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Confused about a "mild" Alzheimer's diagnosis.
My 81 yer old husband has been diagnose with Alzheimers and we are told it is mild, beginning stages. This was a result of a blood test and PET scan. I have a lot of experience (both parents) and feel that when he is in the doctor's office he is much more lucid than most times at home. He shadows me, has sundowning in the evening, thinks that there are people in our home daily who eat our food, drive our cars etc. He cannot pay our bills or manage any of the tasks he did while working in finance and when I run an errand he will often call me continually. He sometimes calls me if I am on another floor for more than 10 minutes becuase he thinks I am not home. He also does not recognize our home of 30 years and asks me when we will be going home and where are we sleeping. This doesn't seem mild to me. Does anyone else have these concerns with a loved one's diagnosis?
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@slarson14
Thank you. I know I have to take care of myself. It’s just easier said than done. It’s like being between a rock and a hard place, I don’t know how I am going to survive with him or without him. Yes, there many out there in the same boat. God help us all
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1 ReactionThis seems more than mild symptoms to me, though far from being "advanced".
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2 Reactions@rebbie28, I’m curious about the speech therapy. With dementia, my family members were not able to remember what people said, so they wouldn’t have benefited from therapy sessions. I’ve always read that with dementia the patient is not able to learn new things or new ways to do things, so I am curious. Are they aware he has dementia?
@celia16
My husband has mild cognitive impairment in the early stages. The therapist is aware that he has Alzheimer's and is showing him ways to remember better. He is keeping a diary of things that he needs to remember. He can look back and refer to his notes.
He is still very much aware of what is being said to him and understands most.
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1 Reaction@rebbie28 I like the diary idea; I don't know if my husband would do it, but I like giving him the idea.
@dig2dye2
My husband age 71 diagnosed with MCI on cognitive test and now blood test to detect APO-E gene. Dr says positive for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Wants to start Leqembi. Not sure if it’s worth the possible associated risk.
@rebbie28 agree. The Speech Therapy label is very misleading. It is really coping mechanisms such as calendars and pill minders and how to keep discussion going when you can’t recall a word -and such as that.
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1 Reaction@sasham what is this blood test?
Checking for plaque an APOE test.
A new blood test that is comparable with a PET SCAN.
@sasham
My husband is 78 and went on the lequembe infusions; He's on his fifth now.
We're told that those infusions are successful for those that are in the early stages of MCI. Also, I read some intersting details on the lequembe site. I'm amazed at how many people are on lequembe in the infusion clinic my husband goes to in Jupiter, Florida. We felt there was risk, but we were also nervous over the outcome of he didn't go for infusions.