Posted by Peg h on February 13, 2009, 6:53 pm, in reply to "Mom has early stage Alzheimer's disease"
24.93.212.118
Oh Penny, It is so difficult to see one of our loved ones suffer cognitive deficit/change. It is such a helpless feeling for us as the spouse or adult child. What to do...where to go? Is the diagnosis accurate? The folks here point out some really good points re differential (what else could it be?) diagnosis. During my clinical days it became routine to rule out Multi-Infarct-Dementia.(MID)..really small stroke episodes caused by reduced circulation to the brain. If indeed MID was the culprit brain imaging was and is a good diagnostic tool with great accuracy. Your mother may have already had such tests...just thought it is worth a mention since sometimes practitioners get a little tunnel vision. Perhaps a neurology consult would be helpful for both your Mom and the family in determining a care plan. Should there be a co-existing diagnosis of clinical depression The care route might be very different.
Jenny, please know that my heart goes out to you. It has been so very rough on you but once Mom is on a clear path... care wise... you all will be able to figure out the best route to take. It seems to me if I remember correctly that your mother lives in PA...am I correct? I live in New Wilmington PA about 1 hour south of Erie.
Special prayers for you all,
Peg
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