Early signs of dementia?

Question

I have a really good older friend who seems to be "different". He is cranky and confused and sleeps a lot more. I am worried about dementia as he lives alone. His doctor is hopeless, what can I do? Are there any tests etc?

Answer 1

Dementia - diagnosis and early signs

The early signs of dementia are very subtle and vague, and may not be immediately obvious. Early symptoms also vary a great deal. Usually, though, people first seem to notice that there is a problem with memory, particularly in remembering recent events.

Other common symptoms include:

Confusion
Personality change
Apathy and withdrawal
Loss of ability to do everyday tasks.
Sometimes people fail to recognise that these symptoms indicate that something is wrong. They may mistakenly assume that such behaviour is a normal part of the ageing process. Or symptoms may develop gradually and go unnoticed for a long time. Sometimes, people may refuse to act even when they know something is wrong.

Ten warning signs
Go through the following list and note the symptoms that are present. If there are several ticks, a doctor should be consulted for a complete examination of the person with the symptoms.

1.Recent memory loss that affects day to day functions
It is normal to forget meetings, colleagues' names or a friend's telephone number occasionally, but then remember them later. A person with dementia may forget things more often, and not remember them at all.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them when the meal has finished. A person with dementia might prepare a meal and not only forget to serve it, but also forget they made it.

3. Problems with language
Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with dementia may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making sentences difficult to understand.

4. Disorientation to time and place
It is normal to forget the day of the week or your destination for a moment. But people with dementia can become lost on their own street, not knowing where they are, how they got there or how to get back home.

5. Poor or decreased judgement
Dementia affects a person's memory and concentration, and this in turn affects their judgement. Many activities, such as driving, require good judgement and when this ability is affected, the person will be a risk, not only to themselves, but also to others on the road.

6. Problems with abstract thinking
Balancing a cheque book may be difficult for many of us. Someone with dementia could forget completely what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.

7. Misplacing things
Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with dementia may repeatedly put things in inappropriate places.

8. Changes in mood or behaviour
Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone with dementia can have rapid mood swings, for no apparent reason. They can become confused, suspicious or withdrawn.

9. Changes in personality
People's personalities can change a little with age. But a person with dementia can become suspicious or fearful, or apathetic and uncommunicative. They may also become dis-inhibited, overfamiliar or more outgoing than previously.

10. Loss of initiative
It is normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations. The person with dementia may lose interest in previously enjoyed activities, or become very passive and require cues prompting them to become involved.

Based on Is it Alzheimer's? Ten Warning Signs You Should Know, Alzheimer's Association, USA

Answer 2

Early Signs Of Dementia

Answer 3

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Answer 4

These do sound like some of the symptoms.

My Mother in Law was one of three sisters that died from the side effects of Alzheimer's. She was a sweet quiet person, that aside from only sleeping 3 hours a night, caused no other problems.

You have spotted and listed some of the symptoms. Forgetfulness, accusing people of taking things, the list goes on. Not eating or not shopping or not bathing are just some.

If he drives the time may come when you will need to take the ignition key. My MIL drove, and when it was time the car stayed and friends would drive her places and we just took the ignition key. She could never figure out why the door and trunk key would not work in the ignition. But she was quite accepting.

In the last year and a half we brought her from Iowa to Fla to live with us.

You will need to be in touch with his family and establish a visitation schedule (most every day) just to keep tabs on how things are going. They can slowing and steadily go down hill.

Try to get him on a vitamin program or at least a good one a day. This is to try to keep him as healthy as possible.

There are tests, he needs to be seen by a Gerontologist for a thorough work up to determine exactly what his health really is. Men are stubborn about going to the Doctor, that is for sure. With a Father, two grandfathers, two husbands, three brothers and a son. AND ALL WERE AND ARE STUBBORN.

Good luck and God Bless for caring.

Answer 5

This is NOT a good place to get proper diagnosis for ANY medical condition. You really need to seek medical advise.

What your friend has may or may not be dementia. There are many reasons why an older person may be behaving that way - or any of us for that matter. Don't you get cranky or irritated when you are ill? He might be coming down with something. "Cranky and confused and sleep a lot more" could be anything from undernourished, urinary infection, drug/medication related effects or many other reasons.

I am not questioning aliceandrex's reply. Those are very good information on dementia, but we all must be very careful not to become doctors ourselves.

As for some doctors are "hopeless" - note that not every doctor may have enough exposure to patient with dementia. They may not know enough about it. But they (and you ) can always get an expert opinion.

Best of luck in trying to help your friend. It sounds like you are caring person and a good friend to him.

Answer 6

Yes, there are tests that a Neurologist can do for the patient. A Neurologist can analyze the stage of vascular dementia (ask for the Allen Point) and let you know if alzheimers is also involved (likely, its both). Neurologists can help determine what level of dementia he has with blood tests, brain ultrasound, and cognitive abilities.
You can also get involved with your local alzheimers association and take some caregiver classes which will assist yourself in understanding, information, education, action driven. There is no cure for dementia.

Answer 7

If it makes you feel any better I have; Flooded the bathroom two times at least, flooded kitchen once at least, Watched movies and shows only to have the kids remind me I had just watched it last week. If a show is a sequel and part two is on next week, forget it, I can not remember the first half! The mr has to tell me what happened in the first half for it to make any sense. When I was driving I picked the kids up and had to have the teenager tell me where we were going. I also forgot how to turn the windshield wipers on while it was raining and had to stop at a ladys house to ask her how.....(I quite driving). I also cut myself as I was making dinner when my mind wondered...nice scare from it. Get this one, I forgot I had a tampon in and put another one in, funny hu? I got sick over this! The family can tell you much more.....we laugh it off now, the family also helps with timing of dinner in the oven,appointments,remembering people, bills,even if people are really in the room or really talking to me. This was all after I had my head cracked open and stapled back up....stress makes me shut down or migraines which is the start of my siezures.... Though I can remember stupid pieces of trivial information I read somewhere even years ago? Do you live with family? Get more sleep, maybe even change your diet. Stress is a funny thing and can make people literally go crazy. Of course head injuries can too but..... If you feel you need help see a doctor. They may diagnose you with all sorts of weird things too.... Good luck wish you well....

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Answer 8

Urticaria is really the medical term for the condition commonly known as hives. The best resource online about this condition is http://urticaria.toptips.org

Persistent Idiopathic Urticaria is basically a serious variation of hives or urticaria which is categorised as having lasted longer than 6 weeks, that can be a constant urticaria episode or a series of urticaria episodes which repeat for more than 6 weeks. The term Idiopathic explains a condition which has no noticeable explanation or cause.

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria generally suggests a severe variation of urticaria which has no apparent cause or reason. Most of what I have simply said will come as no shock to the numerous of us who have actually suffered or still experience chronic hives.

The issue we face is that lots of people, also those in the medical profession commonly consider our condition as simply a straightforward allergy, however this analogy is really wrong. Although the signs and possibly the triggers of persistent idiopathic urticaria are the same as acute hives (urticaria) or that of a simple allergic reaction, the explanations are extremely different.

It's is important to understand the distinction between reason or cause and trigger as they are not the same for individuals who suffer with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

You can find a safe, natural, proven treatment here: http://urticaria.toptips.org
Hope it helps.

Answer 9

There are some tests, but there's not a lot you can do without dealing with the doctor. Why do you say the doctor is "hopeless"?

It's kind of worrying to see a number of people saying the doctor is hopeless, or no help, or a moron or whatever, and instead they, the people who have no medical training, do the diagnosing and treating without the doctor's help.

If this doctor is truly hopeless, he needs to see if he can get another doctor. If it's more that you don't like the doctor, you need to get over that. Either way, your friend's health needs to be in the hands of professionals, instead of an amature diagnostition.

Answer 10

It can also be other things such as underactive thyroid gland which wipes you out and makes you sleep a lot, makes you grumpy and antisocial and gives you brain fog leading to confusion. This is very often missed in the elderly and put down to growing old.

So he needs to visit his doctor and get some blood taken for tests to rule out any physical cause before you can assume it might be some kind of mental illness.