My mother’s doctor gave her something for her memory loss a year ago and she refused to take it. Always saying “ I will let you know when I think my memory is getting bad”. She says her memory is too good that she wishes she could forget some things.
She's Asian but has been here in the states for 55 years. She has always spoken broken English. I would imagine that affects the mind even more having to translate the way she does...? Does anyone else have a parent from Asia?
I'm also not sure your question is really about the medication, it sounds like you are concerned she might be developing cognitive issues and are trying to be proactive. From things I have heard and read over the years about keeping the mind sharp (not dementia specifically necessarily) using it to translate and using multiple languages is actually a benefit not a hindrance, it helps keep your brain muscle exercised and sharp so she might actually be helped by English not being her first language and good for her for using English all these years! Are you sure she translates in her head still, I have known several people who are bilingual and they each said there came a point where they began thinking in that second language when speaking it rather than translating. I always though what a skill being able to move back and forth between languages thinking and speaking in them as though you had 2 first languages. Anyway I digress, while I am not of Asian decent I think your moms language barrier may be helping her brain rather than hurting it. If she does go down the dementia road though don't be surprised if in the future (probably well down the road) she reverts back to her native tongue full time, I have also heard this isn't uncommon.
I think that the stubbornness for some in taking even needed medications is not certainly limited to those of Asian descent. It seems a universal problem here at the forum.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-14335/aricept-oral/details