If not dementia or Alzheimer’s, what could it be?

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Koretta Asked October 2021

If not dementia or Alzheimer’s, what could it be?

My mom has been having problems with having a conversation for quite a few years now. She gets confused all the time and can’t remember words when speaking. It’s always a riddle trying to figure out what she’s talking about. She can’t spell anymore, forgets birthdays, address, how to cook, names. Her bank called me and said she can no longer do transactions by herself and someone needs to be POA for her which my Dad is listed as first and I am 2nd. She was confused and didn’t remember her pin# then couldn’t figure out her phone to give the woman one of our numbers.
She went to neurologist and they performed all the dementia testing. MRI, EEG and verbal test. A little confused yes but everything came back negative. My father never asked what else could it be? Mom refuses to get anymore tests. They’re just happy it’s not dementia or Alzheimer’s. I need answers. I can no longer have a real conversation with her because she doesn’t understand what I’m saying and I certainly don’t understand what she is saying. Ex. If she talking about a house, she’ll say car.
Does anyone have any answers?

Activities of Daily Living Alzheimer's & Dementia Cognitive Decline Memory Loss

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score 2 · Answer 1

My mother, now 89, has had TIA's (mini-strokes) since she was in her 50's. They happened, she would be admitted to the hospital and then there would be no signs afterward. They do not cause damage to the brain as strokes do, but they do impact mental ability over the years. She also used to have epileptic seizures during which she would black out (but not fall down) and when she came out of them her speech would be slurred and she would be confused. I used to take her to the neurologist when she was in her 60's and 70's, who would give her verbal tests to see if she had memory loss. She has also had frequent UTIs over the years, at Freqflyer mentioned so maybe that's the cause?

Here is something for you to read re: TIA's...

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/t/transient-ischemic-attack-tia.html#:~:text=A%20transient%20ischemic%20attack%20(TIA,signs%20of%20a%20stroke%2C%20however.

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score 0 · Answer 2

Koretta, has your Mom had a recent Urinary Tract Infection test? An older person having an UTI can cause all types of different behavior. Her primary doctor can do the test, even urgent care can do it and have the results while you wait. Best to rule out everything.

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They tested for that and nothing. Her decline started probably about 5 or 6 years ago now. At least that’s when I first noticed it. Completing her sentences for her.

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score 3 · Answer 3

I met a woman recently who says she had dementia-like symptoms from a gluten allergy. Her doc pooh-poohed this until she cut gluten out for a week and her cognition returned to normal.

I too would try to talk to the doctor directly.

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I wen to my doctor sure I was losing my mind about 12 years ago. I was in my early 40's but forgetting conversations, forgetting that I was cooking etc. It was scary.

Turned out I had severe B12 anemia.

But in OP's case, I think she needs to talk to the doctor. And get the results directly from him.

(3)

score 1 · Answer 4

My mom has aphasia from a stroke that didn’t leave any other permanent damage. Seems like you would have known if your mom had a stroke but… Sounds like their speech problems are very much alike though.

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score 7 · Answer 5

If your mother was truly given a MoCA cognition exam, and she cannot understand or communicate language, then she would have scored very poorly on the exam and would have been diagnosed with progressive dementia by the doctor. These tests don't come back 'positive' or 'negative' but with a numerical score between 1 and 30, so she would have been assigned a number which would have determined where she fell cognitively. She would also have been asked to draw a clock showing a time which tests her executive brain function; failure to draw such a clock would indicate her diminished EB function and dementia.

I suspect your folks are not telling you the whole story of your mother's 'testing' results out of fear in general about dementia and what's happening to your mom. That doesn't mean it's not happening.........just that they're in denial about it.

Wishing you the best of luck getting to the truth of the matter.

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She was given that test with the clock and they told her to put the hands at 11:30 at least 3 x and she kept writing 11:30 and not drawing the hands on the clock.

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score 1 · Answer 6

I would like to confirm who exactly communicated the test results to you: was it from the doctor's mouth directly? If not, if you were getting it from you mom or dad, then I would not trust the accuracy of the information.

That being said, some other things that can cause confusion and memory issues can be stroke, over- or under-medication, thyroid issues, and other medical issues. My advice to you would be to accompany her to all future medical appointments and have her assign you as her Medical Representative (this is a HIPAA form you request at the receptionist's office) so that her doctor can talk to you without her being present.

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score 0 · Answer 7

I agree with JoAnn--unless you were at the visit, you don't know the conversation. Now would be a good time to have a backup plan (POA) for both Mom and Dad. The physician may not be able to share patient information with you unless your mom or dad permits, Your dad may be minimizing the physician's report or may not understand all that he was told. A lot of elders would rather stay as independent in their own home beyond the point they should be unassisted--consider if this might be driving some of your dad's decisions.

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score 3 · Answer 8

Did you go with Mom and Dad? I can't imagine that during the verbal the doctor didn't see something if Mom is as bad as you say. Maybe the doctor did explain that it wasn't a Dementia and explained what could be going on and your Dad only heard it wasn't Dementia.

There is something called Aphasia which causes symptoms like your Moms. Its from brain damage and a stroke can cause it. But an MRI should have shown signs of a stroke. I would call the neurologist. He may not be able to give you info without Moms permission but you can tell him what is going on. You can start the conversation that you have been told that no Dementia was found but Mom cannot hold a conversation. That she uses the word car instead of house, etc.

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If not dementia or Alzheimer’s, what could it be?

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