Dementia/Alzeimer's disease

[3rdchild]

Hi,
My Mother has been diagnosed with Dementia.  She's had it awhile.  We are hoping it's not altzeimer's (Sp.?).  Is there a difference or does Altzeimer's disease start out as dementia?
She's very forgetful but knows and remembers family members.
Thanks

[BS65]

My mother has Alzheimer's and she began to show signs of having it in her mid 60's. She is now 73 and has advanced Alzheimer's. She declined very rapidly but in stages. She would be the same for a long while and then suddenly horribly worse. It kept going like that for all the years she has had it. She recently (since January) got to the point of not knowing who any of her children are anymore. She has no concept of her surroundings and she can't even focus on you anymore when you talk to her. In fact she can barely do anything. She has needed help for a long time with routine tasks and then with other things like eating, bathing, and even going to the bathroom, but now she even needs help just getting a few feet. She has become extremely frail and can barely walk two inches without tripping. I have to be honest, I hope the Lord takes her soon because she is no longer "her" she is more like a body with a soul trapped inside being controlled by a damaged and diseased brain. She isn't "living" anymore, she is surviving now and being kept alive by other people. Because if people didn't feed her or give her water she wouldn't have any idea that she needed it or wanted it anymore.

One thing that is scary to me though is that her mother had it too as did her aunt and her grandma. She always told me growing up that "everyone got senile when they got old in her family". They used to call it "senile" when I was a kid but what it is, is dementia and/or Alzheimer's. Her words have come back to her and now she is the one with the disease and it just makes me sick inside. I miss her terribly and I mourn and cry for her suffering but I am also scared for my own future and what it holds for me.

[milajayne]

I know what you mean, I'm losing my mum everyday, and I also hope the dementia does not last long.  My mum is also young - 70 and I hoped she would have a much fuller old age. I am also in mourning for my 'old' mum. My thoughts are with you.

[3rdchild]

Thank you for your reply.  I am a firm believer in the Lord and do trust in him....
I'm hoping that what the doctor says is true in my mother's case.  It's very scary.  I had no idea there could be a gene for it either.  
I didn't think Altziemer's was hereditary.

[God helps]

My grandmother has had Dementia but it has progressed into full blown Alzheimer's. We realized she had it over 8 years ago. The Dr.s may say Dementia does not lead into Alzheimer's and I can say from personal
experience that they are wrong. I have watched my Granny go through the various stages of losing her memory, to rage, to her now being bed ridden and losing her faculties. I am not trying to scare you..please know it is only intended to help address whatever you are seeing in your loved one. I am a firm believer that God can give us the grace to go through these trials and through prayer are we able to deal with such an awful disease. If you have any belief in the Lord, let me say, He can give you strength and peace to handle your family member, wisdom to prevail and trust Jesus to help. Ask as many questions as you can to your Dr. and get second opinions. Also, for yourself, think about having the test to see if you carry the gene as well...you can try, as I am, to eat the foods that help to ward it off...change your lifestyle, whatever it takes to save your family from the same pain.

[Kitty99]

I've heard of people with dementia being on medications used for alzheimer's disease.  If your mom's condition gets worse it can't hurt to ask if one of those medication would be helpful to her.  Obviosly you want you mother to have a good quality of life.  If her condition does get worse ( and unfortunately it usually does) medication can help manage her condition and make it easier to take care of her.  I've read that in the early stages of dementia it's important to make the most of family visit with her.  If there are grandkids if would be nice to make some nice memories for them.  My grandmother had alzheimer's and my dad never took me to see her when she was sick.  So I don't really have many memories of her and sometimes that makes me sad.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The diagnosis and distinction is sometime hard to make.  Alzheimers does not usually start as dementia, so it may well be something else.

[3rdchild]

Thanks for your response Kitty.  Yes, my mother has been to doctors and is on medication.  My sister and brother live and take care of her.  She can drive to the local store or to get her hair done and not get lost....although she basically does not leave the house very often.  She enjoys being home and watching the news/tv.  They say it's dementia...I don't know what kind.  She does repeat stories and herself constantly.  My sister or brother will leave the house and she will not know where they went or forgets they even left.
Thanks again

[Kitty99]

Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia.  Not everyone who has dementia has alzheimer's.  Alzheimer's is a particular type of dementia with particular symptoms.  It has several stages.  As it progress they might not know what a toothbrush is for, or when they see a toothbrush can't think of the right name for it.  The person gets lost in their own neighborhood.  They constanly tell the same story over and over or ask the same question over and over.  They show poor judgement about money and safety.  Often there are personality changes.  A sweet old lady might start cursing at her caregivers.  If Alzheimers is suspected the family should take the person to the doctor.  There are several medications that are helpful in slowing the progression of Alzheimers.  If a person suddenly became confused they should be checked out since there are many reversable causes of dementia.  So it is important to know what kind of dementia you are dealing with in order to learn the best way to deal with it.