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My 58-year-old mom has had multiple surgeries over the years. In 2016 she had a Hemorrhagic stroke in the basal ganglia resulting in foreign accent syndrom. She has also had Kyphoplasty, Parkinson's and even flatlined during a double wrist surgery.


My mom's personality, demeanor, everything has changed. She is a very different person. She acts immature and doesnt understand things but can still do most things for herself (bills, yard work, flights, etc.).


I'm just looking for answers on what could be causing these changes.

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Your Mom has a lot of health problems for her age. Two, the stroke and Parkinsons can cause Dementia. Mom should be seeing a Neurologist for her Parkinsons. Explain what is going on with her. Maybe time for some testing.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Life is lacking in answers. This is why we have so much scientific research? The mind of man is always questing for answers, comforted by HAVING answers. Your mother is sustaining assaults, both acute and chronic to the brain. The brain is an organ susceptible to change with these assaults.

The question is more for you to decide how to address these changes once you have asked the doctors the "reasons", the diagnosis in so far as they can describe it to you, and the prognosis. So you are stuck with adapting to change. Change and uncertainty is the one thing we can be "certain" of in life. And changes in aging are dire and inevitable.

Your mother is so very young to be sustaining something with such dire consequences as stroke. Parkinson's as we know, can strike at almost any age--thinking of Michael Fox and how long he has endured that diagnosis.

I am wishing you luck. Get the best rehabilitative help you can to work with PT and OT for your Mom. Then stay in close touch with them so you can encourage her working to maintain as much independence as she can with activities of daily life (ADLs).
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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The stroke is most likely the cause. She has brain damage, that's what a stroke is.

You should speak with her doctor to see if there is treatment and what to watch for because other strokes are common.
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Reply to Isthisrealyreal
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The cause for change could be due to anything, but I would request blood tests for vitamin deficiencies, especially B12 and D.
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Reply to Sunnygirl1
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Sage...I am so sorry you are dealing with this your mom is so young.
I am sure you have expressed your concerns to your mom.
Is dad around?
If mom has no one to advocate for her you need to talk to her about seeing an Attorney that can help with all the legal paperwork that is needed if you or someone else has to make decisions for her.
Mom also needs to see a doctor that can begin testing to determine her cognition.
A Neurologist or a Neuropsychologist.
It is important that she sees a doctor that is familiar with Parkinson's. If she has not been seeing a Neurologist she should get a referral to one. (If a referral is necessary)
You or another person that will be the one to help make decisions for her should be at the appointment(s) with her.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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We aren't doctors so it's time to take her in to get assessed for cognitive impairment. You can start with her primary doctor, and then maybe a neurologist.

It's possible since she's had a stroke that she is now having TIAs, which are small strokes. Or, she may have another medical condition that is causing "cognitive" symptoms -- and this is why you start with her primary, who will do blood work and check her over thoroughly first to discount such a medical cause.

She already has a lot of things going on medically. If it is a cognitive impairment like dementia, there is no treatment or cure for it. But first you will need to go through her doctors in order to narrow down the possibilities.

If you are not your Mom's PoA, or she doesn't have one, I would make helping her get this in place a priority. I'm sorry for this distressing situation. May you receive wisdom and gain peace in your heart as you help her.
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Reply to Geaton777
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swmckeown76 May 3, 2025
True, there is no cure for Alzheimer's diseasse or other forms of dementia. But there are medications that can (temporarily) slow the course of her disease and its symptoms. Or she might qualify for clinical trials of new medications. Whether she'd want these depends on her ethical and/or religious beliefs. This is tough on you (and her). You might also find a support group for both you and her (the people w/the neurodegenerative illness meet together and there's a separate meeting for the children, spouses, siblings, etc..).
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