Can something go terribly wrong with a person's mind overnight, who has dementia?

Thanks everyone for all the responses. My husband and I just got back from visiting him in the hospital. He has a very bad kidney infection. This must of really had something to do with him losing his mind. Thanks

He needs to get to the ER. My grandma had a series of strokes that changed her overnight. So yes, it can happen but there are other medical issues involved.

The sooner he receives help the better his prognosis.

Edit: they told us that my dad needed memory care the 1st day he was in the hospital, sick, near death. I would encourage his sister to plan, but to focus on getting him well before she buys into the diagnosis. After the hospital and snf my dad was a different person completely.

Often people may shows signs of cognitive decline that is gradual and those around them may ignore it, write it off as something else, etc. Then, when there is a sharp increase, it seems like it came on suddenly. That's often how Vascular Dementia is. My LO went from running her own household to being in AL within a couple of months. Then, to MC in a few weeks.

Also, there are some conditions that are very aggressive and hit quickly. A neurologist might be able to figure out what is going on with this man. I might check to rule out things like brain tumors, fluid on the brain, vitamin deficiency, etc.

Yes, decline can happen overnight. The Nurses I worked for called it an "episode". It could be TIA, a stroke or just a part of the brain dying and we are now in another stage.

This man could have had Demenia for a while, you just weren't aware of the signs, which could be very subtle. A kidney infection would worsen it.
Yes, he does think he is going "crazy". He brain is not working right. He is probably losing short-term memory. Forgetting how to do the simplest things.

At this point, someone needs to get POA while he is still considered competent. He will eventually need more care than the Sister can give. My Moms Dementia decline was monthly. Your friend may have been able to cover up his problems for short period of time. I think its called "showtiming".

At this point, the Sister needs to be in charge of his care. As friends there is nothing you can do but be supportive. Take him out to lunch or dinner to give her a break. Even if u don't agree with her decisions, respect them. Caring for someone with Dementia is not an easy job. Not everyone can do it. Your friend needs a full evaluation, just to make sure there is no physical problems causing this decline.

I think the best thing would be to read up on Dementia. Tests will be able to determine what type. Even though Alzhemiers is considered a Dementia, it effects the brain in a whole different way. But please, don't bombard the Sister with info. It may not be appreciated. Just tell her you are there if she needs help.

Hailey;

Thanks for the clarification!

Do you know what the medication is? Who characterized it as being high dose and very powerful?

Since your friend has relied on friends for support for a long time, I'm wondering if maybe he's "slow" or "limited"? Has he held a job in the past? Maybe Social Services thought that he needed more care than what might be available from friends?

There is a fine line between "cognitive impairment" (which doctors do NOT call dementia) and actual dementia. So maybe what you were seeing before was someone who has always needed helped, but there wasn't the progressive element that is present in dementia?

The suddenness of his decline might be due to several factors all at once: meds, kidney infection and being in an unfamiliar environment.

I hope that you get some answers from his docs! Happy Thanksgiving!

Haileybug: I'm sorry you're all going through this. Your friend's dementia sounds a lot like my mother's.

BarbBrooklyn wrote earlier: "Vascular dementia in particular is a series of plateaus and then sudden declines." My mom's dementia would stabilize (no improvement or worsening), then she'd have a sudden drop in mental function.

There were times this sudden drop was the fault of yet another UTI. I'd get the infection treated, but her mental function would either take a long time to improve or it wouldn't improve at all.

It's quite possible a combination of things have decreased your friend's mental abilities: dementia's natural course, the infection (which can REALLY screw up the brain), and the start of medication (which he may need to get used to or the med needs to be adjusted to suit him). The changes in his mental capacities can certainly be dramatic.

I hope your friend's relatives start looking into assistance for him, either in his home or in a facility for his own good.

I'm sorry I misunderstood, Hailey. What was the reason the doctors gave for his not being able to live alone? And did the sister hear this information from the doctors themselves, or from her brother?

I'm just thinking that perhaps the brother wasn't telling her the whole story?

There are different kinds of dementia, Hailey. It sounds as though this gentlemen had been previously diagnosed with dementia, so the fact that he has it is not new.

Vascular dementia in particular is a series of plateaus and then sudden declines.

No doubt the kidney infection is contributing to his current state, but he had already been told he couldn't live alone. And the fact that, although he DID live alone, the fact that he developed a kidney infection while there and didn't recognize that he needed treatment would seem to argue that the docs are right.

Thank you for all of the responses. His sister took him to the hospital and he was admitted for a bad kidney infection. Therefore, if this infection is the cause of this mental status happening overnight, I would assume once the infection clears, his mental status would too? However, the doctor there told his sister that he has dementia and can no longer live alone. I am not getting this. Dementia, I thought was a slow process not just something that happens overnight.

Strange that a few months back doctors told him he could not live alone any more but he refused to leave his home. Recently he goes see his doctor and is told he has dementia. BOOM, overnight , his mind got all messed up. Not to mention his doctor had just given him a very high dosage of strong meds?

Urinary tract infection can cause symptoms like that suddenly and other meds as well. I would definately contact doctor, infections and things may show no other symptoms visible. They get scary and fast.

Could be a UTI which can mimic or worsen the dementia symptoms. IMaybe your husband can call his doctor (if friend has the # or name) and ask what to do? Do you know if he has any relatives locally and if so, do you know how to contact them? Otherwise you may need to call social services to report him as a vulnerable adult. He may not be eating or drinking, so it is important to get him diagnosed and cared for asap. Bless you for caring!

Yes. When elderly people have UTIs (urinary tract infections) they tend to have fevers and be thoroughly confused. You might want to check that out.