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She has been diagnosed as having MCI but it seems so much worse than that. She is 74 years old and her long term is fine, considering her age; she forgets some things here and there, but knows who everyone is etc. just gets dates wrong. but her short-term memory is completely gone. as in she can ask me a question and then ask it again in the same conversation. she doesn't remember any meals, any visits, having gone to church, nothing -- almost immediately after these events take place. Mild Cognitive Impairment is describes as losing a bit of memory but being able to cope on your own. there is no way my mother could cope on her own; i take care of all her banking/bill payments/etc, as well as all her grocery shopping (it could take her up to 10 min to choose a single item from her list; she would leave with a massive headache overtime); she of course lost her drivers licence so i drive her everywhere too.
we see her GP on a regular basis (and she's great); she has also seen a geriatric doctor (who diagnosed her with the MCI) who said we didn't need to come back because she doesn't have Alzheimer's (altho she did prescribe Aricept for her), and i don't think she does either based on everything I've read; it's really just her 100% complete loss of short term memory. it's almost like the movie Memento except without the paranoid bits.
any search i do online for "complete memory loss" just pops up alzheimer's related websites (which luckily & thankfully brought me to this very site) but nothing more than that. I will of course bring this up with her doctors but wondering if anyone was in the same boat.

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Janice, my Mom will be 94 in November. She was diagnosed w/MCI 5 years ago and prescribed Aricept at that time. Has it helped? Well, that's sort of like trying to prove a negative.....there's no way to know how she would have progressed w/out it. Over the years her dementia has progressed, but she has also had several bad falls, breaks, surgery, anesthesia (the biggest culprit IMO) and rehab stints since the MCI dx. No doubt all of this trauma has contributed to the advancement of the dementia. How long has your Mom been on Aricept? Do you see any difference in your Mom? My understanding of Aricept is that, if effective, it will slow (not reverse or improve) the advancement of MCI into full blown dementia. You have been given good suggestions by Sunny and Angela. I have to tell you that 5+ years on, my Mom's short-term memory is terrible (1hour after lunch which I ate w/her, she will tell me that she is starving and hasn't eaten all day) BUT she has never had zero short-term memory. And some times, her short-term memory actually amazes me: After her last fall/surgery, I was visiting her in rehab. There was a terrible thunderstorm....vicious thunder and lightening....torrential rain. I tried to wait it out, hoping it would end but it was evening and going to get dark soon, so I decided to leave. Kissed Mom good-bye and said I'd be back the next morning. When I arrived next AM, Mom looked at me and said, "Oh, thank God you're OK!" I asked what she meant and she proceeded to tell me how worried she had been because I had left in the middle of that terrible storm last night. Well....I was shocked that she remembered....and, of course, felt bad that she had worried. And, while Mom's short-term memory is almost always now terrible (or non-existent) I can tell you there have been several times, even after a few days, where she amazes me by remembering a recent event/occurence. Is your Mom aware of her "memory issues"? Because my Mom is aware, although she tends to downplay it and laugh it off as something minor or relatively insignificant (actually I'm glad it doesn't seem to cause her anxiety).....just curious how "aware" you think your Mom is re: her short-term memory. My concern w/the MCI dx was actually more about the cognitive issues than the memory issues. Very quickly, my Mom began to have issues w/using the most simple of everyday appliances (her brand new iron, brand new curling iron, phone, TV remote, etc.). In every case, she thought the appliance was faulty or broken. Never made the mental connection that she was the common denominator, these were brand new appliances.....even tho she is to this day aware of her memory issues. Apparently, this frustrating and horrible disease is also very individualized, so I hope some of the responses to your Q resonate w/you and your Mom's situation. And, I applaud you for your concern and willingness to seek answers that might help your Mom. Best of luck to you and your Mom.
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Hi ask Janice, certainly sounds to me as if there's something more than mci gh oing on. My mother was also diagnosed with mci at 75, I also suspected her symptoms were more serious snd asked for an Mri scan which concluded 'mixed dementia' (vascular disease plus alzheimers). Still shock horror even though I knew. I still find it hard to accept. Now three yrs on she's declining but still knows all family members and gets herself showered, dressed and make up everyday. I've never heard of mci being treated with donepezil and suspect maybe her geriatric tian believes she has dementia but doesn't want to label her....yet.
Good luck on your journey.
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My mom is 90 and is the same way. She is lucid and intelligent but has no short term memory--at all. but she knows who I am, etc. She could not live on her own.

She is in AL and also on Aricept .

We just take it one day at a time. I visit frequently, about every day but i keep the visits very short. 30-60 minutes. It is all I can stand to be asked "what's new" over and over.
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My mom is the same. She is completely rational and beats me at cards all the time but has zero short term memory--but she is much older: 91. She started having problems about six years ago. It is impossible for her to function on her own and, in fact, she doesn't even want to leave the building she is in at the AL.

I am not sure there is anything to DO as such except to make decisions that will keep her safe. Safe and comfortable.

She is on anti-anxiety meds and without those life would not be worth living (mine and hers!) But the meds keep her pleasant and content.

Things change. Being "happy" seems like less of a priority. Having things work out and being safe seems to be the goal.
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I've never heard of anything like that. I would immediately get a second opinion from someone who regularly handles dementia patients. I might locate a geriatric psychiatrist and a neurologist. Make a list of all your concerns to share with the doctors. They can also conduct a neuropsychological exam that can perhaps provide more information about your mom's condition.
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Hi, my mom is pretty similar to your mom, with no short-term memory. But she doesn't have Alzheimers. I've never bothered to have her "diagnosed" because she gets along fine, with a LOT of help from me.

My mom has atrial fib (heart condition) and I believe her heart meds (which act to slow her heart) have impacted her brain. And she was on Lipitor for quite a while until I took her off. Loss of memory has been reported as a side effect of that med. Her sister was much worse before she passed away at 92, so there may be a hereditary component as well.

I asked my mom what month it was when I showered her on Tuesday and she started with April. Then she just starts going through months, guessing. So she doesn't even know what season it is. She can't remember how old she is. Or how old I am. But she knows my birthday is this month and can sometimes say the right day and sometimes not. She still knows everyone and lives on her own, a mile and a half from me. She has a very set routine and she's OK as long as she's in that routine. She makes her own breakfast and reads the paper and still reads novels I bring her. How (or whether) she remembers anything I don't know. She can still work crossword puzzles, which she does daily. But if you ask her something about what she just read, she can't remember. My brother calls her every Sunday, but she can't remember what they talked about the next day. Or even 30 minutes later. She'll ask me the same thing 4X in 10 minutes. She knows her memory is bad, but will say, "Oh I'll remember that". But she won't and she doesn't remember that she won't. Sigh. It's hard...but I'm fortunate because she's still able to be independent, which she wants, with a lot of help from me. But my mom is 95, so she's got a lot of years on your mom.
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My Mom had stroke like symptoms in February 2013 but all scans were normal but her short term memory was gone. I totally understand about going somewhere and being asked 10 times or more where you are going. We were told early onset dementia in the beginning but fir my Mom who was 65 at the time I could not believe that was it. We finally found she gas rare disease called paraneoplastic syndrome. Your immune system goes haywire and attaches all cells good and bad. She also developed muscle weakness. I hope you have learned more since your post. Best of luck
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I moved my mother in with me since Feb of this year. Since she's been here, I now know she's eating and not wandering around the elders apartment building. I used to fear for her well being and couldn't sleep..Mom is 87, forgetful but always makes me feel stupid because she turns everything around to suit her answers. But she's safe here. I've burnt out almost to the point of depression. I sought for help from my family, but like always they have a lot of suggestions and no support in helping out. Its hard looking after an elder, I agree. Your husband is of great help to you..just like the one lady said, pick up the cat poop before it smells up the apartment. Just do it, no one else will. She's lost that capacity to do things for herself and doesn't see it. My mother uses pampers, it smells up the bathroom, her bedroom and her chair she sits on. But I try to keep on top of it, first thing in the morning, I chuck out every garbage bag in the house...stick to a routine, don't set her straight what mom says, she's in her own world. Have her assessed, seek counseling, there's people there who are ready to help. Hope this helped...:)
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i have the exact same situation with my 82 year old mother. we have full conversations regard her past. She cannot retain anything new. We made her a dinner party in her home for 18 people, the next day she did not remember. although she is functioning well (we do have 24 hour care for her in home) her short term is getting worse(15 minute range). sad but she is alway happy and content. my best wishes
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Yes my mum is the same .she asked a question
Same one 1 min later again and again
She forgets her meal as soon as she has eaten it .and where ever she goes . As soon as we home it's gone
I wonder if this is classed as no capacity
Can the doctor do anything should I go see him
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