepwalking. Since people with Alzheimer’s often don’t understand what they are being told, and they can act like they are “in a fog,” I can see why someone with Alzheone...

1 Community Answer

Does Alzheimer's cause shingles?

Question - Shingles generally happens in older people, and so does Alzheimer’s cause shingles? I haven’t read any evidence of that. Shingles is caused by the virus from childhood chickenpox that has gone “underground.” It sometime comes back in a very painful form called shingles, which affects the nerves.ves...

1 Community Answer

Does Alzheimer's cause separation anxiety?

Question - Increasing anxiety is common in Alzheimer’s. Because of that fact, I would think Alzheimer’s does cause separation anxiety in some people. As faces become less and less recognizable, people become more anxious. People with Alzheimer’s often think they should be doing something but they don’t know wh know what...

1 Community Answer

Is word repetition normal?

Question - The repetition of words is not unusual for a person with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or one of the related dementia. The gradual loss of language is variable and more profound in some dementia and earlier in the process for others. The words your memory-impaired (m-i)person chooses to repeat may have nothing to do with what he/she is thinking or feeling...

1 Expert Answer

How can I get my mom stop obsessing about something?

Question - Helping someone with dementia to stop obsessing takes a little time and a great deal of creativity. Each time your Mom starts a conversation about the obsessive subject, it is the first time for her. Your body language will be the key to making her feel respected and it will help to keep her unaware...

1 Expert Answer

Was my mother's cause of death really from Alzheimer's?

Question - The way you describe your mother it is hard to believe she was considered to have end stage Alzheimer's disease. That is certainly not consistent with her ability to make decisions.

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

Are Namenda and OCW tablets to blame for Dad's sudden change in behavior?

Question - Behavior of patients with Alzheimer's disease changes as disease progresses and your father might need a new evaluation by a psychiatrist or neurologist. However, the behavioral changes could be also caused by OCW tablets. OCW contains extract from 10 different herbs and I could not find any evidence...

1 Expert Answer

Is excessive crying normal for someone with Alzheimer's?

Question - Excessive crying does occur in some people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) although it is not common. It is more likely to be noted in patients with a Vascular or Frontotempero Lobe Dementia or a combination of AD and a vascular disease often referred to as a 'mixed dementia'.

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

Does Alzheimer's cause paranoia?

Question - I found paranoia and Alzheimer’s frequently appear together. I also found a Caring.com article to be helpful in explaining what happens.

1 Community Answer

Does Alzheimer's affect vision?

Question - Almost everything in the body is controlled by the brain, but I don’t think Alzheimer’s affects vision. People with Alzheimer’s often appear as though they don’t see, and are staring off in space, but that is because their brain no longer understands their environment and they are often living in meng in memory...

1 Community Answer

Is it common for a patient in the late stages of Alzheimer's to still know everyone?

Question - It is uncommon for someone in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease to know their friends and families. Be thankful!

1 Expert Answer, 8 Community Answers

When is it more than normal memory loss?

Question - Some memory loss is normal for everyone from their 20s on. But serious memory problems are not an inevitable part of aging. Memory loss is problematic when it begins to affect daily life.

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1 Expert Answer

Is wanting to "go home" part of Alzheimer's, even if the patient is at home?

Question - When she refers to "home," it's as an expression of an emotion. Home is where the heart is -- and her memories and heart are with your father and the home they shared. Unless she becomes too upset, try keeping on hand an album of pictures from the past so that she can reminisce about her life...

1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

Should my mother tell the doctor my father doesn't always recognize her?

Question - Yes, your mother is responding to your father in a way that's appropriate. People with dementia often confuse their loved ones for others. Correcting him every time he makes this mistake could be confusing and upsetting for them both; going along with where he is in the present may make their interactions smoother...

1 Expert Answer

Is there a solution to an Alzheimer's patient taking off her clothing?

Question - The first thing to analyze is why and when she is taking off her clothes. Sometimes this is an indication of discomfort -- uncomfortable clothing, the person is too hot, she needs to use the bathroom, and so on. Keeping a log for a few days may give clues to when and why this behavior is occurring...

1 Expert Answer

Is it common for people with Alzhiemer's to be able to do one task but not the reverse of it?

Question - There can be many things going on here. The person may not be able to understand the function of an item anymore -- so she looks at an object, but can no longer readily identify it. If she doesn't recognize a faucet or an article of clothing, she may not be able to figure out what to do with it...

1 Expert Answer

Is an itchy scalp related to Alzheimer's?

Question - I really would like an answer to if itchy scalp especially but also scratches his arms until they bleed. I have had to wash his hair in the middle of the night it itches so bad. Dr gave him a shampoo doesn't seem to help. Is there a medication that will help

2 Community Answers

Can chemo worsen Alzheimer's?

Question - Please answer this question, we are desperate. My father is being treated for colon cancer and has had some success but his Alzheimer's seems to be progressing rapidly. What are the effects, exactly, on an Alzheimer's brain getting chemo? We need to weigh it all but can't unless we are more informed...

Does Alzheimer's affect short term memory?

Question - As a caregiveer, I'm pretty certain that loss of short term memory and Alzheimer’s go hand-in-hand. One of the first evidences of the change I noted was when my wife kept repeating the same idea or story within a short time period; often she did not remember that she had just provided the idea or s story...

1 Community Answer

Are urinary tract infections more common in Alzheimer's...

Question - Urinary tract infections in Alzheimer’s patients may be more common than people think. My wife had one and we didn’t even know what it was. Her balance was off, so I took her to the doctor and they found that she had a UTI. After she had antibiotics, her balance was better.

1 Community Answer

Is drug therapy the way to get Mom over the grief of losing her beloved dog?

Question - Before using a medication, it might be useful to have your mother involved in activities that would distract her from her mourning. It might be especialy useful if a staff member brought his/her dog to visit with her. If these non-pharmacological interventions are not successful, Zoloft would be a good medication to try...

1 Expert Answer

Is losing your sense of smell a symptom of Alzheimer's disease?

Question - Sense of smell may by decreased by Alzheimer's disease but the changes cannot be used for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. However, complete loss of sense of smell may be due to other conditions and should be evaluated by a neurologist.

1 Expert Answer

Can light therapy be beneficial for Alzheimer's patients?

Question - There is good evidence that the circadian rhythm is disturbed in Alzheimer's disease. While in normal aging the period get shorter and, therefore, elders go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier, in Alzheimer's disease the circadian period gets longer...

1 Expert Answer

How do we control Dad's grunting and strange bathroom habits?

Question - You and your mother are going to need a lot of patience with these problems. He has a dementing illness that is incurable and is effecting his brain. His short term memory is severely effected. He is unable to remember what you are telling him about his bathroom habits...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

How do I best handle communication issues with my husband who has Alzheimer's?

Question - Speech problems are not that unusual especially if he had had a "mini stroke"; that is also not unusual for people with AD. Do make an appointment with a speech pathologist to see if they have any suggestions.

1 Expert Answer

Can Alzheimer's cause a person to forget how to walk?

Question - Yes, it is very possible that your mother has forgotten how to walk. Make an appointment with her physician so that medications or other treatable conditions that could cause this are eliminated. You might request a physical therapist evaluation. They can evaluate the risk of falling and might suggest assistive devices such as a walker...

1 Expert Answer, 11 Community Answers

My husband probably has late mid-stage Alzheimer's and I...

Question - People with Alzheimer's disease often develop eating problems and yours it not that uncommon. You may need to develop a menu of finger food that he can take with him as he wanders about. Almost everything can be placed in between slices of bread so a person can walk and eat. I think you asking him to accompany you to the table is a great approach to use...

1 Expert Answer

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