Does My Mom Have Alzheimers?

Your Mom is beginning to repeat things, she is not walking as well. As we age some of us start to feel more forgetful, and for those of us who have had a family member who suffered from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, it is particularly worrisome. However, memory problems can be caused by other contributing factors.

We have seen people in their 80’s who have always been very alert and active start to decline mentally when they don’t eat properly or exercise as much as they used to. The isolation brought about by friends and family passing can cause dramatic changes in how a person functions. I have seen patients who make dramatic recoveries in the mental faculties when they eat properly, have someone to interact with, and a reason to get up in the morning.

Sometimes that means moving to an assisted living facility, or an apartment complex where other Seniors live, or even having a home health person come in a few days a week to keep things tidy, make meals , and keep them company.

In certain instances, however, it could be your loved one is experiencing a series of small strokes which are causing them to develop something known as Multi Infarct Dementia:  From WebMd:  “In multi infarct dementia, a series of strokes or changes in the brain’s blood supply may result in the death of brain tissue. The location in the brain where the strokes occur and the severity of the strokes determine the seriousness of the problem and the symptoms that arise. Symptoms usually begin abruptly and progress in a step-wise fashion with repeated strokes. At this time, there is no way to reverse damage that has already been caused by a stroke. However, treatment to prevent further strokes is very important.”

Before you rush to judgement on a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis, get your loved one, or yourself a complete check up, and find some ways to keep life tasty and interesting.

Valentina Boonstra