Anyone deal with Dementia AND Narcissistic personality disorder?

Has your husband been diagnosed formally with the proper neuropsychological tests, etc.? Because narcissistic personality disorder only gets worse with age and ventually their scruples. You must prioritize your personal physical and mental wellbeing. This is urgent, mainly for his benefit and of course, yours as well. When you are well you become a better , more empathic caregiver.

Thanks for yours @bluespruce. That is interesting and comforting. I wish I knew what you mean by Cluster B PDs.

I feel for you, I really do. You are dealing with way too much for one person. I hope you can find some respite care, some therapy for yourself, and a break from all this. If you can afford it, hire someone or get a relative to stay with hour husband and take a trip somewhere nice on your own.

Hi @chrisbayne
You specifically mentioned NPD in the title of your post. NPD is one of the four personality disorders (PDs) in the cluster B category of the 10 PDs in the current version of the DSM, DSM-5-TR (2022).

It’s possible for an individual to be pathological, difficult to deal with when they have enough traits but not an official diagnosis of any specific PDs. NPD is particularly evasive of official clinical diagnosis some of the defining traits work against the individual to make it into a diagnostic setting.

Mayo’s description & context of PDs is, IMO, well written:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20354463 . One of the key points I keep seeing from many credible sources is that the problematic traits need to be pervasive/emduring.

While psych stuff isn’t my “native” area of knowledge, it would seem to me that dementia(s) & other neurological conditions happening on top of existing PDs would manifest in specific/distinct ways as each of the conditions can affect the others in how it plays out.

Some PDs in some individuals might increase or increase in intensity over time/with age. My personal reading of the medical literature on NPD in older age is either increase or decrease can happen, depending on other factors. But then add dementia & symptoms can +/- .

Best wishes for peace for us all!

LBD is one of the possibilities in the situation I’m dealing with.

If you don’t mind sharing, I’d like to hear how the LBD in your situation first became noticeable & how it progressed.
Also wondering if scans (PET), were part of the diagnostics.

My understanding is that initially, LBD behavior changes, unlike other dementias, are erratic & fluctuating (which is confusing for everyone around the patient, as well as the patient). There might be disturbances in sleep.

Am glad for you that the LBD had a reducing effect on the narcissistic traits. Relief in any amount seems like it’d be helpful.

Peace.

We noticed memory loss. We didnt know at the time these symptoms were LBD, but he had a continual drippy nose and no taste, before covid. His driving was not good and he would be lost at times. No one in family would ride with him. He eventually had to have a drivers exam at a professional school. He was advised no driving and that blew him up.
He would continually say I told you something when he never did.
He stopped showering. Now it is a struggle.
He is losing language skills. He reaches for words and sometimes just stops. The thought is gone.
We started with neurology at mayo in sept 1 1/2 yrs ago. He had 4 hour test, mris, pet scans and then had the lumbar puncture test. That is what led to his diagnosis of LBD with Parkinsonisms, testing positive for biomarkers in alzheimers.
He has declined considerably. He sleeps alot. He was continually crying and saying he wanted to go home. We were able to get meds to help quetiapine with the crying and his anger. Thank god. He is mad we took his credit cards away. His wallet has been lost twice.
I had to take text off his phone as texts sent to grandkids that made no sense. I monitor his phone with Facebook. He enjoys scrolling but have to delete his comments as inappropriate. I hate to take everything away.
We have hospice agency coming to see if we fit in there criteria this week. Not for end of life. But for help for us along the way.
It is up and down. You never know where you will be everyday.
I wish you peace also. It is a journey that is not for the feint of heart.

Have same problem,but had cervical fusion over vertebrae c4 to T1 and have issue with right arm, finger's & legs walking. My wife does not cook ,clean house take laundry downstairs or up. Blame me for everything saying I never contribute money as had even though I work till 72. I'm 79 now not driving because after surgery Dr. Said I was upto my wife. Which at the time was a hugh mistake I'm able to nut she insists I'm not I'm very frustrated with the whole thing.