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PF just make the most of this time now and enjoy your mum's company while you both still can. You're doing a great job and will continue to do so - daughters just have an instinct for what's right for their mum.My mum often surprises us because she still lights up when me and sis go in and she introduces us every single time to the carers! The bond is still very strong. She had forgotten my brother as he lives 200 miles away so only comes up every few months - but then again after a while of him sitting beside her she suddenly realised who he was - and even remembered who he's married to. She has both vascular dementia and Alzheimers so its pretty surprising I think.The brain - an incredible, fascinating organ!
One needs to remember that a diagnose of Alzheimers can only be made at post mortam. There are various forms of dementia-type conditions which tend to be lumped together, which is why it might be worth while looking at all the support groups/web-sites? ?
I wonder what he is basing that diagnosis on? Have a look-see at the various web-sites and maybe ask the question? How do *you* feel about the situation , given the lack of contact from your brothers? Power of Attorney next? We did for each other several years ago and Himself is PoA for my Mum. It gives her time to make decisions, i.e. "I will have to ask my Son in Law first"
I think my mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia based on PET- MRI results. One of her most striking symptoms was the so called sundowning (or sundowners) syndrome, every single day at sunset she would become restless, angry, desperate and sad, all at the same time, very distressing and hearbreaking.
One needs to remember that a diagnose of Alzheimers can only be made at post mortam.
Quote from: CLKD on October 23, 2016, 12:51:14 PMOne needs to remember that a diagnose of Alzheimers can only be made at post mortam. [/size][/color]Not true. My friend has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers just recently and I have done a huge amount of reading up on it. I now feel like a walking encyclopedia. I know far more now than I ever wanted to know. Have spent a huge amount of time in the last month or so finding/sorting help for her. It is an insidious disease and I know things will only get worse. Next step now is setting up POAs. There are only 4 types of common dementia - Alzheimers, vascular dementia, fronto-temporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Bramble
PF - I found the Alzhemiers Society were really helpful. It is unusual for a GP to give a firm diagnosis of Alzheimers without further testing but, as you say, he is experienced. There is info here about the current diagnosis procedure to help differentiate between Vascular and Alzheimers https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php'documentID=260Funnily enough we have just lost a friend to alzheimers - misdiagnosed as vascular in the early stages. His proper diagnosis only happened once he had to be sectioned due to paranoia. It is a very complicated field of medicine.Taz x