how can i tell if my mother has alzheimer's?

Question

round about nov of '04 she started becoming wihtdrawn and more recently admittedly after a long illness she has started having childish fears about going outside the door and not having enough to eat;she is also starting to become argumentattive
i understand that the stages of htis illness are wellunderstood;suggested reading
next stage
defining sign
and what about htis cure that drops the protein level that caused the brain fur almost immediately
if my suspicions are correct who specialised in this kind of thing
how bad does it have to be before i can get her into care
will her doctor talk to me?

Answer 1

if she can't remember simple stuff

Answer 2

You need to take her to the doctor to make sure she doesn't have anything else wrong with her. They will do cognitive testing and also blood tests. If the blood tests are normal & the cognitive testing shows impairment, they will have an MRI or other brain scan done. Alzheimer's is diagnosed negatively. There's no test for it (not yet anyway) so when everything else that it could be is eliminated and Alzheimer's is the only thing left, then they diagnose Alzheimer's. Don't wait. This disease is not curable right now and it's a downward spiral. Get your mom tested and get her on some drugs right away.
You want to go to the Alzheimer's Association website and read everything you can, and then find a local chapter and call them up. They offer free and low-cost classes and seminars and support groups--take advantage of them. Watching someone you love deal with Alzheimer's is very lonely.

Answer 3

You are in a tough spot. As long as she is still legally responsible for herself you can't force her to do anything no matter what your level of concern.

First, consider contacting your physician for advice. He/she may be able to offer you some guidance on getting your mother to her own doctor and addressing the issue.

Second, try getting your mom to her doctor either by volunteering to take her for a routine visit or by encouraging her to go for any other reason (including the real reasons if possible). Go with her and speak to her doctor. He/she can then check things out.

In any case, deal with this sooner rather than later -- waiting won't make things easier, especially if she becomes less rational with time.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Pls take her to doctor , she may not have ALZEIMER, but without knowing all facts and history a professional can make a decision.

Answer 5

If you suspect she has symptoms of Alzheimers, take her to a professional for an evaluation