What is the likelihood of someone who is diagnosed with mild MCI and Dementia will always stay that way?

" I need to know exactly what I am dealing with for sure and be properly armed with the knowledge of what to do when the time comes. This confusion is not productive for me or for the care for Momma."

Oh, Lyndee, that is exactly how the huge majority of us felt when heard our loved one's diagnosis. We all want desperately to understand EXACTLY what is going on and what to expect.

MCI may or may not progress. If it does, the diagnosis is generally changed to early-stage dementia. That your mother's doctor gave both diagnoses seems odd to me. But by the time you got the word it was third-hand so it is hard to know exactly what the doctor said.

It would be ideal if you and your sister could go with mother and sit through her appointment, so you both hear the news directly. Would this be possible for her next appointment?

Dementia is NOT a "mild" condition. Far from it. But in the early stages the symptoms may be mild. Or in comparing two person's with dementia you might say "my father's symptoms seemed milder than aunt Betty's." Your Mom can't have a "mild" case of dementia, but she can be in the early stages with mild symptoms.

MCI doesn't always develop into dementia, but if her doctor thinks it already has in Mother's case, then it will get worse. Dementia gets worse. It is what it does. But no one can tell you how fast it will get worse or how bad it will be or how long it will last. My husband had extremely severe symptoms in his first year, significant improvement and a plateau at relatively mild symptoms for about 8 years, and then a physical decline in the tenth year. An autopsy confirmed that his diagnosis ten years earlier was correct.

I don't think that my husband's progression was "typical" but the fact is that dementia is very hard to predict, even for professionals.

Whoever is with your mother most (you and your sister?) will know when the various "times" come. You will know before the doctor does that mom should not be left alone in a care. You will know when it stops being safe for her to walk to the post office on her own. You will observe when she should no longer use the stove. You will know when your help is not enough and she needs either in-home professional help, or perhaps being placed in a care center.

Confusion is not productive for anyone. But it is not exactly the doctor's fault. Dementia is a very confusing condition. Next visit, ask the doctor if she has an idea of what kind of dementia may have. Ask for the prognosis. Don't be surprised if the answer to both is "It is too early to tell."

Act on what you do know so far: Your mother has early stage dementia.

Join a local support group for caregivers of persons with dementia.

Begin to educate yourself on dementia in general, and later, if the doctor can pinpoint it more, on the specific kind of dementia your mother most likely has.

AgingCare is not exclusively for people whose loved ones have dementia, but there are enough of us here to provide lots of support and suggestions. Keep coming back. We'll help you through "when the time comes" for all the many times that are ahead of you.

My Mom (age 95) was recently diagnosed with MCI with short term memory loss. This was after a visit with the doctor who took over from her long-time doctor who had retired. This "new" (mid-thirties, I'd guess) doctor was much better at communicating with Mom and my brother and I (who are authorized to receive info on her medical records). We were relieved at this diagnosis, because it wasn't dementia or early Alzheimer's. He confirmed my analysis from research on the web that she wasn't likely to get much worse in the next six months or year, which gave us some relief insofar as having to put her in a "memory care" unit in a NH. She has been able to stay in her home with CNAs coming in 13 hours a day, 7 days a week, for about the same cost as a NH, which she would hate. My grandmother had dementia and spent the last 10 years of her life in a NH, so I know the difference between MCI and dementia. Nevertheless, you need to monitor your loved one and note changes in the mental state. Be aware that medication, dehydration, and even UTIs (surprise to me), can cause confusion and the appearance of dementia.

Dementia suddenly doesn't get better. It worsens!

From what I've read MCI basically means that things aren't quite 100%, but nobody is sure if the cause is early dementia or not. I think that someone with a recent diagnosis of MCI has probably not progressed to the point that they are a danger to themselves, but as Windy says, you have to go by what you observe and act accordingly.

Lyndee, my SIL left mom in the car, only to find mom GONE when she got back to the car. She was finally found wandering the store. Momma's best friend is probably declining herself, she shows poor executive decision making. Who is liable: well the girlfriend is if mom decides to drive the car, it's her car insurance. If mom wanders away, nobody is at fault, it happens all the time.

Forget about all the medical terms and diagnosis. Are you around your mother at All? What are you Seeing? Is it dangerous to leave her in a running car? This ain't rocket science. How is her memory? Is she able to care for herself?

My Dad has dementia. He has always refused any testing but it's clear what's going on. It might be alz or some other type of dementia but we have to deal with his memory issues and watch out for him.

From all that I know and have read about dementia I think it would be a very unusual case of dementia if it did not progress over time. This is not a ONE MAGIC ANSWER issue. I would suggest that you and your family personally observe your mothers abilities, or lack thereof, and take the necessary actions to make her safe.

First, if ur carry for ur Mom you should have medical power of attorney so you can deal with the doctors. May want to cinsider a new neurologist. My daughter, RN, works in nursing facilities and has explained Mom will get worse. A concussion, thyroid and dhydration have excellerated her dementia. I might be wrong but MCI and dementia go hand in hand. I see my Mom going downhill little by little. She can't make a decision. I only give her two choices when eating out. She can no longer distinquish hot from cold even though I have put stickers above the faucet. Your Mom could be OK for a long time then u will start seeing changes. One thing, think twice about putting her under for any reason. This will quicken the dementia.

I think I saw on one of the news programs that driving is like a muscle memory. We aren't all that much aware of our driving as we should be or would like to think we are. That's why there aren't more accidents with music blaring, kids screaming and fighting, spouses arguing, texting and telephoning, eating and putting on makeup Or even reading while driving. Your question was would POAs be responsible. I assume you mean legally responsible. I doubt it but you probably couldn't get two lawyers to agree on the answer ( in writing). I'm in a gloomy mood I recognize, but our culture is in transition. We have all these people with labels stuck to them trying to navigate life filled with exotic chemicals and bad diets and little exercise. The American way is to try to figure out who to blame. Each of us have made choices to bring us to where we are in life. But feeling responsible for mom is what makes this site tick.
I would object more to her being left in a Walmart parking lot than to the fact that she's alone in a running car. But I agree, it does sound foolish.
As to the neurologist. My aunts neurologist gives me a written report after each visit. It also goes to her primary. I find it helpful as I can easier track her progression by comparing one six month to the next. If she has been placed on a new med I can reflect on the past six months and wonder if I have noticed new symptoms, diminished or even improved behavior. Our minds can be affected by our diets and exercise and lack of disease ( think UTI) recent surgery, many factors, from one six month to the next. It's not like a light switch going off and on. Find yourself some questions that are meaningful to you. Ask mom the same questions every six months. Record or write down your answers. The date, the president, her birthday. Compare the answers. Have her do some simple things like walk heel to toe, walk backwards, rise without the aid of the arms on her chair ( these might be too hard). Again, it's just a snap shot in time but you will probably be able to tell something about her progression. After the initial tests are run, it seems to me that this is pretty much all the drs are doing up until the time something more drastic is needed to be done. I like the six month interval because it gives me time to focus on her mental health alone for that session.
Your sibs might be so relieved that mom is out with her friend that they will not find fault with anything friend does. Life is meant to be lived but friend probably should take mom home before grocery shopping. Have you discussed this with friend? If it makes you anxious she might reconsider. You could also share the drs report with friend if you think it would make her more responsible when she is out with mom. It could also make her stop her friendship. Everything has to be considered and then it's helpful to turn it over to God. I probably have God in the wrong order here. Just remember YOU nor POAs have the final word. I hope you and your momma have a great weekend.

My mom was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment about 4 years ago. She was not put on any meds at this time, but had a follow up appointment every 6 months for the first 2 years. When that doctor left the practice and she had to travel to a neurologist in a larger city, she was put on meds. Gradually she has been put on stronger doses and more medications, but no doctor has ever told her she has Alzheimer's disease. Everyone knows she has Alzheimer's, but no one wants to say it out loud. She wouldn't remember it if we told her anyway.

And your mom should never be left alone in a running car. Somehow, you will have to get your siblings to understand that leaving a dependent adult in a running car is like leaving a child in a running car--dangerous!

Momma's best friend (who is also her contact) often allows Momma to stay in her car alone while running it and leaving the heater on while she does the grocery shopping inside Wal-Mart. Now perhaps this activity would be fine to do if Momma wasn't just diagnosed with having MCI and Dementia.....but neither my Momma, nor her best friend find anything wrong with doing this.

I brought this concern to all three of my older siblings which happen to be her POA's. None of them are that concerned about it and that deeply troubles me. ANYTHING could happen to Momma!!! She could fool around the vehicle and make it move that could cause damages to her friends' vehicle and someone else's vehicle or her friend's car could hit and possibly kill another person putting their groceries in their trunk....the possibilities are endless!!!

Who would be liable for this if any of this would happen? I'd say not only her friend would be liable, but my older siblings who have POA status. Am I right or am I wrong about all of this? I'm worried and a nervous wreck!!! Any advice from any of you would be most helpful. Thank you in advice.

Is it ever wise to leave a person with "mild" MCI and Dementia alone in a running car for a hour or so?

Lyndee - putting the word "mild" next to dementia seems a bit like saying "a little bit pregnant" in my non-expert opinion. Seems like beggining or early stage would be more appropriate. There are many good reasons both legal and ethical to get a more specific diagnosis - the least of which is planning for your mothers future care needs. Do you have a Hippa waiver saying medical information about your mother can be shared with you? If not, I'd start there. Then see about getting a full neurological work up on your mom - ask for a new doctor on the grounds of a second opinion - most medical insurances allow for that. Then go from there.

I don't like any of this at all. Ever since I joined this website I never once read that anyone ever was diagnosed with a mild case of Dementia or MCI and Dementia. In fact it's been the opposite.

I'm confused badly.

Countrymouse, I have no idea if my sister has our mother's permission to share her medical information. I'd have to ask my sister. I actually thought that this Neurologist doesn't know her butt from a hole in the ground.....but I could be wrong.

Pamstegma, I too thought that maybe my sister sugar coated the dialogue too.....why I have no idea. I need to know exactly what I am dealing with for sure and be properly armed with the knowledge of what to do when the time comes. This confusion is not productive for me or for the care for Momma.

Or wrote it down and then couldn't read her own handwriting, true...

MCI can be stable and non- progressing. Dementia is progressive. She will need to be followed to see if there is progression.

Countrymouse, It is also possible the sister is sugar-coating the dialogue, eh?

That's not a diagnosis. That is a neurologist trying to keep things simple and being a patronising fathead instead. If it were me, I would thank him for his reassuring words and ask him what his findings were, please; and while he's at it would he like to provide a reasoned prognosis.

Does your sister have your mother's permission to share her medical information? It is possible, I grudgingly admit, that the neurologist was giving her the barest synopsis to avoid a breach of patient confidentiality.

Lyndee, miracles can happen. Much depends on what other conditions mom has, such as heart conditions or diabetes, for example. No doctor can tell you for certain what her progress will be, how fast or how slow. Take one day at a time, there will be good days and bad days.

Dementia is a progressive disease. It always gets worse.

Mild cognitive impairment is not a disease but more like an observation without a diagnosis. It can be temporary.

Angel