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indubuque Asked November 2022

What stage is he in? My husband was tested for dementia by a psychologist and showed cognitive impairment, likely Alzheimer's.

His psychiatrist said that results score/wise don't accurately reflect what he (Doc) sees, and that the scores seem lower than they should be. Neither this doc, nor the PCP, have officially diagnosed him with dementia. Husband did take the hospital test for driving and flunked that, too. I am caring for him at home and reading many books. I am very confused as to where we are. Hubby can do ADLS (sometimes with a little prompt), can carry on a conversation (but has trouble with word finding), naps a lot and doesn't eat much (using high calorie Boost). He reads, watches TV, plays piano, takes out garbage, loads dishwasher, etc. Earlier, he had several falls, so I do not leave him alone. Hired a relief companion for a few hrs./days a month. No family to help out, so I am the sole care-giver/driver. I am diabetic and my own health isn't great. I fear the future.


Hubby will be 80 in December. I welcome any thoughts to help me sort this out. Many thanks!

baileyif Nov 2022
Same situation.. I'm not at all certain I trust those scores... They r phrases as 20 %of people with dementia have this score... Not how many people of this age without dimentia have this score... Or , 80% to of people with dimentia have this score .. not how many people without dimentia of this age have this score ... I think with brain issues both analytical and clinical evidence need to match..

Dad was "diagnosed" with advanced dimentia by a social worker based on tests and a really stubborn personality normally and advised he couldn't live alone.. but all was ok at his home?. Primary care doc then diagnosed early stage dimentia..
I under care for multiple sclerosis by a neurologist.. my MRI is terrible but I not so bad by appearance.. my neurologist has told me her medical philosophy is more on clinical observation than test results. Test results just support clinical observation. Not the other way around.

From reading posts on this forum., I believe Alzheimer dimentia is a continuous downward progression. But vascular dimentia goes in a stepwise fashion.. go down stay there for a while then go down again and stay at next step for a while and cotinue.

AlvaDeer Nov 2022
All of this is as individual to the person as his or her own fingerprint and there is no hard and fast "picture" that will be formed. Patients progress on a continuum that is unique to them. For my brother his diagnosis of probably early Lewy's Dementia was made almost entirely not by testing but by his lucid and succinct descriptions of his symptoms. Difficulty swallow that came and went. Hallucinations that were real and details. Hallucinations brought on by patterned carpeting or marbled walls. Toe tapping that occurred when standing say at a sink. Loss of balance. Loss of smell. Other things. He was always able to discuss his symptoms and to discuss his diagnosis and said that while he wasn't glad to know the downward and inevitable trajectory he WAS glad to know there was a reason to why he was seeing the world differently, and glad to be able to make arrangements for himself into the future.
All dementias progress differently. Alzheimer's is usually a long slow slide downward. Some descend down by stair steps in which the patient is stable on a level for a time more or less in length. Some, like Lewy's fluctuate up and down and all over the place for a while.
There is just no way to get the "order" we seek, and no way to predict.
The same is true of most mental illness and disorders. They are unique to the patient, difficult to diagnose with certainty and drug combos what may work for one will not for another.
I wish there was a roadmap we could give you. I am sorry for what you are both going through.

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funkygrandma59 Nov 2022
Usually the diagnosis starts as mild cognitive impairment, and then will morph into one of the many different dementias, so it is initially hard to diagnose which one he may have. And because everyone is different, I wouldn't put too much stock into what stage he's in.
But good for you for reading up on the different dementias(as there are 100's)so you can be better prepared as time goes by.
You already know that the disease of dementia doesn't have a good outcome and your husband will only continue to get worse, so it's best to get your ducks in a row now.
You don't have to be afraid of what the future holds, just prepared best you can. You will discover as many of us have that you are stronger than you realize, and you are capable of far more than you ever thought.
Now that being said, it's still of the utmost importance that you take great care of yourself along the way as well, as 40% of caregivers caring for someone with dementia will die before the one they're caring for, so you can see just how important self care during this journey is.
If it means you hire more in-home help so you can get out and do things you enjoy, then do it. And if it comes to the point where you can no longer safely care for him at home and you have to place him, then do it.
There will come a point in this journey that you will have to do not only what is best for your husband, but also what is best for you.
In the meantime, please see if your city offers a local caregiver support group that you can meet with either in person or on Zoom. I can tell you from personal experience that my local support group saved my life when I was caring for my husband who has now been gone over 2 years.
You can do this! And just remember that God will be with you every step of the way.
God bless you.

freqflyer Nov 2022
indubuque, each case is a bit different. Here is guide, please print it out so when something out of the ordinary happens you won't be surprised. https://www.agingcare.com/articles/stages-of-alzheimers-disease-118964.htm

Or hubby could be just having normal age related issues. Both my sig-other and I are in our mid-70's and it takes us a bit longer to remember names, etc.

Another suggestion, have your hubby tested for an Urinary Tract Infection. Such an infection can mimic dementia, and other behaviors. The test can be done by Hubby's primary doctor [pee in a cup] or at an Urgent Care where you can get results while you wait.

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