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My mother's doctor has bowed to relentless pressure from my mom and downgraded her diagnosis (which was based on clinical exams and an MRI) to mild cognitive impairment. This has caused all sorts of problems with her insurance and her care. Is this even possible?

I think D can ebb & flow. Every day can be different and every week can be different. But it's always there, just waiting to raise it's ugly head at the slightest provocation.
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Reply to jwellsy
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No. MCI comes first then later dementia. I might call her insurance co and explain to clear things up. That looks bad for the Dr.
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Reply to Kathy97
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"This has caused all sorts of problems with her insurance and her care."

I would assume the Doctor did not intend to cause harm? Was it merely to lesson the severity of the wording (to please your Mother maybe)?

I am wondering if you can be a little sneaky.. do both - let Mother use the term *mild cognitive impairment* but have the Doctor write you a medical letter with the term you require for insurance & care purposes.

That's what my family kind of did. No-one ever uses the D word, spoken or written in plain view, but I have seen it used on medical & admin papers.

I am ok to use both 'labels' depending on the situation.
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Reply to Beatty
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Geaton777 Aug 19, 2025
It's possible the medical verbiage needed to change to satisfy some code or billing criteria. For a while here in MN the medical community about 20 yrs ago they started calling asthma "reactive airway disorder" -- and it was totally confusing. They have since gone back to asthma.
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Masonienne: See another neurologist.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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I would request a consult with a good neurologist. While it isn't possible to change it is possible for you TESTING to change and it is possible for your SYMPTOMS of disease to change. For instance, once my brother was in care in ALF, and once his Trust and Estate were managed completely, to the extent he didn't even have to get mail and bills, his symptoms because much less. We were told that less anxiety almost always, in his dementia (Lewy's) lessened symptoms in early stages.

It is clear to anyone dealing with a loved on in any stage of dementia that there are good days and there are bad days.
I hope that the POA has discussed thoroughly with the doctor what doing this "playing around" with diagnosis can mean in terms of care; it should be made clear to the new neurologist, by the POA, what you have told us here.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Dementia is on a sliding scale of progression. She may have been having a "bad day" when she was first assessed, and then improved and plateaued for a while.

Early in her dementia journey, my Mom was having bouts of paranoia. Now, 2 years later, she hasn't really had any. Many may conclude this is an "improvement".

What behaviors are you seeing that is causing you to think this adjustment in her diagnosis is wrong?

Are you her PoA?

What problems with her insurance and care are happening?

More info for context would be helpful.
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Reply to Geaton777
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The simple answer to your question is...no, a person with dementia only gets worse never better.
So either your mothers doctor was wrong with their first diagnosis of dementia or they are wrong now.
Looks like it's time for a second opinion with a neurologist, though good luck with getting your mother to agree to that.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Situations like this are what second opinions are for…
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Bring her to a Nuerologist for a second opinion if possible .
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Reply to KNance72
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