6 Dec 2009
Dear Mary,
I completed your dementia workshops at the Annapolis Senior Center and found them very informative, though somewhat depressing when looking to the future. My mother has moderate Alzheimer’s and my brother and I have decided that she should spend the fall-winter months with me and spring-summer months with him. She has been here two months and so far so good.
I chuckled to myself when you were talking about telling time with large faced clocks that have a minute and an hour hand. My kitchen clock has vegetables for numbers but Mom can still tell the time. In fact, I think its good stimulation for her! Also, she read that walking is good exercise for her diabetes so; I send her out with her walker to walk around the neighborhood. She used to be a florist and today she is out trimming the rose bushes. I don’t care if she cuts them all down; at least she is out in fresh air doing something she enjoys. I know I can chuckle about these things now but soon I will have to be concerned.
I do have a question for you. Have you had any experience with patients having a shunt procedure done? My mother had one done in September. The family feels she has shown improvement when it comes to interacting with us. She engages more often in conversation, is more alert, and doesn’t repeat as much as she used to do. We also feel her memory is better. It may be a combination of family involvement and stimulation but we are hopeful the shunt is buying us some time. Have you seen any results of the shunt procedure with people you have come in contact with?
Thank you again for all of your support and information
Dear Reader,
You’re welcome and thank you for the kind words and taking the time to write.
The shunt procedure was most likely done for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a condition resulting from an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. The resulting pressure causes three prominent clinical features: abnormal gait, urinary incontinence, and dementia symptoms. In the procedure a shunt is surgically implanted in the brain to drain off excess fluid. If done early enough, symptoms can be improved or even reversed. I have seen a few people with this diagnosis and can think of only one who clearly benefitted from the surgery. It sounds like your mother is another.
You can get more information about this condition by visiting the Life NPH, Hope for People with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus website at http://www.lifenph.com.
You’re doing a great job - keep up the good work.
Dear Mary,
I’m concerned about my wife. She is very forgetful and lately has been refusing to go out, even to the grocery store. All she wants to do is sleep. I try to talk to her but she says there isn’t anything wrong with her and refuses to see a doctor. Do you think she has Alzheimer’s disease?
Dear Reader,
I cannot give you that answer but can tell you there are several possible causes for her behavior other than dementia such as depression, vitamin B12 deficiency, and thyroid dysfunction among others. It’s imperative that she get a complete medical and psychological workup. Tell her it’s not for her, but for you, because you are worried and don’t want to lose her. If she still refuses, find a physician who makes house calls by calling your local hospital or Area Agency on Aging.
You can also find one by logging onto the American Academy of Home Care Physicians website at http://www.aahcp.org/.
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