Can anyone tell me why Mom lists to the right?

jeannegibbs, the reason I suspect LBD is the symptoms I've read on this web site. Mom had hallucinations early on even calling the police a time or two because of people coming into her house at night and leaving when she got up the next morn. She does not have sundowning that I can tell. She is pretty stable thru the day. She does walk hunched over tho she pushes her walker like a wheel barrow and there is no way to get her to use it properly. She's had it for 3 yrs now and can't seem to learn the right way to walk with it. Her movements are not stiff but she does lean to the right most of the time. So many symptoms can be with most of the dementia types and I don't know that it makes much difference what kind she has. She was put on Aricept first and had a very bad reaction to it. She actually recognized her daughter last mon. she hasn't seen in 6 mon. tho she didn't remember her name. She never knows me and she's been here for 3 yrs now. She lives in the past with her mama and papa and all her sisters and brothers. It breaks my heart when she asks for one of them or 'is mama here?'.

oldestof3, the Exelon patch and Namenda were probably developed for Alzheimer's -- I don't know of any dementia medication that has been developed specifically for any other type of dementia. Aricept, for example, was developed for ALZ but actually is more effective in Lewy Body. I think that doctors tend to try whatever MIGHT help, regardless of whether they suspect ALZ or some other type of dementia.

What makes you think that your mom might have LBD?

Mom has glaucoma which is under control and she is ambidextrous.....you'd think she'd walk straight!

oldestof3, another thought, how is your Mom's eyesight? My Mom has macular degeneration in both eyes and is almost blind.... she is right handed and lists to the right. Don't know if that has any relationship or not.

She has not had a diagnosis of what type dementia she has but is on an Exelon patch and Namenda, which I thought was for ALZ disease. I have wondered if she has Lewy Body from what I've read of it. She uses a walker, has forgotten how to use the cane and does sometimes veer to the right.

There is something called "Lewy lean" to describe the way that many patients with Lewy Body Dementia do list to one side when seated, or even veer to one side when walking. I don't know if this is common in other kinds of dementia. Has anyone suggested what type of dementia Mom has? I think I'd first mention this to the doctor who is treating her dementia.

I would also think it might be part of a walking pattern, leaning over to use a cane, or even perhaps a walker.

On the other hand, does she have arthritis, osteoporosis, any spinal issues? Does she do any exercise for her back?

If this is recent and fairly progressive, I'd take her to see an orthopedic doctor who can do x-rays and see if there are any spinal issues that could be addressed before the situation becomes worse.

Don't know if that is part of dementia or not, because my Mom is still very sharp for 97 but ever since she started using a cane to walk, her body started to form over to the right, the side that she uses the cane. She also leans over while sitting in a chair dozing.