I have gone to caregiver support groups where both caregivers and social workers have told me not to bother. The reason for her dementia is not important since there is nothing that can be done. Other than her forgetfulness, she is in good health. She only takes vitamins. No other medication.
Carry on, as is. I think you already know the answer to your question.
There are many dementias. What if mom has B12 deficiency? thyroid out of kilter?]
Start with a good work up from her MD....or from a gerontologist or neurologist. Keep records. Weigh every visit; try to keep the annual physical going to monitor trends. As communication becomes less...finding problems can be simplified some by knowing her 'norms' Doing annual lab work may find that something else is going on too. If the time comes to use hospice, for instance, you will find qualifying much easier if you can show downward trends in the albumin levels..
If the physician assessing your mom - does say Alzheimer's...and you have done your research and feel that something isn't adding up - say so. Help them dig. Folks can have a mixed dementia - Alzheimer's + vascular, for instance. Be reasonable...by asking yourself what you would want your son/daughter to do for you in this situation.
Don't throw in the towel yet.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324877.php#1
If there are no medical issues found, how to proceed is dependent on how she is doing. If it is dementia and she only has short term memory issues, she is only in the early stages. Progression is unique for each person. While she is in this early stage, if dementia is indicated, I would read everything you can about dementia, symptoms, stages, how to deal with various symptoms, behaviors, etc. Being armed with information will help you during the progression. It was how I learned about it and it enabled me to recognize what was going on and how to deal with it - diversions, redirecting focus, not arguing, explaining or correcting, just learn to go with the flow!
The reason why someone has developed dementia-like symptoms would only apply if testing proved the symptoms to be caused by something else, not dementia. They don't fully understand at this point WHY someone gets dementia (exceptions may be repeated concussions or vascular, which can limit blood supply in the brain and can cause atrophy.)
There is no real treatment for dementia, only to counteract symptoms. IF your mom starts to have some serious issues, then consider more testing and/or neurologist. Given her great health and some memory issues, I wouldn't subject her to any extensive tests.
The only reason to determine the type of dementia is for LBD, which has a different progression and can be made worse with some medications. Generally, based on symptoms and behaviors, it is possible to differentiate in the earlier stages without invasive testing. Otherwise, testing isn't going to help much.
Keep mom as active as possible. Include socialization if possible (some become reclusive.) Exercise, even just a good walk every day or so, is beneficial. Have her participate in any/all home activities that she can physically manage - this keeps her active, stimulates her, makes her feel productive (even if you have to redo whatever later, when she isn't watching, just like with kids!)
It's not that simple. Mom has seen various doctors, neurologists and psychiatrists, not a simple one has written a diagnosis of dementia anywhere. They just list the symptoms.
By the way, so glad to hear that your mom is doing so well.
Her mom sounds pretty healthy for now -- only taking vitamins? What a blessing! I hope my only issue at 95 is forgetfulness...
This will help with legal questions later
If you have POA and it says it takes effect when the person is found incompetent, you may want that letter to help put the POA in effect.
I would want a neurologist involved if Mom needed any meds for anxiety or violent tendencies. I took Mom once a year for a while then the Dr. told me there was no reason to come back. It was just allowing nature to take its course.
We never did the "testing" and mom hasn't taken anything other than her usual BP meds, with the exception of antibiotics for a few UTIs and Lorazepam (anti-anxiety) for the first UTI as it caused MAJOR sun-downing. After UTI cured, no need for the Lorazepam.
The next 2 UTIs manifested as night time bed wetting. Go figure! Once treated, bed wetting stopped.
She started the early memory issues around age 90, moved to MC around age 93 and is now 96. Gradual recent memory losses along the way, now she's living life about 40 years ago. Otherwise, she's had no need for other medication. She still knows who I am, but asks about her mother and younger sister, both gone (mother around 40 years ago, refers to sister's grandchild, who is about 40 now, as "that baby" she's taking care of.) Mom is the last of her generation on both sides of the family. I swear she's going to outlive us all!
Good Day.
While it's true that the reason for the dementia is not really important, there are reasons to track her memory loss.
I don't think she needs a neurologist, she needs a gerontologist. For the rest of her life, the gerontologist can help both of you to make sure she's in the best health overall health possible. Definitely limit the number of doctors she sees; a gerontologist is the right doctor for an elderly person.
If it is early in the diagnosis there are medications that can SLOW the progression but eventually they will stop working.
There are "typical" signs, symptoms to look for or expect with some forms of dementia so that might give you a "heads up" with what might be next in the progression. If you want that as a guidebook as to what might happen in the next 6 months it might help. On the other hand sometimes trips are more rewarding if you don't have a guidebook and you discover territory on your own.
After my Husband was diagnosed, and I/we did not have a lot of testing done, I sort of came to the conclusion after a few years that he probably also had Vascular Dementia along with the Alzheimer's that had been diagnosed. There was no way I was going to put him through testing to confirm. I just kept in the back of my head that at any point he could have a stroke that would possibly kill him before the Alzheimer's would.
Ultimately your call, or yours and moms if she can still make some decisions if you want a full battery of tests done. But I would not put anyone through more than they are comfortable doing.
That is until you know that often times dementia is just a temporary symptom when an elderly person has a bladder infection. UTI’s manifest differently in older people than in younger people. No pain when urinating as when younger. My dad has moderate Alzheimer’s and I moved my mom and dad in with us about two years ago to lighten the load. When he takes a turn for the worse on memory, I know the UTI has returned. Tests are done to confirm, anabiotic’s are prescribed, and by the time the round of anabiotic’s are finished, my pop is back to his cheerful self and much of his memory has returned. I don’t think it’s fair to look at someone’s age to determine whether they should receive care or not. also, when he was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/dementia, he was put on medication and I was amazed at how much it helped! God‘s not done with your mama yet. The fact that she still has breath confirms this. We live in a culture where many have forgotten how to honor our elders. I know it’s frustrating and scary and tough to know what to do. I found that just to take one step at a time is best. Take your mom to the neurologist. The neurologist may forgo some of the tougher tests such as MRI’s and will simply prescribe some of the better medications that can help her memory. And take your mom to her physician or even urgent care and have them test for a bladder infection. You might just be pleasantly surprised, once she’s on medication how much better things will be. To answer your question more specifically… I don’t know that you really need to have an answer of why she has dementia so much as finding ways that you can help her to enjoy the days she has left to their fullest.
But identification of the type of dementia might be possible, but not a certainty. That can only be done post mortem with an autopsy.