17 July 2023 at 7:13 pm I am 81 and my husband has demtia although he has not been told this by his doctors he is 96 going on 97 and has a tumour on his bladder and his bladder does not empty properly They say as he get so distressed whenhe has ro go to hospital it is best not to put him through the ordeal He does not wany surgery for his tumour and doctord feel it would cause him too much tress anyway, but it is so hard as there is so much he cannot do ie was dress and often no idea where he is,but a lovely guy who l love dearly but its hard hard work Pauline Paulne
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01 August 2023 at 7:57 pm Please can help me understand Alzheimer's and dementia I got relatives with Alzheimer's and dementia I found it hard to see my relatives with the disease Alzheimer's Society 02 August 2023 at 12:42 pm Hi Janine, We are sorry to hear about your relatives. We would recommend calling our Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. You'll be able to speak with one of our dementia advisers who will listen to your situation, and offer specific advice, information, and support. You can find more details about the support line (including opening hours) here:https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line. We hope this helps. Alzheimer's Society web team Janine Griffiths
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14 July 2023 at 12:10 pm My sister in Texas can't remember anything at all, will she forget she has a baby sister. IAM from Al, use to be a Texan. And she laughs at everything. Is this normal? Shirley Kittrell
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12 June 2023 at 8:37 pm My wife was diagnosed with ‘Alzheimer’s’ about 5 years ago. There were signs for 3 or 4 years before we could get her diagnosed. Four weeks ago she experienced the typical stroke symptoms and spent 4 days in hospital. Other than a slight deterioration in her symptoms she is fine but has had about 5 further but lesser episodes. Her dementia is quite bad during mornings and she improves as the day goes on. She cannot do anything any longer and I have to do most things. She’s 74, as I am too. From her hospital discharge papers it would seem likely that she has vascular dementia. If so, is the Alzheimer’s medication Rivastigmine patches any good for her? Any thoughts? Malcolm Bowers
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12 July 2023 at 9:56 am Hello Malcolm. I’m sorry I cannot answer your question but I just wanted to reach out to say I’m so sorry you are both going through this. You seem like such a wonderful husband to look after your wife and be by her side through all of this. Remember if it does get too much though you must reach out for extra help. You can’t do everything, all of the time, it will make you poorly too. Take care and best of luck to you both. Naomi
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07 June 2023 at 9:21 pm My parent has been prescribed Alzheimer medication although the doctors have said they can’t say for sure if they have Alzheimer’s. Is this normal? Abigail
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Alzheimer's Society 12 June 2023 at 5:33 pm Hi Abigail, We'd recommend speaking to your parent's doctor about your concerns. Hopefully, they will be able to provide further detail about the medication your parent is on. You can also call our dementia support line on 0333 150 3456 for support and advice.(More information on opening times: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-connect-support-line). We hope this helps. Alzheimer's Society web team
18 May 2023 at 12:34 pm Is there any link between advanced prostate cancer which has spread to bones and lymph notes, with alzheimers? Christine Hughes
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Alzheimer's Society 30 May 2023 at 11:48 am Hi Christine, thank you for your question. No, there’s no known link between having advanced prostate cancer and risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Chemotherapy is known to cause cognitive impairment though (sometimes referred to colloquially as ‘chemo brain’ or ‘brain fog’) and the process of deteriorating can often cause delirium, which can look like dementia but is actually very different. But cancer does not cause Alzheimer’s disease. If you are worried about the possibility of Alzheimer's disease, we strongly recommend speaking with your local GP or health provider. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you need support, please also know that you can call our dementia support line and speak with a trained dementia advisor on 0333 150 3456. They can find out more about your situation and offer relevant advice and guidance (More information on opening times:https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line) We hope this is helpful, Christine. Alzheimer's Society web team
17 May 2023 at 11:01 pm My mother has two brain surgeries in 1983 for a benign meningioma. Years later, in 2002 (at best I can recall) she developed dementia. She passed in 2006. My father recently passed of Alzheimer's at age 89. My 66 year old brother has recently been told he has the beginnings of Alzheimer's. Could my mom's dementia have been caused by the two brain surgeries? And with losi g two parents and now my brother, what are the odds I will develop it (I'm 64)? Lisa
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Alzheimer's Society 30 May 2023 at 11:51 am Hi Lisa, we're very sorry to hear about your family’s experiences with dementia. I’m afraid it’s unclear how the meningioma may have affected your mother’s future risk. However, having three close relatives with a dementia diagnosis is often considered to be suggestive of a possible genetic susceptibility to dementia. It sounds as if you may be based in the US, so the best resource for more information on this would be the Alzheimer’s Association webpage “Is Alzheimer’s Genetic?”. This explains how certain genes can contribute to dementia risk – either rare gene mutations that always cause dementia if inherited from a parent (known as ‘familial dementia’) or much more common ‘risk genes’, such as APOE-e4, that just increase the likelihood of getting dementia. The AA resources will then be able to direct you to testing facilities near you, should you need them. We hope this helps, Lisa. Alzheimer's Society website team
06 May 2023 at 5:28 pm Can undiagnosed Giant Cell Arteritis which has progressed to blindness cause vascular dementia in the same side as the infection? Elizabeth
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Alzheimer's Society 09 May 2023 at 2:29 pm Hi Elizabeth, In this case, we'd recommend speaking to a medical professional such as a GP about your concerns. They will be able to provide you with specific information that's relevant to your situation. If you need support, please also know that you can always call our dementia support line on 0333 150 3456. (More information on opening times: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-connect-support-line) We hope this helps, Elizabeth. Alzheimer's Society blog team
07 April 2023 at 1:55 am Has my friends 71yr old father got the early signs of dementia or something else, as a lot of the early symptoms don't apply to him, however these are his symptoms and they only came on over 4/5mths which I think is pretty quick!? - 1. Forgetting where he has put something only hours before.2. Generally forgetting where things are which he has put.3. Repeating questions or statements within moments of asking or saying it the first time, especially if it is his drinking night.4. Starting jobs and not finishing them but starting them on something else leaving half done projects everywhere (he doesn't forget there half done)5. Pointless tasks for example, he wanted to sort a cupboard out in the garage and get rid of a few things but all he did was pull things out of one cupboard and put them in another cupboard to which he only got rid of 3 light bulbs.He thought it was a job that really needed doing although it was a spare of the moment random thing he came up with and a pointless exercise, the cupboard he moved the stuff into was the cupboard next to it which was exactly the same in every way.Is this dementia the early signs? If not what else could this mental deterioration be? Steph
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22 January 2023 at 7:30 pm My mum is 80. She is having difficulty remembering recent events and conversation. More recently also showing confusion. We don't want to over react, and don't know what to do to help. We feel that if we suggest a Dr appointment it will make her angry or upset or both. Any advice welcome Wendy Tacticos
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17 May 2023 at 6:43 pm HiI was in this position with my mother, her short term memory was getting very bad and was confused in what should have been known areas. I did mention it to her and said when you broke your hip you went to see the GP. She was having none of it...... ! I spoke to the GP with my concerns and they wrote to her asking her to make an appointment as they hadn't seen her through covid. She passed the test with flying colours ! However a few more prompts from me she had a scan and was diagnosed with vascular disease. Very difficult as she lives with me and I am constantly helping her. She gets cross and quite nasty. Some days better than others. vanesa clode-roberts
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13 May 2022 at 6:21 pm My brother was diagnosed with vascular dementia 3 years ago when he was just 68. I always blamed his heavy smoking, not sure if it is related. He is now in a nursing home, it must be awful to lose your home, your independence. His personality has totally changed, from a gentle soul to a very aggressive person. I don't know of anybody else in the family who has had it, and from what I have researched it isn't hereditary. Can the smoking have caused it? Is it hereditary? I am the only person he has, nobody else bothers with him. Not sure why I am writing this, just offloading I think. Jenny
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16 May 2022 at 5:04 pm Hello Jenny, We're sorry to hear about your brother's vascular dementia diagnosis. The causes of dementia are complex, and researchers are working to understand this more clearly. Although was can't say what causes dementia, we know that certain things can increase a person's risk of dementia. We have some information about risk factors for vascular dementia on our website: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/risk-factor… If you would like more dementia information, advice, or support, please call our Dementia connect support line on 0333 150 3456. More details of the support line (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line We hope this helps, Alzheimer's Society website team
29 April 2022 at 2:57 pm How do I deal with / what do I do say when my mum who has mixed dementia, and is confused of where she is, thinks she’s on holiday and waiting to be picked up, packs things in bags because she thinks she’s going on holiday, things like fruit, butterfish, cello tape, Delia
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Alzheimer's Society 29 April 2022 at 3:07 pm Hi Delia, It sounds like you might benefit from joining our online community, Talking Point, where people affected by dementia can share their experiences and ask each other questions. You can browse the conversations within the community or sign up for free: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk We hope this helps. Alzheimer's Society blog team
31 January 2022 at 11:20 am My wife would appear to be suffering from dementia but has never been diagnosed She contacted covid 14 months ago and had a mild stroke 12 months ago our GP is fully aware of her situation How do I go about getting her diagnosed to confirm what type she is suffering from She has also been diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago in June 2020 Percy
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31 January 2022 at 5:01 pm Hi Percy, Thanks for your comment, and sorry to hear that your wife is displaying symptoms of dementia. It's great that you've already spoken to your GP. They may decide that your wife should be assessed for dementia - you can find more information about this process on our website: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/dia… If your wife has not been assessed and you think that she should be, then you may find it helpful to speak with one of our dementia advisers. They will be able to learn more about your situation and give advice. You can call our Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. More details (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line I hope this is helpful, Percy. Wishing you all the best. Alzheimer's Society website team
10 January 2022 at 9:15 pm My mum has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s today - she only 74 abs has survived Pancreatic cancer she is a walking miracle- why is life so cruel with her getting this ? Pauline Stanley
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No idea how to manage this - I support her with medication and shopping etc - so worried how it will progress
11 January 2022 at 11:26 am Hi Pauline, We are very sorry to learn about your mother's diagnosis. This must be such a worrying time for you and your family. Please know that you aren't alone, and we are here for you. We'd recommend calling our Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456 and speaking with one of our dementia advisers. They can answer any questions you might have and provide dementia information and support. More details about the support line (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line Our advisers can also provide you with any reading material that you might find helpful. We have lots of publications and factsheets about dementia - you can download and read online versions, or request copies of resources in the post: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-factsheets/full-… In particular, you might be interested in our booklet Caring for a person with dementia: A practical guide. The information in this booklet is here to support you to care for the person with dementia and to look after yourself: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-factsheets/carin… You might also find it useful to speak to other people who are going through similar situations within our online community, Talking Point. Here, carers and other people affected by dementia share their experiences and offer each other support and advice. It's open day or night, and free to use. Read more about the community, or register to join the conversation: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-talking-point-our-on… We hope this helps, Pauline. Please do call our support line if you need to speak with an adviser. Alzheimer's Society blog team 03 March 2022 at 7:38 pm GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. DOT DAVIS
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09 August 2021 at 8:33 am Thank you for providing this informative set of blogs related to ALZHEIMER’S, looks pretty enlightening and effective for individuals suffering from the disease. The content is best for getting information regarding the issue. I was on the look for such info. Dr. David greene
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22 July 2021 at 1:16 pm Hello, Sara
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We haven't had a diagnosis and indeed, seeing
a doctor at this time is very difficult still.
Concerned about the deterioration of a family member of 83 years old.
Already one member of family takes her shopping and our part look after finances, bills etc. She would be unable to do this independently now. Losing weight, clearly not cooking anymore etc etc. Forgetting medication, repetition all evident.
Short term memory isn't good. So many aspects in descriptions here are ringing alarm bells.
What is our first step? Is it insisting we see a doctor?
Any guidance would be appreciated...
Thank you.
Alzheimer's Society 22 July 2021 at 2:24 pm Hi Sara We're really sorry to hear about your family member - this must be a very worrying time for you. We would strongly recommend calling our Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. You'll be able to speak with one of our dementia advisers who will listen to your situation, and offer specific advice, information, and support. You can find more details about the support line (including opening hours) here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line You might also like to read through our information on diagnosis, which explains the dementia assessment processes, should you want to learn more about it: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/dia… We hope this helps, Sara. Please do call our support line for advice when you need it. Alzheimer's Society blog team
