How fast can dementia progress?

Alan, was Mom living at home with a lot of help or was she independent? How old is she? The Alzheimers website has a great deal of info about all types of dementia.

Mom was receiving a ton of help from Dad and they also had someone coming in twice a week for a couple of hours.

I'm wondering whether you mom is having a series of mini strokes which is causing rapid decline.

Frontotemporal dementia lasts about 8 years and is incurable. The end stage is pretty awful. Look it up on PubMed. Maybe get your mom an MRI for a definitive diagnosis? It won't change the outcome, but it can help you understand and treatment your mother accordingly. Just a thought.

All great answers.

It may also be, as in many cases, that your mom was already quite badly off but it was masked by having your father run interference and take over on all fronts. she also had the "help."

This is so common that sometimes family members who visit routinely do not realize how bad things have gotten.

Be grateful that she was home and "functional" for so long.

Good luck!

If possible, take her to a Neurologist. Also, she may be dehydrated or have a urinary tract infection.

Also read this book:

"Couldn't we talk about something more pleasant?" by Roz Chast.

I walked around with this book clutched to my chest for about five months when my mom was in the worst of it. The book is helpful and very funny. It describes this situation to a T.

that is a good question ...my mom had to go to a skilled nursing home b/c she was to weak ..so she stayed in for 13 days .they did not give her the medicine she was suppose to be on for it .so when she got out she was ok..she got out on sunday then by wenseday she would not get out of bed but for a hour ..it lasted a week & she was on hospice care on wenseday or thurs .her physical therapist come by on that wenseday she could not work or my mom that is with the therapist ..well i had to give her food & water & that to keep her going or she would no eat & would get worse .so she got out of that in a week .it would not happen if she got in the home .. they say she has dementia i dont know what kind .she had been diagnost it in may 2011 & she is haveing more trouble with her memory .so it is 6 yrs .glad to see the person putting the frontotemporal dementia on there ..guess there is no way to know which is which without a MRI ..WELL GOT TO GO

The only way to diagnose type of dementia is on autopsy. There are patterns on an mri or ct scan but cannot be determined for certain. Dementia is primarily diagnosed by behaviors and symptoms that are exhibited.

If it is a stroke test will verify that. On hospice testing is usually eliminated. If not planning treatment, then why do the testing?

I am so sorry to hear this is happening with your mom. Dementia is so frustrating for everyone involved. All good comments above. With Dementia anything can happen I suppose, but it does sound like something else is going on that caused the rapid decline. You are in a tough spot, but you need to listen to your heart and gut and follow that path. I find that everyone jumps to the conclusion that it is the dementia and its part of the process and they don't look or don't look very hard to find a cause. That is so very frustrating. Sometimes you have to dig deep inside to find the fight to fight the fight. At the end of the day, do what you feel is the right thing to do. There is no right or wrong, it is called doing the best you can. Have faith in yourself to make the best decisions you can make.
A story from a friend of mine. Her aunt was diagnosed with early onset dementia. Her sister agreed to take care of her so they both moved in together. Suddenly, her symptoms escalated and so they went back to her doctor. They found she had a brain tumor. That was the cause of the escalation. The decision was made for no treatment of the brain tumor. She passed within 2 months of the tumor diagnosis. Tough decision, but the right decision for these sisters.
There are doctors that specialize in dementia and can do testing to determine the type of dementia. I tried that with my mom but she will not cooperate with the testing, mainly because she can't understand what they are asking her to do and it makes her angry and combative. So, every time we go to see this doctor they try another part of the testing but back off very quickly when they see she can't do it.
Sending hugs and prayers your way. Take care of yourself.

Sorry, never easy, when things suddenly go from ok to not. Was your mom diagnosed by a neurologist & given tests; a pect scan, MRI, sometimes even a spinal tap, along with written tests to make a firm diagnosis? This profile is usually done at an early stage when someone is starting to demonstrate problems with normal & simple tasks. It's amazing and wonderful that your mom with dementia & dad with ALZ have been able to be together & function at an ok level, without full time help. It sounds like they were managing, almost living independently. It's sad to face but a time does come when things have to change, there is always that window of opportunity that an accident can happen if someone is alone with a memory impairment. You may have to reconsider changes in living arrangements or care for dad now. It seems that progression is different for everyone, unpredictable even, yet pretty much runs the same course. A medical condition, different meds, even a change in environment or routine, will sometimes cause a downward spiral, so, the reason should always be looked into by medical personnel. I'm sorry for you, seeing changes & changing the course for care is never easy. Seek out experienced help for your parents. Knowledge & support for you. The Alzheimer's Association is wonderful. Stay focused & strong. Blessings 🌸

The decline is different for everyone. I don't think you can predict how fast/slow it will be. My husband (he has Lewy Body with Parkinson's) and is declining physically much faster than mentally. Is she receiving any stimulation at the home or does she stay in her room? Stimulation is important to keep the mind active.

I question what her treating doctor's expertise is. I seems like the "easy answer" is to attribute this sudden left turn to dementia when nothing else has been ruled out. At least with an MRI they can determine if there have been strokes. It may very well be she is on the final decline.  And if all of this isn't enough...What happens to Dad should (when) mom pass(es)?

Often in the early to mid stages not everyone can detect the declines - I believe others have called this "show timing" - basically when visiting or chatting, they can SEEM okay, maybe a little forgetful, but in reality they are worse off than they seem. My brothers (one is not local, called once/week) did not talk as much with our mother and so I could detect the changes long before they realized what was going on. Your dad may also have been protective of her.
In addition to ensuring no UTI - fluids... once, before the real signs showed up for our mother, I found her in a bad state, felt like garbage, somewhat disoriented, etc. Turns out her potassium levels were low, which DOES impact brain functioning! She spent a couple of days in the hospital and was back to her old negative self-important self in no time. However the signs were already there, I sensed them. The progression was somewhat quick to the next level, when it became more obvious to my brothers, but usually there are "plateaus". We did move her to memory care (not willingly), and though sometimes she can seem "lucid", other times not so much. Clearly short term memory is shot, but she seems to be doing well (still repetitively asks to go home).
I would suggest perhaps another opinion, preferably from a specialist in neurology or gerantology, not just a primary care doctor.

@Rosemary44, good advice but difficult to follow sometimes. Thank you for putting it out there! When they stop being mobile, .......

My DH is 95 and if he isn't helped, nothing happens. But I do try to have him make as many decisions as possible.

@gladimhere - I think I'll put off the autopsy if that is the only way to diagnose dementia.

@mar126 - thank you for mentioning dehydration!  I am dealing with this possibility right now and it too causes confusion, weakness, lethargy.  DH's new Zero Gravity Chair is draining fluids from him and the Lasix is not helping.  So we do need to be watching for signs of dehydration.  I've recently cut back 1/2 of his Lasix and thinking that maybe he should just be taken off it at least for now.  It helps when you have a primary physician that will work with you.

Old Age ain't for sissies. I am 30 years his junior and we've been together 32 years now - it's difficult to watch when the end is near.

In my experience, Mom is tested for dehydration and UTI each time she is in ER to rule them out. I worked as a secretary for a Visiting Nurse facility. Our nurses called a sudden downslide of Dementia an "episode". The patient seemed OK when they went to bed and woke up completely different. You need to sit down with the head nurse or doctor assigned to Mom, and ask if the tests mentioned have been done. Like UTI, dehydration. If an CT scan or MRI has not been done in sometime request it. They can send Mom out and transport her back. You don't say how old she is. This just might be her time. Dementia may have hit that part of her brain that controls her body. If so, she is in the final stages. Hospice would be a good choice.

i think there is not much treatment but using the brain & being active helps & namzaric take that too .IT IS A VERY SUCKING DISEASE !!!!!!!!!!!! IT SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS !!!!!!!11

To all who mention dehydration - my surgeon/doctor dad told me how to check without much interference to the other person

Lightly pinch the skin in back of hand so that it makes a 'mountain' then quickly let go - if the skin stays in the mountain shape then they are dehydrated - if it goes back slowly they are approaching it - if it springs back then no problem - this can be done on anyone even kids - practice on yourself a few times

I sometimes use pointing finger & middle so it can look like you're just touching back of hand but this way takes a bit of practice but is good if there are objections to testing - hope this helps as we go into summer

The star shines on Caregivers. When you say hospice that is a generic term or is it really palliative care, there is a difference. How frustrating this entire dementia illness for all and so much effort is being made by many but we professionals just keep plugging along waiting for a miracle. At the minimum, some remission procedures for early onset would attempt to stop this pandemic but again nothing on the horizon. Running for the cure is just a no hope phrase that misses a real approach to seriously tackle a good study patient facility staffed by the top researchers. The clinical on hands approach is long overdue.

the nurse practitioner that saw my dad Friday did say that it can progress rapidly. just how rapidly I guess is up to each individual.

There are all kinds of things that cause Dementia diseases to escalate. Trauma like breaking a hip, etc. Moving to a new place, UTI infections.....My Mom has Alzheimer's and was in an assisted living facility when she fell and broke her hip last September. She went from ER to hospital,to rehab, to Nursing Home to another Nursing Home. In 8 months time she went from mild to extreme. Now nothing or anyone is familiar any longer and she talks mostly gibberish. This disease if vicious.

My best friend's husband seemed ok, I say seemed because in retrospect he was slipping. Thanksgiving he seemed ok. The next week he got lost going to Home Depot (we called it his other home). By the middle of January he was gone. The doctors said a fast acting dementia.

Are all the financial/legal things in place?

There are many types of Alzheimer / dementia.Dementia is more common on --one that has had mini strokes & heart .Alzhiemers
There is nothing else wrong with at person.Another disease related to dementia is pix disease .
Pick disease is a rare form of dementia that is similar to Alzheimer disease, except that it tends to affect only certain areas of the brain.You can google t for more info.
SALISBURY MENTIONED A BOOK I am going to order & read because my sister who is 73 in June has Alzheimer's for the last 5 years.There is no other medical conditions that she has.After she took care of her hubby who had cancer of the bowel passed -- she went right down hill.She was a health aid & could take care of him at home until the end & then he passed in the hospital.Stress can do a lot to a person.Either her husband knew she the starting of Alzheimer's & was going to take care of her until he got very ill
No one will ever know.Two years later I had to step in & have my sister placed in a nursing home .Fortunately I have P.O.A over her health well -fair- she has no family .
Another book to read based on a true story is " Still Alice" after reading the novel I could see all the different stages of my sister.
She had many that I could relate to--looking back when she told me that her Dr was sending her to a mental health clinic to have tests done.. Alzheimer's is not a nice disease to have.  I enjoy reading the different questions & answers on AGEING ARE.COM
it has helped me stay focussed on a lot of articles .This is a great group .Thanks

It can progress quite rapidly, but at times, can be confused with a condition called SUNDOWNERS! Is your mother worse after the sun sets? Does she get worse when it is very dark? I found, with my mother, that the sundowners was often worse than the dementia, as she would often become abusive, and the next day, she would remember none of it.
If this fits with your case...leaving lights on is a great help...the brighter, the better. Once they fall to sleep, the episode passes.

Sundowners is one of many symptoms of dementia. My mom with Alzheimer's started sundowning at about 4pm and continued until she was asleep for the night.

My mom went from taking care of herself and all her affairs in about a weeks time. One day she claimed her head was hurting and then she went crazy. Part of it was an UTI the other about her head no one could ever figure out. I took her to many, many, many doctors and they all claimed she had Dementia. She ended up in a nursing home because she became combative, delusional and very stubborn. I couldn't take care of her any longer. The nursing home tried to help but to no avail. Drugs and physical therapy. She lasted 2 years until one day she could not talk, her speech was garbled and she could no longer eat. She passed this year in January. It comes on quickly and it progresses faster. I hate nursing homes but there is nothing that can be done past a certain point but to take them there. I have felt guilty for those 2 years. Dementia is an ugly disease for seniors. God bless all who go through it and the caretakers trying to deal with their love ones who have it.

well i wish that nurses & doctors would share more knowledge with us then we have to kinda get it out of them there is so much to know but yet they do not tell ..if i contact alzheimers association seem like they want money more than anything ..they did help me a little 2 times the police are so terrible i contacted them alzheimer assc. to make sure they do not take i wrong my mom 1 time said she wanted to kill her self so got a ambulance .& sent her on the way .. well i got to sleep nite

How about an "answer" from someone diagnosed MCI 4 years ago. I lately feel that the disease is progressing quickly and affecting not only short-term memory, but behavior such as decision making. My husband, at my request, tells me some things about which I am not aware. What is going to happen and how soon? Anxiety often is present. I am determined to stay active, doing the things to which I am accustomed in spite of worry about the future and how people around may observe declining ability. I am not willing thus far to share my situation with anyone except a close friend. and wonder how much others may assume . My husband is dedicated and I know him to be truthful in telling me what I need to know, but I also know the situation must be wearing on him. I cling to a hope that this may be just normal aging (I am 83) but the persistent and faster decline now makes me doubtful. Do I sometimes cry? Bet on it. Do I sometimes despair and feel sorry for myself? Bet on that, too. I know life is not fair, but why me? But then again, why not? (I stole that from some wise person.) Any way, regard this as a message from "the other side", whether dementia or just the fear of it.

And where is spell-check when needed?.

Yes, it can progress very rapidly depending on the person.

Is your mom on Oxygen by any chance? I am asking because if she is she could be a CO2 retainer it acts like it's dementia or Alzheimer's but it's something totally different it has been misdiagnosed. If she is ask them to do a blood gas test. I don't know what other advice I can give on this if she isn't. I'm sorry your going through this.