My husband accuses me of "imagining" what I believe is his increasing forgetfulness and slowed thinking and reasoning. He insists he is "getting better." He has times when he seems completely fine and totally "with it" and other times when it seems like "the lights are on but no one's home." He scored 25 of 30 on the SLUMS test his neuro gave him (which indicates "mild cognitive impairment) in June and she insists on seeing him every 6 months for re-evaluation. MRI was normal. He is 67 years old and we have been married only 5 1/2 years (together 7 1/2 years). I am 58.
I feel like I am driving myself nuts wondering if what I think are signs of decline is really my imagination or normal aging stuff for a 67 year old. The neuro will test him again in December and we have also asked her to rule out conditions such as HF Autism and ADD.
When I first posted on here in June, I had wrongly assumed that his neuro had given him the MMSE exam, where a score of 25 is the lowest normal score. I just recently found out that she gave him the SLUMS test and a score of 25 means mild cognitive impairment. My husband knows this and still thinks he is fine and that I am imagining his increasing forgetfulness and decline.
Since your next appointment is several months away, look up LBD on internet. The information there will, at least, help you know what to look for and maybe even help in identifying some issues and how to best deal with them.
Best wishes to you.
https://www.psychcongress.com/article/stress-not-dementia-may-be-behind-memory-struggles
Also...I was already going to post this question but maybe you answered it...can a traumatic physical (like heart surgery) or emotional event accelerate dementia/Alzheimer's/LBD? My husband has experienced life changing family (parent) trauma in the past year and his only sibling - a brother who was his best friend - died 5 years ago. Can this speed up cognitive decline?
I truly appreciate your post and suggestions and plan on really pinning down his neuro in December for a firm diagnosis and advice on how to proceed and what to expect.
My step fathers wife has dementia, we have taken her to several doctors, they all give us the same answers, lets watch and see what happens, bring her back in 6 months and we will test her again.
This is frustrating, it is all a guessing game, I can do that, I don't need to take her back and back to learn absolutely nothing.
Dementia/Alzheimer's has turned into a big money maker, the patient waiting room is always packed, mostly with people who have no idea why they are there, and like my LO doesn't even remember the visit the next day. Sad.
I doubt that you are imagining his decline, the struggle is real.
Sending support your way.
I still don't know if it is because he won't believe it or he doesn't know. So frustrating to be accused of being a liar when you are trying to help. I have learned to let it go, if he has it wrong, okay, not fighting that battle.
His timeline is all goofy, a couple of years ago is more like 20 years.
Best of luck, it is such a damnable disease.
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/alzheimers-25-signs-never-to-ignore/
See what you think, what symptoms he may be displaying. I think it's scary for a person to think he's getting dementia, so it's natural to insist he's 'fine'.
Best of luck to you!
I keep thinking that, as he is in the early stages, I want to include him in decisions about our future and our plans but that has turned into accusations so maybe it is time to stop that. I also need to talk with his adult children soon. I was sort of waiting until after the December appointment so I have more info from the neuro.