A speaker stated that Dementia if caught early can be reversed…T or F?

Posted by bjordan2 @bjordan2, May 5 7:43am

Can dementia if caught early be reversed or is the symptoms be managed early slowing down the progression? I felt the speaker gave false information hence false hope and/or made loved ones feel guilty for not knowing and advocating for their loved ones early…

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | May 5 8:59am

@bjordan2 The speaker was disingenuous, because true dementia is irreversible, even though its progress can SOMETIMES be slowed.

However, there are a number of medical conditions that can cause dementia-like symptoms. If these underlying causes are treated in a timely manner, the symptoms can be reversed. Here is a list of some of these:
https://www.healthline.com/health/dementia/reversible-dementia
This is why it is so important to get a competent evaluation when memory loss and other symptoms appear. We have a friend who has a condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus. Sadly, his wife was in denial that there was a problem, he was not treated in a timely manner, and now his condition is considered irreversible.

wctdoc1943 | @wctdoc1943 | May 5 9:20am

Must be the best kept secret on the planet. Or, if it sounds too good to be true….maybe don’t buy snake oil.

bjordan2 | @bjordan2 | May 5 9:46am

In reply to @sueinmn "@bjordan2 The speaker was disingenuous, because true dementia is irreversible, even though its progress can SOMETIMES..." + (show)

@sueinmn thank you so much. It’s exactly what I was thinking but needed confirmation like this so helpful. Thank you for taking the time.

teacher502 | @teacher502 | May 6 10:46am

In reply to @wctdoc1943 "Must be the best kept secret on the planet. Or, if it sounds too good to..." + (show)

@wctdoc1943
Where is the laughing emoji 🤔..
Thank you for a funny moment- and I get really upset at making others feel guilty for not "getting help" soon enough. My hubby is in a research study for Lewy Body Dementia at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, and one of the main goals of the program is to learn how to identify LBD earlier to try to minimize and/or treat it sooner. The researchers (MD's, neuro-psychologists, etc.) were able to go back about 28 years to 1998 when I first noticed the sleep disturbances. There is no telling when/where it originates and no one should feel guilty about the timing of a diagnosis.

maryvc | @maryvc | May 6 11:27am

In reply to @teacher502 "@wctdoc1943 Where is the laughing emoji 🤔.. Thank you for a funny moment- and I get..." + (show)

@teacher502 I would love to connect. My husband tested positive on the skin biopsies for LBD and it’s no surprise - he is different than typical AD.
Probably too late for a Research study. He is now acclimating to the memory care at the CCRC I will be moving to in August.