Follow
Share

I asked her doctor what stage is she in he just looked at me. So I guess that meant, this is it. I just got you go with the program, no more meds can help her. She’s on Namenda and Donezepil.
Mom is constantly losing weight. I read the Donezpil can cause weight lost. Considerable weight lost from 140- to now 124. Is this also a part if it’s not the Pill?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
There are stages but they are but a guideline as to what might happen. My Husband was doing things that he should not have been able to do up until 3 or 4 weeks before he died. But there were things that he could not do at all from early on.
Weight loss is part of the over all disease progression.
Is your Mom on Hospice? If not you might want to contact Hospice for an evaluation. They will provide you with a lot of help, supplies, equipment and emotional support.
Weight loss is one of the criteria for re-certifying someone to remain on Hospice.

By the way..little "In my opinion" here..if this is the type of response you get from her doctor when you ask a valid question I would push her to get a better response or start looking for another doctor.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Any stages are only guidelines. My mom exhibited behaviors across the seven stage scale. Is mom seeing a geriatric physician? Of a family doc? A neurologist? Sounds like a different specialty doc is necessary.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Here is Teepa Snow's take on dementia stages.

https://teepasnow.com/about/about-teepa-snow/the-gems-brain-change-model/

What kind of doctor was this who didn't answer a very reasonable question with at least "early" or " moderate"?
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

This gives a summary of a few different scales for assessing dementia and Alzheimer's:

https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/aboutdementia/facts/stages/#scales
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Dear "Lillian1939,"

From what I've read, there are 7 stages of Alzheimer's:

1) No impairment. During this stage, Alzheimer's is not detectable and no memory problems or other symptoms of dementia are evident.
2) Very mild decline.
3) Mild decline.
4) Moderate decline.
5) Moderately severe decline.
6) Severe decline and
7) Very severe decline.

My mom is 95 and was on the Donezepil for the first several years. But, medications are no longer effective when their dementia is more advanced. Supposedly, it is only helpful in the early stages.
The Neurologist never added the Namenda to it back when she was diagnosed in 2014.

My mom lost weight but, no one ever attributed it to the medication. They said she just wasn't eating much. My mom's weight was pretty stable at 145 up until April of this year when she was hospitalized and nearly died from severe dehydration and COVID. She's under hospice care now and weighs 119.

Hope that helps! If you need more information, you can always call the "Alzheimer's Association's" 24/7 hotline at 1-800-279-3900.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter