My mother knows her kids names but cant remember much of anything else. i can ask her if she wants something she will say yes but when i give it to her she doesnt even remember saying yes, she doesnt know the great grandkids names and she knows some of her grandkids . but doesnt know her address , and she says people is stealing from her. she gets very upset and mean at times. and very restless at night .
Pam, I've not heard of hallucinations being the key identifier for Alzheimer's. I've heard that they are very common as an early symptom for Lewy body dementia. Perhaps it was what you were meaning?
There are something like 50 specific diseases that cause dementia. The most well-known is Alzheimer's. Perhaps about 60% of progressive dementia cases in the elderly are Alzheimer's. Lewy Body Dementia (included Parkinson's with Dementia) is the second most common. Vascular Dementia is often associated with strokes. There are many other kinds of dementia.
A specialist may be able to establish what kind of dementia your mother has, and that, in turn, might help with treating the symptoms. There is not a cure for any kind of dementia, but often the quality of life can be improved by treating the most bothersome symptoms. For example, "restless at night" was an extreme understatement for my husband, and his neurologist was able to treat that effectively. Then falling down was worrisome, and again, the doctor was able to considerably reduce (but not eliminate) that problem.
I don't believe there is a "good" kind of dementia, or that some kinds are worse than others. They are all bad, each in its own way.
Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, where blood flow is bad and the patient is forgetful, then anxious and suspicious.
Parkinson's shows dementia in later stages, along with tremors.
Kidney failure can cause dementia because toxins build up and affect the brain.
Taking medications wrong can mimic dementia.
.Alcoholics can get tremors like Parkinson's or be confused as their body depletes thiamine (vitamin B1) and lacks good nutrition.
So take a look at her medical history for a few hints of what might be wrong.