Spouse with MCI attempts to improve his memory test score.

@cruisin my husband couldn't take the drugs that supposedly slow this down, he got very nauseous. Also he takes a drug for agitation but his psychiatrist prescribes it. The neurologist doesn't prescribe him anything so it really seems like a waste of time and energy and money. I think people with dementia should be allowed to see as few docs as possible. I say the caregiver knows more about the patient than all the doctors combined.. as we see it all, every day. I've decided to drop the neurologist. I can always look again at one if some real need arises.

@leslieherbert So well said. We do indeed see it all, every day. This is the roughest road I have traveled as far as caring for family. The emotions range from empathy to anger. It helps to know others can relate and understand.

Hi, I guess I am a bit confused. I went to a Senior Center for Aging and saw a doctor. First visit we chatted, I told her about relatives who had Alz. , minor forgetful moments I was having. She ordered a blood test. It came back showing I had amyloid buildup and diagnosed me e/3 e/3 with MCI. Piece of cake. 2 visits, one visit to get blood work done. She orderd Aricept 5s for me and I started treatment. I took a full year on Aricept 5s before I decided to come in and get first an MRI, then a PET Scan. The PET Scan and my bloodwork matched almost 100% and we decided to get off the Dreamland wagon and face the real possibility I was heading into darker waters. I still do everything--drive, cook, shop, interact with family and friends. I'm nearly 80. I absorbed everything and I decided to go on Leqembi which is what I'm doing now. I was very fortunate to have a chance to help my situation. Light a fire under your docs--don't let them stall you from appt to appt and year to year. It's your life! Good luck to you. Let us know how it goes.

@leslieherbert
I agree Re: the neurologist. After waiting nearly two years to see one, and having to drive a 3 hour round trip for the visit that only resulted in frustration, was a futile waste of our time. He did not do one thing for us, but what did I expect knowing there is no cure and my husband didn't respond well either to 2 meds we tried well before that visit.
Heavy sigh... And yet I held on to hope.
Take care. 🌹

@midnightwalker This is a great proactive post. My husband is on lequembe too, almost 80 years old like you. and He's going everything he can to having been diagnosed last year with MCI. It's good to see in the thick of your diagnosis how proactive you are in managing your health. Keep us posted on your lequembe progress. I'm always interested in hearing how well others are doing - my husband is on his 26th shot.
Best, Karla

@annie1946 Looks like we might be the same age :). I was able to get my doctor to order an amyloid blood test for me. Not a big deal and my insurance paid for it. It showed positive amyloids in my brain which highly indicated MCI leading to possible Alzheimers...The Aricept 5s she put me on did make me slightly nauseous for only a few days but I decided not to move ahead to the 10s after a month. She agreed and I am still on 5s. After one year I returned and said I'd like a PET Scan to make sure it agrees with my bloodwork. I got the Scan, it matched almost 100% with the previous bloodwork results and I am now on Leqembi. No, it is not a "magic" cure, but maybe it will postpone my condition and give me and my husband hope, Leqembi is now available in an at home injections from the very start so travel issues are no longer the issue they once were. Good luck and keep in touch. We are all we have to learn more about this terrible disease.

@cruisin if you don't go to the appointment, the prescriptions won't be renewed. If its recommended she be in memory care and you don't think the meds are working, the decision is yours.

@gilkesl I probably didn’t word that as well as I could have. I was just referring to the grueling, hours-long appointments for testing, questions and answers, drawing pictures on paper, using an ipad, etc, the processes which are so frustrating and agitating to her. In addition, it is a long drive in heavy traffic, so it’s a whole day trip. She will still have regular doctor appointments for medication prescriptions and monitoring. Thank you for your reply so I could make mine more clear.

My husband "studied" for his second test, working on counting backwards by 7s and remembering three words, making sure he knew the date, etc. He now can claim that he "aced" the test and has no problem.