noticable memory loss, dizziness and tight chest (breathing)/ increased sense of taste, lucid dreams

[milajayne]

6 months ago my mum (70 yrs old) was very healthy, mentally and physically.

Now she struggles to tell the time, remember what she was saying and she confuses dreams with reality at times.  
Initially she had been complaining of her asthma giving her a tight chest, and finding it hard to breath and this has resulted her in going to hospital many times over the 6 month period.  She has also complained of dizziness when walking, and is a lot more sensitive to heat (the sun) and the taste of stronger foods.
She has been using a nebuliser for her asthma, as at times finds it difficult to remember how to use her inhalers.  She has been on angina tablets, high blood pressure tablets, steroids (for asthma).
Today she received the results of a CT scan (brain) and a ECHO scan (heart-to see if she has angina) but both these scans were clear.  The doctor stated that the brain scan showed normal ageing.
Because the physical symptoms started at the same time as the mental symptoms we as a family are convinced they are connected, but she is now going to be released from hospital and we are no closer to any diagnosis.
can you help please - I feel like my mum is being forgotten just because of her age.

[Louise Matthews]

Sept. 1, 2007 my mother was admitted to the hospital thinking she had a stroke.  She had a severe headache and could not speak correctly and didn't know answers to simple questions.  We were told over the years that she had some slight strokes that probably were not noticable.  Her blook pressure was over 200 plus a urinary tract infection.  She has memory loss and doesn't concentrate for very long periods of time.  We were told this was due to the urinary tract infection.  The therapist did some research and told us that the amount of memory loss could not be attributed to the infection but with the high blood pressure it could account for the loss.  We were also told she would get back to the way she was before all of this happened.  It actually seems as if no one really knows what the problem is.  People that are just acquaintances really don't see much difference in her actions.  She used to be modest, now that is out the window.  She does not know that she has wet the bed during the night.  Please help with some information that can make us see what is really happening.  She is in a nursing/rehab place now.  She doesn't see her own doctor.  These people do not know her.  Thank you for any assistance that your are able to give.  Louise Sexton

[milajayne]

Thankyou for your answer - the support is much appreciated
We got a specialist to look at the brain scan and they have suggested that my mum may have frontotemporal dementia (picks disease).  This is still to be confirmed, but now I have read more about this, I suspect that they are right.  Unfortunately it seems that this is an untreatable form of dementia, and already the aggression and confusion are becoming too much for my dad to cope with. We may consider anti-depressants, but do not want to go down the route of sedating my mum.  This has all been very shocking, and unfortunately there seems very little emotional help available for my mum and my dad.
Thank you again for answering.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

the first thing I would consider is the effects of all of her medications...work with the doctor to eliminate or diminish what he can and see what happens. This confusion may be medication induced,the most common reason in people her age.

[Kitty99]

I wish I had something helpful to say.  In my experience sometimes the trauma of being ill and being subjected to an unfamiliar hospital environment can trigger confusion/dementia in some elderly patients.  I've seen a woman who was normal going into hip surgery but was confused after.  So the broken hip didn't cause the confusion but the stress of the surgery and medication did.  Many medications have a side effect of fatigue or confusion.  Your best bet might be to take her to a regular doc and review her medications.  See if one can be changed or eliminated and see if that makes a difference.  And hopefully infection was also ruled out in the hospital.  Many elderly people with infection especially urinary tract infection only have the symptom of confusion.  Hopefully it can be helped on an outpatient basis.  I wish you and your mother the best.