My mother has been diagnosed with mild dementia (crossposted from Health forum)

[Ex Lurker]

At another poster's suggestion, I'm crossposting in this forum. My 76 y/o mom received this diagnosis from her primary physician. It was part of a followup exam after a hospitalization for the flu last month. He said it wasn't Alzheimers. He didn't seem overly concerned about it. No referral to a specialist, no prescription, no activity restrictions-she can do whatever she wants to do, including drive. To a layperson, dementia is a very scary word, so I'm at a loss for what to think about this. Is the definition for dementia so broad now that nearly everyone past a certain age qualifies on some level, or is this doc missing the boat, and should we be looking to get more proactive about it?

I don't know what criteria the Dr was using, I didn't talk to him, the information was relayed by my father. I see my mother several times a week, and apart from neurological symptoms caused by the flu, I haven't noticed anything. She had a a seizure, followed by a brief episode of delirium, and had a little amnesia about what happened that week, but it has quickly resolved, and she's bounced back nearly to normal, from what I can tell. I have read that when acute illness causes neuropsychiatric symptoms in an older person, it's a marker for dementia, but other than that, I don't know what he may be basing it on.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[AikenYankee]

1. Watch the driving very closely ...

there will come a time when it will be very unsafe for her to operate a car. This is a very sad, heartbreaking disease, which in most case will progress relatively slowly. You might want to inquire about some form of medication to help slow the process ... (Namenda, Excelon Patch, Aricept, etc.) Good luck! Peace be with you and your family.

[Ex Lurker]

7. Sorry for the delay. Just now getting back online today. In talking with my father about this,

apparently the dr has noticed a few personality changes, and that's what he's basing this on. Honestly, I haven't noticed anything I can pin down, but maybe I'm too close to the situation. I'm also a little confused by the Dr's lack of urgency-just "be watchful." I've talked to another Dr friend who says she should have a complete neuro workup and start meds immediately. So I don't know what to think now.

[Hoppy]

2. The scariest, immediate threat is not about driving the car. Its getting lost in the car.

Note the make, model, color and license plate number of her car. Take photos every few months, birthdays, etc.
in case she gets lost.

Lets hope the physician is right and there is no further deterioration.

Next, get to an elder law attorney as soon as you can convince her to go. Does she live alone?

[AikenYankee]

3. Well ... it get's pretty scary when the person diagnosed with this illness

runs a red light, is T-boned by another vehicle and is arrested for DUI because the investigating officer determines she is "impaired" and possibly under the influence of a narcotic. (she was not!) A night in jail for a person with dementia is not an ideal situation, to say nothing of the costs involved in proving their innocence!

Getting lost is certainly a concern .... most communities have "Project Life Saver" bracelets available for the person to wear, so the authorities can track them in case they do get lost.

Driving in fact can be a very immediate threat for an impaired individual. If the illness progresses taking the keys is a must, sooner rather then later, before something disastrous occurs.

[Hoppy]

4. No argument there.

My point comes from the experience of my next door neighbor who disappeared in winter and was found in spring, face down in the local stream.

Or my wife's fil, who disappeared for six days and was finally found in a hospital ward, 40 miles from his house.

Get This. Joe wasn't notified about his father because of patient identity bullshit.

[AikenYankee]

5. Very sad .....

terrible illness. They must be protected as much as possible. Being a Caregiver is exhaustive work!!

[Ex Lurker]

8. She lives with my father, who's a lawyer. She has a living will and POA. nt

Next, get to an elder law attorney as soon as you can convince her to go. Does she live alone?

[LibinMo]

9. Is she on any medications for other conditions?

If so, I suggest you research them carefully for side effects.

[Ex Lurker]

10. BP med, statin, and an antidepressant

I read something about statins having cognitive side effects, so we should look into that.

[dolphinsandtuna]

11. I would consult a specialist

I wouldn't trust a family doctor or an internist to make this determination or to decide about how to treat it.

Maybe a neurologist is the appropriate specialist, I am not sure.

As was suggested above, also check out her meds (and combinations of meds) for such side effects.

If you and your Dad have not noticed any problems, I would not leap to the conclusion that things are going downhill. Doctors, especially non-specialists, have been wrong before.