Can Alzheimer's cause a sensation of numbness/detachment in the feet?

My grandmom whom we lost two years ago at age 103 used to complain about cramps and strange sensations in her feet which would get cold. Her cardiologist and other doctors of hers told us that it was mostly due to poor circulation. This is so hard to deal with because in my case I wanted to do everything for her. I still feel chest pains about it. Take care

Extremely common condition in the elderly. It can be due to restricted blood flow or compressed nerves. Many diabetics suffer from this condition. It is annoying and can lead to falls. Cold feet are also a sign of poor circulation. good wool socks can help but often the numness is more comfortable if the feet are actually cold. if the occurs mostly when the patient wakes up it may be at least partially due to the way they lie in bed compressing the nerves. Experiement with differenn and supporting the limbs with pillows. Before getting out of be the patient should move their legs and feet to try and get the circulation flowing. The first step is to talk to the Dr to rule out any underlying disease.

If her blood sugars run continuously high, it could also be from Diabetic nerve damage which does cause numbness, tingling and sometimes pain in the feet. A person does not have to be fully Diabetic to experience this. There are meds. that can help specifically with this kind of discomfort, it might be worth further conversation with her doctor(s).

You might want to try giving her a glass of tonic water. Tonic water can quickly and simply cure foot and leg cramps. It may not be the answer but why not try this simple treatment? It can be bought at grocery or drug stores. It helped my mom immediately. Bless you!

I had Peripheral Neuropathy due to a B-12 deficiency. Drove me bats. Doc said mylar coating on nerves was not being supported. I passed the B-12 serum test, but when that and several other odd symptoms kept up the Doc did a different test. Seems a person can have plenty of B-12 in their system, but if lining of tummy doesn't produce enough intrinsic factor for the B-12 to bind to, it can't be used by the body. One of the usual causes of decreased intrinsic factor is long term PPI, (Proton Pump Inhibitor), use, like Prevacid, etc., but there are other reasons for that too. I just have to have a B-12 injection every now and then, gets it where it needs to be, just goes around the tummy process. Can't hurt to ask her Doc about including it next time she's in having a blood draw anyway. Methylmalonic Acid, Homocysteine tests look past the Serum test to see if what's there can be used.

Definitely sounds like neuropathy, which is not really related to Alzheimer's. Frequently caused by diabetes, and peripheral vascular problems, or nerve impingement or degeneration.. Lots of people with perfectly normal function get it too. (My husband has it due to the diabetes.) There are medications for it, but so far, none have helped him at all. You definitely have to have a doctor deal with this.

Thinking back my moms feet were always cold and she also received b12 shots but I thought that had something to do with the dementia

The numbness is most likely caused by the meninginoma. As it grows, it presses against nerve bundles within the brain. Depending on which way it is leaning, it causes numbness in extremities. Sometimes, it can wreck the sense of smell. This is another unfortunate event that we have to deal with as we age.

I am 84 years old and the caregiver for my 85 YO husband who has Alzheimer's Disease. I have severe Osteoarthritis, Neuropathy and had a very large meninginoma which was removed in 2007 at which time I almost died. I also have A-Fibb and take Coumadin. My feet feel the same way, but never give out on me. The brain tumor never had that affect on me and it was very large. I would imagine it is the neuropathy as I also feel as if my compression hose are still on when they are off. The bottom of my feet also burn, but by the grace of God, I just keep going!!!!

nw2946 sending you hugs and strangth. the job you are doing is tough for someone half your age so keep up tthe good work and come here often