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prettygirl Asked April 2013

Is this the beginning of Dementia?

MY HUSBAND OF 76 YRS JUST STARTED BEING CONFUSED FORGETTING WHERE TO FIND ITEMS IN THE HOUSE CAN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT HE WANTS. HE KEEPS THINKING HE HAS BUGS ON HIM AND TAKES TWO SHOWERS A DAY. IS THIS THE START OF THE DEMENTIA I AM VERY CONFUSED AND SCARED. I TELL HIM TO DO SOMETHING HE DOES THE OPPOSITE.

caregiver75104 Apr 2013
I wouldn't call it dementia unless your husband has been properly diagnosed. We'll just say that he has memory problems. Give him "brain stimulation activities" like reading magazines, newspapers, doing word search/crossword puzzles, putting jigsaw puzzles together. Listening to classical music seems to help as well. My grandpa has dementia, I would sometimes put on classical music while he ate or read and I saw that he could function a little more. There is something about classical music that stimulates/exercises the brain.

JessieBelle Apr 2013
Hi, prettygirl. Is your husband 76 years old, or have you been married that long? If you've been married that long, his behavior may be normal for a man his age. However, if he is only 76, I would talk to his doctor about his behaviror. It does sound like he could have dementia, but a doctor could let you know something more definite. Some things can mimic dementia and might be fixable. It is good to rule those things out first.

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