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My sister was diagnosed with early onset dementia when she was 54 but after watching this her behavior changed long before then😢She thought the her memory loss was brain fog due to menopause
I lost my Mom to dementia, it was so hard. Toward the end she didn't always know who I was but the last time I saw her I told her I loved her and she looked me in the eyes and said it back. I was so grateful for that last gift. ❤
@litebriteeyes - Same here. My dad hadn't recognised anyone for years (he had Alzheimers), but the last time I visited him in the care facility, he looked, smiled, and called me by his own pet nickname for me. It was the best gift ever! He then told me how awful it was, not to be able to recall anything. That made me very sad: he was aware of not being "aware" 😢
I had that. My friend had never said that he loved me. But a month before he died he came up to me in the home he was in and hugged me and said 3 times I love you I love you I love you. Then in a dream that wasn't a dream, he came to me 4 months after he died and did the same thing again. R.I.P Tom💚
Appreciate your humor as dementia is a serious problem, we still need the laughter…we as family members lose our loved ones right before our eyes and wish we can slow dementia down or reverse it.
For my mother's earlier signs noticed first: 1-Memory loss 2-Speaking-Using incorrect words for things 8-Poor judgement 10-Changes in mood And almost all the others to follow She is still good at playing poker and is very socially interactive and compassionate She is 87 I am trying to watch out for myself. I am 64 and sometimes concerned. I do have a stressful job and concerned about my mother being happy and not feeling alone. Thank you for what you do for us! 😊
One thing is to avoid statins, as they are known to increase Dementia risk. Avoid all sugars, most carbs, that increases risk too. (Dementia is called Type 3 Diabetes)
I’ve been sewing and mending clothes all my life. The other day I couldn’t tie a knot in the thread. My brain seemed disconnected from the task. I was bewildered at not being able to figure out what I was doing wrong. It was frustrating and scary. The next day I was going to put a styling gel in my hair. I looked at the products on my sink, deodorant, hand lotion, perfume, etc, and had no idea which one was the correct item to use. I eventually figured it out. Needless to say I am shocked at this new development. I told my daughter all about it in case it gets worse.
anything can cause that. urinary tract infection, as the comment below said, thyroid?, infection, fatigue, low blood sugars, micronutrient deficiency. Nutrition is the number one consideration when you get old, I make sure my mom eats a good steak four times a week, salmon four times a week and loads of eggs. Yes a full blood test and then analyse your diet, and good luck to you, even dehydration can cause brain fog.
1) memory loss..significant things, 2)challenges following through steps or solving problems (paying bills, follow recipe, medications). 3) forgetting rules or familiar tasks (game rules, driving routes), 4) confusion dates or time, 5)trouble gauging spatial relationships (more clumsy, parking closer to wall or other cars), 6) difficulty speaking or writing, 7)misplacing things forgetting where they are, can’t retrace to find, 8)increased poor judgement, 9)withdrawal from activities they used to like, 10)changes in behavior or personality (withdrawn, anxious, etc…). Thank you! Seeing many of these…nothing not on this list. Maybe 6/10 things. Time to try again to see Dr.
My Mom’s first signs of dementia was restlessness at night. She would vacuum at midnight, would sleep on the couch or instead of her bed, and had trouble finding words - she’d say “Put the things in the whatchmacallit” (put the clothes in the washer). She stopped reading. She started occasionally saying mean things to friends. When she started to deteriorate, she’d be looking at photographs or napping, and suddenly jump up and run out the door. I could not believe she could move so quickly! We had to put latches on the top of door (thankfully she was petite) so she couldn’t run away. My Mom’s deterioration was slow, it was over 10 years of little “quirks” that built on one another. No matter what happened, she never forgot my Dad. She forgot she had children, her home of over 50 years, but not my Dad or the little apartment the had when first married.
The same happened with my mother after the passing of my father. Her demencia suddenly worsen.The paranoia and the rage were inbelievable. The force she is able to get to destroy things is terrifying.
Fascinating , extremely similar to my mom - the early signs like upset restlessness weird all night nervous energy , looking back I see it from ten years ago , early on at night she’d go through important papers in drawers throwing out stuff and I’d see family pictures and portraits in the garbage can out back , rarely sleeping in bed anymore always the couch and as a lifelong reader she stopped reading but wouldn’t admit it , but much of her behavior seemed fairly normal back then too , it’s taken ten full years and although the dementia is sort of obvious even to strangers she can can still fool people for awhile . It’s been a nightmare , I’ve never had her diagnosed she’d absolutely refuse
@@KimberlyButler-y5y The not-reading sort of coincided with the downfall of cheap daily papers so I didn't catch that. But my mom isn't even reading recreational books now. The Bottom Line magazine is just brief enough fact and advice blurbs and short articles she can comprehend. The couch and chair sleeping and night time TV started but my mother also has A-fib and some persistent fluid in a lung. She used to putz around with watches and clocks but even that seems over. The tough part is my mom saying she's going to do something but gets sidetracked by finishing the TV shows she likes. Since the last fall her time sense is about a week off in the future.
My mother-in-law is sadly in the final, most severe stage. So, it gave my husband and I the impetus to see a neurologist at the earliest of signs from him. Our neurologist suspected MCI and referred us to a fantastic UCLA Research Study. Because we are participating in the Alzheimer's Research Study, they have underwritten all cognitive tests, physicals, blood draws, PET Scans, MRIs, etc. It has been a godsend knowing we are getting eyes on my husband early, and also for me to know that my tracking him and participating as his study partner empowers me to not feel so lost and helpless. This channel is a godsend too. It's hard to come to terms with what we are facing, and the support given here is tremendous. Thank you!
@@larisarockenback3727 He is recently retired, so we are spending much more time together. I initially noticed short-term memory lapses, in a variety of settings. I was making note of the lapses, and our adult children had also noticed slight issues. We then started watching a well-loved TV fantasy series, and he had an extra tough time following the family plot lines. His mother is in severe, late stage Alzheimer's, so he is much more focused on doing everything he can to prevent the onset of the disease and extend his wellness. The Research Study has been a lifesaver, as is this channel---I am quite new here. With two APOE-4 genes, we know that it's important that he get early medical support (especially in creating a baseline of where he is in reference to the disease) and that we both stay current on all information available, as much as possible.
@@marlenegold280 he is, but there are also studies reporting the opposite. His doctors are aware of our concerns, so he is staying on it for now. We are definitely monitoring it, thanks…
I was the one to notice the 'black hole' in my father's memory on a visit.He loved quizzes , especially 'Who wants to be a Millionaire', but when I came to visit and put a disc with photos to look at in his laptop he said,'Oh, where did that come from,' referring to the drawer and I said,' That's where you put your disc when you play on Millionaire.' And he said, 'I never play on Millionaire.' I went straight out and said to my mother and sister, 'He needs to see a doctor asap.' My narcassistic, victim presenting, bully of a mother said, 'Oh he's always been like that. 'Even after he was diagnosed and his symptoms much worse, she was still bellyaching about how she'd told him something but he still hadn't done it. I blame myself for not removing him from that toxic atmosphere. When he was in a residential home and sitting in a chair without noticing anything around him, I put some headphones on him, attached to an MP3 with songs from the shows on, something he loved. He had a really good voice and loved to be in a choir. He began tapping his fingers to the tunes and it broke my heart.
I gave my BF's mom a book that I read and figured she'd enjoy it too. She finished it right away and loved it. A few months later, she was so excited to recommend me... the same book. A couple months after that, she "discovered" the same book in her house that she thought a guest must've left behind...so she read it again, but she thought it was her first time reading it.
I try to read 50 books a year. I have always had short term memory issues unless I really lock it in. If I have to present about a book that tends to help me. the good news is that I can reread an interesting book and enjoy it as if it’s the first time or almost the first time
@@MrSurferDoug I've been this way with books and movies my whole life. Enjoy them while I'm reading/watching, then forget the plot soon after. I've always insisted that it's because I consider them to be "entertainment" and when the show is over, it's time to move back to my "real" life. I do, however, always recognize (if I start the same book/movie again because I didn't recognize the title) that I've read or seen it before because it feels familiar. Now that I'm a senior (at 72) I guess I need to be sure my kids know that this has always been the case for me so they don't think it's a sign of decline.
@@TheShunpiker1 This happens to me, too. I'm constantly in the middle of a movie that I like, and I recommend it to my daughter, who then says, "We already saw that together, remember? " It seems to be happening more and more now. Like you, it's familiar, but I don't always remember the entire thing or the ending. Now I just want to announce that I'm watching something I think I watched before, so I'm watching it again because it was good. I also forget the names of things while talking with friends.
The first time I *SHOULD* have noticed something was off was when I got a notice from the tax assessor that my mom had not paid her property taxes. I asked my mom about this. She fumbled through a drawer, handed me an envelope and said, "I keep trying to pay them but they keep sending it back to me." She had made out the check properly, but had addressed the envelope to the tax assessor at her own address. More than once. She never noticed the error. When I pointed it out, she said, "well they should have just called and told me. They don't need to keep sending it back without explanation." I just thought she was juggling too much and not really paying attention. The next two years were a very rapid downward spiral. It's only in this past year in Memory Care that she has stabilized a bit.
Yes a doctor I was working with had drastic personality changes. He would get angry. He wasn’t bathing. He would get lost and forget which clinic he was going to. He would steal my prescription pads. He would be late and have patients wait 1-2 hours. He would forget who I was. He kept a 2 yr collection of one sipped sodas along w/ rotting food in the office and would get angry of someone threw away the sodas. He’s was 81 and part owner of the practice. The staff was afraid to point out these issues. I confronted the doctor myself and he said it was ok for the medical assistant to train for my nurse practitioner job. He proceeded to speak to me with his eyes closed and then got aggressive and started to scream at me. There were also a ton of other issues that were posing a threat to patient safety as well as office staff stealing from the doctor so I reported him to the medical board. Shake shake on that staff for not reporting all of this sooner. This is not safe for patients. This mam definitely had dementia or was experiencing schizophrenia.
My husband had bvFTD for 20 years before he died; however, we had no idea what he had for the first 11 years. On your list of early warning signs, he had #9 and #10, but no one would listen to our children and me when we tried to say how much he had changed. Looking back, I recognize little things like not lining up his shirts in the closet the way he had always done, not hanging the towels after showering, but mostly it was his apathy and lack of empathy that was most noticeable. He had always been the kindest, most caring person, and he became cruel and indifferent. Also, he lost his love of music, which was very painful to observe. He looked so lost.
I see all of them. I’m still dealing with it. It’s getting harder every day. It’s my 84 yo aunt. Never had children. Husband died 5 years ago and she has no one except me. By the time I took over caring for her, everything in her life was in such a mess that it took months to straighten things out. Unpaid bills, taxes, HOA fees, what a mess. Thanks for your video’s. So helpful!
Your Aunt & Uncle are so lucky to have you... and even in her ill mind, I'm sure she is grateful. My mom in her stage says 'thank you & sorry' occasionally. I know they have lucid moments. Hang in there, you are doing an awesome job.
1. memory loss (important information, well learned information) 2. challenges in following through with steps or solving problems 3. forgetting rules or familiar tasks (rules of a game, going to familiar location) 4. confusion of place or time 5. trouble gauging spatial relationships (tripping going up or down stairs, parking, bumping into things) 6. difficulty speaking or writing 7. misplacing things, forgetting where things are, trouble retracing steps 8. increased poor judgment (falling for scams, giving out more information) 9. withdrawal from social activities and hobbies 10. changes in behavior and personality
How would you list this: My father started eating food that had gone bad. My mother divorced my dad. I was left living with him. I was only 18. I knew nothing about dementia and was left to deal with him on my own. One afternoon I happened to be home he told me to fry up a pork chop for him. I told him it needed to be thrown in the trash, it was turning green. I threw it away. I then checked the refrigerator to see if anything else might be going bad. I found O.J. that had soured. I left the kitchen and a few minutes later I heard the sound of the pork chop being fried. I knew something was very wrong.
Watching your videos helps explain so much that happened with my husband. I hadn't been around anyone with dementia in my family, luckily, so I missed so much about his. Plus I can now trace the more obvious signs starting around when he had covid. I wrote some of them off to that, some off to his drinking too much due to self treating of anxiety. But his forgetting to pay bills was the last straw. He had been an accountant. He never didn't pay the bills. After I took over paying bills I found out he had been spending too much money behind my back. Little things that I wrote off as, he is retired and it is hard to remember what day it is, because he would ask Alexa a dozen times a day what day and time it was. He stopped driving most of the time, said it was because it was my car and he didn't want to drive it. We found out he wasn't taking all his meds everyday. He would claim I never told him about an appointment when I had. So many little things I didn't really pick up on excused away. He just had other health issues that masked this new one. We were just starting to plan for the dementia when we found his cancer, so we never got past his moderate stage.
I hear you, I am living this now with my husband. His mother was our first we experienced having dementia, then my father lived it for 10 years. My mother took good care of him, after he passed my mother started to have dementia. It is heartbreaking. Many blessings to you.
I noticed my mom becoming increasingly confused about how to work the tv remote as well as the phone. Also she was becoming somewhat obsessive about various things like finding something in her closet or looking at the calendar to see when her dr appointments were. The thing that ultimately made her dementia worsen was her breaking her hip. It’s a tough road ❤
The day my Dad forgot who I was will forever be burned in my memory, and brings me to tears just thinking about it. I know he couldn't help it, but it still doesn't lesson the pain. I'm so thankful my Dad didn't have the "angry sort of" Alzheimer's.
I walked into my grandmothers room in the Alzheimers Unit one day and she asked “When have you seen that Leah?” It was a little like a gut punch, but I made her laugh when I said “This morning when I looked in the mirror.” She laughed, but you could tell she had the name but she still couldn’t put my face with it. It was her first grandchild, a girl after she had 3 boys. We were very close. ❤
I know your pain. I sent my mom a few photos of me and when I asked her if she received the photos I sent she said yeah I go them, but who's the old lady? I tried telling her it was me and she kept saying no it's not!
I know that feeling😢. Although my mom forgot us later, it still burns, her dementia progressed so quickly... delusion before any early signs noticed 6 if 10 symptoms before diagnosed in mid 2021.... she was in denial for 2 years. Now, she is in late stage... and lucky me she has aggressive behaviors.
My MIL had 9 of these early on but also hoarding of papers and lots and lots of lists. Lists of names, dates, old shopping lists and what she'd bought etc
10 signs of dementia, all applied although I find myself having a couple of those traits as well. My loved one is very much in denial and basically refuses help. It is very, very frustrating. Your videos are an excellent source of information and have helped me tremendously. Thank you for being there Dr. Natali!!
The first time I noticed something very off was when my Mom asked me “why do I have a house payment “ BOOM 💥 I was in shock. I explained to her that her husband my step father left her their house in his will. She was furious and asked me why in the hell did he do that. I told her he also left her enough money to make the house payments. This was about 5 years ago. So between that incident and 2 years ago she has been diagnosed with Dementia. She doesn’t remember that she has been living with us since 2016. I am her caregiver along with a nurse visit once a week and a CNA 2 times a week. I don’t go anywhere unless a family member is home with her. She had 4 horrific seizures and spent a week in ICU. That was last year. The medication she is on seems to be helping with seizures none for a year. I want to tell all caregivers we will get through this. Stay strong and Blessed ❤
Thank you, such a useful video. I think it’s memory but it was definitely repeating themselves with a story, or telling me my story back to me as if it were fresh information. The time between these incidents became shorter and shorter. Also being driven in the car becomes stressful because she cannot judge the spatial distance, so often thinks I am about to have a bump or put her in danger. Very stressful for both driver and passenger but so isolating for dementia sufferer. It’s all heartbreaking.
My father thought people were stealing water from the outside spout. He put a lock on it. Then he thought people were stealing mulch from around our trees. I had to explain to him that it deteriorated and gets washed away with the rain.
Oh God! The paranoia is the worst sign. My mother is convinced thar her neighbor has the key of her home and is coming at night , when she's sleeping, to steel ( insignificant things, btw). And the rage phase that comes with is terrifying.
My aunt accussed family visitors of stealing her bed linens. They'd put them in the dirty clothes hamper as they always had done! When they told her that, she was adamant it was a different set of sheets.
My mother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in January but her "brain fog" as she calls it has been around for quite some time. I think the first thing I noticed was that she was repeating stories as far back as 2019. When Covid hit, she was so isolated - her partner was severely immunocompromised - and the lack of socialization really did a number on her. Then at the end of 2021, her partner and her brother died within two weeks of each other and I think "widow brain" just accelerated the dementia. She was scammed out of thousands of dollars before I was able to get control of her finances. She felt ashamed at the time, but now has no memory of it, thankfully, sort of.
My husband diagnose with mild symptoms but is allowed to drive on local roads 12month driving licence it’s second nature to him and I always felt because he’s tall and seems confident let him drive but I feel dreadful when he goes past turnings I get angry poor guy says I know what I’m doing I feel so sorry for him and I feel that I’m like a abuser and a horrible person but I think I’m going to drive and take it off him This illness is the worse thing to happen to anyone his poor sad face when we have gone through this familiar thing each time we go out I wish this had never happened Five years ago he had a operation for heart valve He has said it would have been better that he had died We were so happy that he had his life back I nursed him through that I loved him needed with me he is /was a dear husband .
Don’t let him drive. I had a friend who made a left in front of a tractor trailer and died because she could not judge distance. Early onset dementia age 62.
My husband had a head injury last year , he has had memory loss since it’s progressing , he spends up to two hours in the bathroom in the morning , cleaning his teeth up to three times , not shaving very well etc , he has trouble paying money doesn’t seem to be able to recognise the coins or notes value , can’t recognise time on the clock , dressing inside out , back to front ! Cannot sign his name , fears making phone calls , doesn’t understand his computer anymore , loosing things every day , short term memory is gone , driving is scary because we live in Portugal but our original country is uk , he often tries to drive on the wrong side of the road , we’ve been money scammed out of thousands because he doesnt realise what is happening , he gets sleepy ,finds swallowing difficult , it’s hard for him to concentrate , he doesn’t seem to react to things , his modesty has gone . He seems cheerful all the time and doesn’t react to problems that are important ! I haven’t had him assessed yet , should I do it ? He is 64 years old , his grandfather had Alzheimer’s .
Wasn’t there any medical care after the head injury they have a protocol for post concussion. If you can find a Neurology Clinic, like physical therapy for the brain that might help. But yes, get an assessment!!
@@stevecrane8102 yes he had scans and saw a surgeon to repair his nose , but that was a year ago and we are still waiting to be called to the hospital for that repair operation .
Love you, Nat, and you have been SO HELPFUL on so many levels. I do want to stress (not to you, Nat, but to those seeking help), though, that this is SO TRICKY! They really need to have a professional evaluation if there is a concern. Every one of those items could be attributed to 'something else'. Recent cataract lens surgery, medication side effect or too many meds, stress!, overwhelmed other circumstances/worry; the list is endless. Get a professional diagnosis! It will be worth it. They may just be needing a little extra help (KIND help!) to get past something that is taking up too much time in their brain... Love ya, Nat, and THANK YOU!
My mom's 6 early signs 3 yrs before diagnosis were: Familiar Tasks... forgetting recipe ingredients; Confusion... getting lost within 2miles of home; Misplacing... lost her purse 3 times within few months; Poor Judgment... dated a guy who took all her money; Withdrawal Socially... her friends called me; Personality Change... her friends told me her demeanor changed. Also not on your list, one of mom's very first symptom I noticed was her delusion of people in TV coming into our house through underground tunnel... she told this to me and her friends. Thank you Dr Nat for all your insightful coachings. Been watching you for last 3yrs... and I've learned a lot💕😅
When my mother landed in the hospital for a UTI, they would not release her because of her apparent dementia, and sent her to a nursing home. There they doped her up so much that she and I both got frightened. I flew out to advocate for her, and was eventually able get her home. I was used to her repeating herself during phone conversations, and knew she was having trouble completing certain tasks, but I was horrified to see that she had difficulty learning something as simple as how to use a glucose meter and finger stick. She also had no idea what to do when we encountered an elevator, and made an excuse that it had been a long time since she had used one. She was generally confused. She spent hours in the grocery store. Her living room was covered with piles of lists and notes and things she meant to read. She would blame others for misplaced objects. Her penmanship had deteriorated and she eventually spoke with a stammer. She went steadily downhill and was gone in seven years. Pure torture, and terribly sad. It all started after she got a bunch of dental implants. First trigeminal neuralgia, gabapentin, necrotic jaw bones at the implants, then the list of 10…
Physical trauma like surgery is often a trigger for dementia. Your poor mom had a terrible experience with her dental issues! Makes my hair stand on end.
Yes, medications for anesthesia can cause dementia to worsen. It is said that often people have already had dementia for 10 years before they are ever diagnosed, because symptoms can be subtle or easily explained.
I feel like I've heard about people having issues after dental implants before. The actor, Peter Falk (Columbo), was said to have suffered cognitive decline after dental work too.
I can see the dental implants causing it due to the closeness of mouth to brain. There has to be so many nerves in the jaws that they could get disrupted during the process.
I'm currently undergoing testing for dementia. Last June, I came across two interesting events. The first one was to forget how to use my car keys and the second event was to forget how to lower the passenger side window in my car. I'm somewhat apprehensive of what I'll forget next time. I'm 66 years old.
It is scary, isn't it? Lost my mom to vascular dementia in January. I am 61 and I have had several similar experiences that make me fearful I may be in the early stages or MCI, too. I spent an hour preparing the lesson I was going to teach, but as the students walked in the room and I walked to the front of the class, I stood dumbly, with absolutely NO IDEA what we were doing. I stood for several minutes, and it never came to me. Had to go back to my desk, fake casual, and bring it up on my computer. Another time I finished giving students directions for something important and they were all looking at me strangely. I said, "What?" and they said I "literally just" told them the same thing......
Withdrawl was a big sign for my mother with dementia and we missed it. She stopped going to church, family and class reunions during the covid years....and never went back. The social isolation really kick-started the symptoms of her dementia.. She gave the excuse of, "I don't want to get the virus! (and she never did)" which we totally accepted as reasonable, but hid what she was actually doing, which was withdrawing because of the dementia. She didn't want anyone to notice the changes in her.
I feel for all of you. I went through this with my Mom, and have been fretting about myself as I have become more aware of so many of these problems. But I realize I also have ADHD!!! Just now diagnosed at almost 60! So many of these signs parallel ADHD problems, but I see now there really is a differing degree.
I am close to your age and began treatment for ADHD in my fifties. I cannot drive my car without Ritalin. Forget the meaning of traffic lights, forget how to work the car, have great trouble with spatial relationships - especially in parking lots. In my case, I was diagnosed with MS in my thirties so I always blamed that for any cognitive issues I experienced. Honestly, my childhood memories are classic ADHD.
My mom’s early signs forgetting and repeating herself. When I mentioned it to her doctor he shrugged me off as if I was the problem. Soon after, when adult protective services got involved he changed his tune quickly declaring my mom incompetent. I tried changing doctors before than but really struggled getting help within the medical community. Nothing but a nightmare followed, my advice, take action before the state does.
Dementia/Alzheimers + medical community is a nightmare in itself. My sisters father in law had to go to a memory care facility. It was a beautiful place but that was all it was. $7000 a month. He would roam the halls at night. No nurses on the floor. He would of course forget where his room was and they would find him sleeping on chairs/sofas the next morning. He had so many falls. He couldn’t cut his meat but they would put big chunks of chicken in front of him without an offer to cut it up. When my bro in law complained about the treatment, they “evaluated” him and said that he fell too much and he had to be moved to another facility. Guess for $7000 they wanted the “easy stable dementia” patients that sat in a corner babbling to themselves. It was so very sad. He went downhill when he was moved and subsequently died a few months later.
The medical community has become largely useless, particularly the GPs which are the access point for the specialists who are still pretty good. A lot of the burden gets shifted from non-emergency services to emergency services, and then the non-emergency services are rewarded with more public funding. It's ridiculous.
Progressive decline: My husband began to have trouble remembering which buses to take to go to his PCP visits. He had to check the schedules (including transfer). Then he couldn't read the schedules and know how much time between buses. Then he couldn't figure out what time to leave to walk to the bus stop in time. Then he couldn't figure out how much time it took to get ready. Then he forgot which side of the street to wait. A couple of times he'd miss the second bus at the depot. I was usually at work so he was on his own. One time I was home and the doctor's office called because he hadn't arrived. That's just one thing.
I kep tabs on myself as I don’t have “loved ones.” The only one I notice is being more clumsy, a bit off balance. It’s really frightening to contemplate what could be one’s medical future!
There are exercises-easy-that u can do for balance. I do this utube guy, they are primarily while sitting and it's really helped my balance and leg cramps. The standing ones I do while making coffee, tea-anytime I am waiting for 20 seconds or more. Your encouraged to do them 5 times a day-i do them 1 time and it's helped a lot. Good Luck🙏💖🙏
I was caregiver for my husband wish I would have noticed signs quicker to help him and his was also getting a lot of UTI's which didn't help. I miss him a lot and this very hard for me to move on.
With oncoming dementia, a family member told me she wouldn’t know she was not remembering important things except that others told her. A doctor later told me that not being aware you’re forgetful is more serious than when you know your memory is not as good as it was due to maturity onset.
This may fall under poor judgement, but, using objects improperly...My mom started rubbing Neosporin all over her arm instead of her lotion, she used siccors to trim branches and put peices of tape over pealing paint on the outside of her house, etc.
I noticed all of these things in my Mother. It was difficult to get any kind of family to support me. After about a year of me asking her to go, she got tested and has mild cognitive impairment. I have a degree in healthcare and worked my entire career in long-term care with the elderly. It was very frustrating for my family to continue to make up reasons to explain her behavior. So, this is a great video of signs to look for and if you or a loved one notice them, please just get the person tested. The earlier you know the better.
Yes I use to put the little things to the side only when I mention it to the doctor he said we test for uti but she got lost on the way back from the toilet he said said there’s more to this and we had a test
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, dr.porassss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I wish they were readily available in my place. Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac. He's constantly talking about killing someone. He's violent. Anyone reading this Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
I've been tested and have mild Parkinson's dementia. My big sign is forgetting words or names. For awhile my husband would fill in the bLank. Wed joke that he could finish each mothers sentenes. Once other signs appeared, we realized it was the first stage.
5:14 got me laughing even though this is a serious subject. I saw many of these symptoms leading up to current status of my mother. I think we all wish we could predict these things 10+ years before they become an issue. We could prepare. Thanks for sharing and making these videos.
For the symptoms. Memory loss for sure my mother would get lost going to her sister's house in the early days but we brushed it off. Planning was an issue as well trying to keep up with projects around the house or coordinating plumbing, gardening was an issue. This is more advanced but the ability to do laundry, cleaning the house and cooking started to fall off. The confusion with time and place is often. She will wake up at any time of the day thinking it is the morning even though it is totally dark outside. Being able to use the TV remote was always an issue we had to use universal remotes with 8 buttons instead of the cable tv remotes. Speaking wise she sometimes talks to me even though I cannot hear, or I am in another room but speaking wise seemed ok. Misplacing things have always been an issue. Judgement in the early days... I am pretty sure it happened, but I was not aware until the later stage. She used to be involved with Mexican dominoes with her sisters on a weekly basis then fell off totally during covid and never restarted. Mood and personality changes seems to be easily triggered emotionally over small things so yes.
Well, most of these are showing up in my husband. He acknowledges that he needs me to "keep him going" but Mr. Marine refuses to get evaluated. It's a day to day work in progress for me trying to stay ahead of whatever poor judgement decisions, endless repetitions, removing donation requests from the mail, writing checks,etc. Any hints for convincing him to be evaluated? He refuses to see himself as anyone other than a 29 year old Marine and MY caretaker.
I just told my husband that our insurance is requiring we get evaluated, so we are both going, it takes all the anger and frustration out. I haven’t told him I suspect, my husband was born with cerebral palsy and requires forearm crutches he’s been using them since he was one year old, the doctors at The Shriners hospital for crippled children did an amazing job. He’s had some issues with getting lost and I talked him into using his GPS so it will tell him if there’s a traffic issue plus an ETA to get home so I can time dinner. But he’s denied saying things to me within minutes of saying them, and he’s had two bad falls, requiring staples and ER visits, very out of character. I don’t think I’m wrong, but he would never go if I came to him, he’d think I was being critical, he’s always leaned to be defensive anyway, which I understand, people are still very comfortable staring, bad being discriminating towards people with disabilities. It’s mind blowing.
Could u ask him to get tested to give u peace of mind? Also telling him if there's nothing wrong (in his opinion) then there is nothing to be afraid of. I hope that helps 🙏
My mother was in serious denial and also refused to be evaluated. However, she WOULD go to her doctor for other things (diabetes checks, annual checkups), so we called his office before her next appointment, explained what we were seeing, and he did a terrific job of incorporating a simple evaluation into her visit. He was also tremendously helpful in convincing her that it was time to stop driving, which she had resisted mightily (and which she fought over and over for years.) It was helpful for us (family) to get an official diagnosis and medical support for her; however, she later forgot what the doctor told her, angrily declared we were wrong, cried as she was told the diagnosis (multiple times)....all part of the 8 year journey. Mom passed away in January.
My MIL is increasingly isolating. Turning down company or activities we want to do with her. She hangs up on us. Idk if she’s severely depressed or what’s going on. But it’s not like her to be this way at all. She jumps at the chance to be with her family and loves going out and socializing.
Thanks for this post. Good info to have. I'm 68 and have concerns about dementia, mostly due to my fear that I would burden my wife if it occurred. I've never dealt directly with a dementia but recently my brothers-in-law's law partner died due to dementia complications at 74. I knew his wife and my sister explained that she had to get him committed as he became violent in the later stages. It's a horrible aliment.
My husband is aware of a paternal tendency for Alzheimer disease. He is going on 80. He’s had several cognitive tests and has been prescribed several medications. I see #5 (trouble understanding visual info) and #6 (problems with speech) the most. His gait has definitely changed and I would like to have you address that. Thanks for helping me understand what he is facing as he ages so I can be the most helpful partner possible.
My husband exhibited 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, & 10 before or soon after diagnosis 3 years ago. His lack of interest in his CCR collection, watching the Dodgers play ball was concerning. So was the change in driving abilities/habits. He started driving slow and to the right; look right and left then pull out without looking again as he was pulling out. Thanks for your good works.
You were right on with misplacing things. My mother-in-law came to visit for a holiday and stayed in our home. She accused someone in our home of stealing her jewelry. My husband assured her we would not take anything from her. We helped her look through her luggage and found the jewelry she had missed placed. At the time I was so upset with her that she thought we would steal from her. One year later she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
I’ve been diagnosed with frontal and temporal dementia. I first recognized a problem, speaking and remembering words I wanted to use and had to substitute because I couldn’t think of them.
My dad definitely showed these signs . He was a very Savvy person and when he got scammed I was really surprised but now looking back that makes sense. He also just stopped hanging out with his friends and going out but then again he also had poor judgments and started smoking marijuana a lot and drinking so a lot of times we attributed it to that . Thank you for the video.
I got shook up a few days ago I’m retired 4 years. Usually when say HSN asks over the for last 4 digits of Social Security number. Easy but then for a one company asked for the last 6. Oh no I went blank for a few seconds only after I had to the entire tell myself the hold number. Scared me but I hardly have ever give that out.
My MIL is currently showing all of these signs, but I think I would say we noticed 10. Personality changes first - she started becoming very judgmental, easy to anger, and paranoid. As more of the signs became apparent, it made sense this was the first sign vs just normal aging.
if you go in for a test... insist and let me repeat this ..insist on an MRI... my parent was diagnosed with dementia and had a catscan.. yes it was dementia they said... 12 months later that family member died ... autopsy showed that literally half the brain had been eaten away by cancer... and MRI would have picked it up...
Excellent video! I wished I had this video years ago because my MWD was showing signs of dementia but neither my dad or myself could figure out what was wrong and the doctors just thought it was anxiety/depression. 😞
Me too! I've always been forgetful, scattered, can't remember what I went into a room for. Start a project and get side tracked. Buy ingredients to make a special dish and can't remember what it was I was going to make! It's a little worse with age but same old same old. For decades my motto has been, "if I know my name and where I live I am not worried"!
Constantly writing notes, from conversations on the phone or daily tasks, not wanting to throw any if the notes away - getting really obsessive about it. And so much diary stress generated - copious amoynts of notes in the diary taking up so much space appointments can no longer fit in. And asking the same 'safe' question with every conversation, not deviating from the conversation pattern. Not telling people about their life anymore because every outing/visit/activity gets forgotten. So many changes now, and looking back, so may changes that werent initially recognised.
In retrospect I see now that an early sign , in my brother's dementia , was his occasional lack of social manners .. like eating food from someone else's plate ... he has even less now as it has progressed
1 - noticed a de-crease in strength in her hands and feet / legs. She thought at times she had Parkinsens 2 - up until she had a general anaesthetic for a broken leg she did well, it appears it was a trigger for dilusion which lasted for 6 weeks but then cleared, within 4.5 year she had left us 3 - we noticed she was not wearing glasses to watch TV or read and watching her seen she was looking at the words but not reading them but would say she was reading as she always did and when pushed to talk about what she was reading would only get grumpy 4 - hand writing went from super neat to very poor fairly quickly
My husband had surgery and had some difficulty coming out of it, but i was not sure if it was normal or not for him, he had not had been put under for that long in the past, i mentioned it to the doc that day. Nothing came of the inquiring. Then within the next 6-8 months started showing signs of several this with memory, confusion and feeling strange,(spacial effects). Later diagnosed with lewy bodies dementia. Can or do you address issues with surgery or big events kicking off the symptoms? Thanks for all you do
One of the earliest signs was my husband having trouble reading a menu and picking out something to order. Another - related to personality change - was this formerly reserved, never outgoing person was suddenly talking to anyone. Meaning strangers in stores or on the street. It's been embarrassing and inappropriate a couple of times. It reduces my interest in taking him places.
Oh, that is so hard. We saw both of these, too. Taking Mom out to eat really took 4+ hours by the time we got her ready, into the car, perused the menu for half an hour (until we "forced" her to pick/chose for her), and ate with her poor coordination. It was sad for us, but she seemed unaware and delighted in going out. She also threw food and napkins and straw wrappers on the floor (talk about embarrassing!) And she said LOTS of inappropriate things, from asking for presents to telling the bank teller (as we were trying to help her sort and simplify all the accounts she had opened) that we were there because we "wanted our inheritance money early." She cussed at nurses - a woman from whom we had never heard a swear word in her life. She gave mean nicknames to other residents. I tell you this only to sympathize - you are not alone. Anyone who has been a caretaker for a loved one with dementia would totally understand this behavior....and those who haven't just can't. Do what is right for you and your husband; you don't owe anyone an explanation. So very sorry you are going through this.
My mother was telling stories about people visiting her that were not there. Keep an anecdotal record of events. Be sure to include time of day and dates. This will help at the doctor.
There are some of us who are not that social to begin with. When we retire we just want to be kinda left alone. We still function, solve problems do exercise, but just dont enjoy teh social BS.
@@xNialx my mom is in hospice now. She has lived years past expectations. I just took care of her by myself 24/7. I was saw the deterioration, i didn’t realize how bad. Till i came back from visiting some friends.
People suffering dementia often act very clear headed when family members visit. My elderly brother had been a psychology major in grad school so he was clever enough to fake clarity when he was tested by a professional. 😊 He should have been put in a care facility years before. But it wasn't until the last few weeks of life that the family was able to convince doctors to refer him.
My mom was unable to recognize her limitations very early on. She wanted to paint her garage at 75. Hoarding is linked with dementia and was also a sign. You mentioned poor judgment as in scammers, but choosing to pull weeds in the garden in the middle of a 95 degree day is another example of poor judgement.
My mother has all 10. Now my cousin insists that she does NOT have dementia, as her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers, but she has gone WAY past the early signs. She forgets where she is, looks for things I've never seen and asks about her husband and where her children are. (I am grown and my brother and father has passed.
Number 9, but it was immediately after lockdown ended post Covid. We went to meeting we both enjoyed and had attended regularly pre-Covid, but mum wouldn't go again, saying her hearing wasn't good enough and she couldn't hear the speaker, nor did she speak to anyone there, although her hearing wasn't that bad at the time (not as bad as mine, in fact). She never came with me again. Number 10, she has always been very strong but now cries at the slightest thing. She also has what I call a ten-minute memory. She can go through something extremely painful - like the physio in hospital getting her up and out of bed - but 10 minutes later would have completely forgotten about it and tell me the physios had never been to see her to find out if she wanted to try to get up. She hasn't been diagnosed and I think she would be very resistant to that, even if I could actually get her doctors here to organise it.
I noticed this in my step father 8 years ago. No one in his family would believe me. Now my mom and I are the caregivers. He has been diagnosed. Unfortunately I now see my mom where I saw him all those years ago. I don't know if I can handle both at the same time.
I feel for you! Discovered my father had Alzheimer’s while caring for my mother during her own diagnosis. They were at different stages - mum mostly not mobile but would once in a while surprise us while Dad was still very physically active but had poor judgment which put him in danger. Luckily, there were five of us kids and we worked well together so didn’t feel alone. I hope you don’t have to be alone 🙏
1. Mom had been playing bridge for years with her group. She expressed her hurt feelings, to me, when her group told her to stay home as she was too slow. It sounded like the people she was playing with were rude and uncaring. Then some time after that we were playing cribbage, she had been really quick counting points, but this time she was so slow, playing became painful. 2. Another sign was her telling the same stories over and over again. They were things that happened before she was 15. Nothing about her life after that age. 3. Another was her expectations of us. If she needed something, it was right away regardless of the situation. Helping her make her bed is not an emergency. She could not be reasonable and wait until my sister had a shower and was ready to go out. She wanted her to come over right away. 4. Another was complaining her microware, oven, washing machine, tv, portable phone, cell phone, etc., were not working anymore. We replaced quite a few of these with new ones with no improvement on her ability to use them. Of course she had many of the other signs you listed. We played a lot of "hide and seek" I called it. We spend a lot of time searching for things she had misplaced. And of course this was over a long period and we did not know about dementia. She appeared to be functioning so well on her own in all aspects of her life.
For me it was my mom having a few significant falls within a span of a few months. I used to work as an aide in physical therapy and that was one of the issues mentioned with elder clients who came in with balance issues. Several falls within in a year or less is a sign of cognitive decline. My mom also started having hallucinations (bugs crawling that didn't exist, etc).
My mom has poor judgement about being stuck on the floor and not calling county fall assist or 911. The visiting speech therapist pointed out the closed eyes when speaking. That was a sign I didn't know about. My mother already went through the clumsy phase two years ago with some wicked falls.
With my case my husband had a stroke but his symptoms went back 7 months before but I never recognized them. He would forget where he was driving too. He forgot how to put gas in the car.
I have been following you for information. You have a lot of helpful advice. I will say though some of the pictures you show, the people look more agitated, when some of my husbands early symptoms aren’t quite what the pictures portray, but I know there’s definitely symptoms of dementia.
I've found that changes in (or withdrawal from) personal practices like exercises, stretching, meditation, or prayer can be an early sign. Sudden unhealthy (fast) food cravings too? These changes can exacerbate any health issues. Thanks for making this video! 🌿💚🌿
Isolating from social engagements was a big one here. Also some paranoia involving fringe members of our family. Repeating the same stuff with increasing regularity and often becoming enraged over these stories. Wow so many I paid so little attention to. By the time we convinced him to see the geriatrician he was already in the moderate stage.
I saw all of these signs very early and so wish I had this information then. Also, he had trouble understanding the television. He said the people were talking too fast.
A close friend of ours is 83. She's had memory problems for years and repeats herself often. But in the past year or so, she's suspected there's an issue between us and asked us many times if we want her out of our lives or if she should leave us alone. It's been hard on us. We love her. There's obviously nothing wrong with the relationship from our point of view, but something is causing her to think differently. For some reason, I don't think we can get her to see otherwise, which is sad.
I saw at least 7 or 8 of these 10 signs in my mom within the few years prior to her dementia diagnosis. That's what led me to get her to the neurologist who diagnosed her.
One specific problem with speaking than my mom exhibited in early dementia was using pronouns without antecedents. For example, saying "She gave me that" without ever saying who "she" is.
My dad has started doing that. Just starts talking about something like we were mid conversation and he gets frustrated when I don't know what he's talking about. Uses words like "it", "they", "thing" etc. I often have to ask "Who's they?" "What thing?" It's like he was having an imaginary conversation in his head and then continued it for real. Either that or it's me and there actually was a conversation that I forgot! One of us is losing it.
My friend started taking food after meals or at parties. She would wrap several foods in napkins and stuff them in her purse. She never used to get takeout or a takeout container when she had leftover food, she always stuffed food in her purse. This was so odd for a dignified person like her. About 3 years ago she developed Alzheimer's, but she had big gaps in communication with friends which was very strange. She passed away last fall.
Looking back… the wife is always the last to know 😅. The two big warning signs I missed- or helped him cover for- were 9 and 10. He stopped playing senior ice hockey which he loved . At 85 I thought it reasonable but unlike him. He was so fit and youthful. And my normally calm and rational loved one was increasingly argumentative and quick to anger. Soon I realized he was getting lost on familiar routes and his long time friends told me they thought something wasn’t right. I’ll admit I was in denial for awhile but once I found Dr Natali and learned what was happening to him - and how I could adjust my behavior and expectations to support him- we had a wonderful few years together. He was walking , talking and his fun old but younger self until he died at 90. I feel lucky to have had all this time with him.
Losing a pocketbook at store then claiming someone stole it. Gong to the bank for decades then one day forgetting the account number. Taking things out of cabinet's in the kitchen but forgetting to put items back. Over stressing on simple daily things......like a leaky faucet or ants in the kitchen.
What about rigidity in their thinking? My friend has come to believe things that aren’t true and doubles down when you point that out to her. We’ve gotten in to arguments until I realized it was a symptom. Such an unpleasant one!
My dad forgot where ro go when he drove a very well known route. After that, my sister found him staring at a buffet not knowing how to go about serving himself food. Then he would forget how to theow things in the garbage beliw the kitchen sink. He would open the door but then had to do a lot of thinking to put the thing in the garbage.
I don’t know if this is one but for me, what I noticed first was repeating a story as if it hadn’t been said in a conversation (not the same story repeated many times over time).
I just turned 57 in July. I am 30 yrs HIV+ and T2 Diabetic for almost 15 yrs. I've had Major Covid 3 times since 2020. It almost killed me. 1. I cannot grocery shop properly without a list. if I go into the store meaning to buy something, off the top of my head, I will forget it, usually remember IN the checkout line, or after walking out of the store. Hence the list. (I don't know if this has to do with the fact that I was the Covid grocery shopper. It was traumatic every time I had to go inside of a building). 2. I get into the shower, and start washing. Then I go off into a thought tangent, and stop washing. Some time later, I realize I am standing in the shower, and go "Oh, I need to turn off the water and get out," before realizing that I had stopped mid stream, so I toss my towel, turn the water back on and finish up. 3. My sleep patter is all out of whack. I try nightly, to go to bed at the same time, 8-8:30pm, listen to a pod cast and go to sleep. But come midnight or 3 am, I am wide awake. 4. i forget things, like names, ideas, memories. Then I rack my brains, until i figure it out, or better yet, look it up on Google. My long term memory is shot. I have pictures of a family event above my desk, and I have no memory of it. I look at old family photos and I am like ???? Yet, I do remember specific memories that were joyful for me. Even if I don't have a physical photos of them, they are seared into my brain. 5. Just little things I notice about myself that are "off." My husband usually laughs them off. When His Nana ended up in a lock down building the last ten years of her life. 6. I've got visual issues, this Wednesday I am having a full eye exam and such to see how bad my vision has gotten since the last exam. I have sent a note into my medical assistant at one of the clinics where several of my doctors work. None of them want to touch anything that is off base, from WHAT they individually treat me for, HIV, Diabetes, or my Osteoarthritis.
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@@DementiaCareblazers Thanks. However, my mom passed away last month. Was just sharing.
Is this an AI channel?
*I Don't ReMember, Any Of it!!!!*
My sister was diagnosed with early onset dementia when she was 54 but after watching this her behavior changed long before then😢She thought the her memory loss was brain fog due to menopause
I lost my Mom to dementia, it was so hard. Toward the end she didn't always know who I was but the last time I saw her I told her I loved her and she looked me in the eyes and said it back. I was so grateful for that last gift. ❤
@litebriteeyes - Same here. My dad hadn't recognised anyone for years (he had Alzheimers), but the last time I visited him in the care facility, he looked, smiled, and called me by his own pet nickname for me. It was the best gift ever! He then told me how awful it was, not to be able to recall anything. That made me very sad: he was aware of not being "aware" 😢
I had that. My friend had never said that he loved me. But a month before he died he came up to me in the home he was in and hugged me and said 3 times I love you I love you I love you. Then in a dream that wasn't a dream, he came to me 4 months after he died and did the same thing again. R.I.P Tom💚
@@juliebarks3195 oh wow. Very moving. They say family and friends and pets too visit you in your dreams to let you know they’re okay. ❤❤
It's called "terminal lucidity" and its very common on dying patients (even from cancer).
I’m very sorry for your loss.
I'm 84 and do not forget anything because I don't remember anything.
Hahaha LOL😂❤
😊sounds like my pop. L o L😊
Appreciate your humor as dementia is a serious problem, we still need the laughter…we as family members lose our loved ones right before our eyes and wish we can slow dementia down or reverse it.
😂😂😂😂
Just take one moment at a time & celebrate life in the way it unfolds each day. GOD BLESS YOU❤
For my mother's earlier signs noticed first:
1-Memory loss
2-Speaking-Using incorrect words for things
8-Poor judgement
10-Changes in mood
And almost all the others to follow
She is still good at playing poker and is very socially interactive and compassionate
She is 87
I am trying to watch out for myself. I am 64 and sometimes concerned.
I do have a stressful job and concerned about my mother being happy and not feeling alone.
Thank you for what you do for us! 😊
One thing is to avoid statins, as they are known to increase Dementia risk.
Avoid all sugars, most carbs, that increases risk too. (Dementia is called Type 3 Diabetes)
I’ve been sewing and mending clothes all my life. The other day I couldn’t tie a knot in the thread. My brain seemed disconnected from the task. I was bewildered at not being able to figure out what I was doing wrong. It was frustrating and scary. The next day I was going to put a styling gel in my hair. I looked at the products on my sink, deodorant, hand lotion, perfume, etc, and had no idea which one was the correct item to use. I eventually figured it out. Needless to say I am shocked at this new development. I told my daughter all about it in case it gets worse.
Check for Hypothyroidism
Check for any form of Diabetes
Be aware of meds you may take which increase memory fog or Dementia risk… like statins.
anything can cause that. urinary tract infection, as the comment below said, thyroid?, infection, fatigue, low blood sugars, micronutrient deficiency. Nutrition is the number one consideration when you get old, I make sure my mom eats a good steak four times a week, salmon four times a week and loads of eggs. Yes a full blood test and then analyse your diet, and good luck to you, even dehydration can cause brain fog.
You could be in perimenopause or menopause, have vitamin deficiencies like D and magnesium, thyroid issues, stress....dehydration.
@@bethmendoza1847 I thought it was strange but I also heard a UTI can cause dimentia symptoms.
It could be something as simple as a vitamin B 12 deficiency
1) memory loss..significant things, 2)challenges following through steps or solving problems (paying bills, follow recipe, medications). 3) forgetting rules or familiar tasks (game rules, driving routes), 4) confusion dates or time, 5)trouble gauging spatial relationships (more clumsy, parking closer to wall or other cars), 6) difficulty speaking or writing, 7)misplacing things forgetting where they are, can’t retrace to find, 8)increased poor judgement, 9)withdrawal from activities they used to like, 10)changes in behavior or personality (withdrawn, anxious, etc…). Thank you! Seeing many of these…nothing not on this list. Maybe 6/10 things. Time to try again to see Dr.
Awesome
Thank you for the list!
Thanks for this. I've had dementia since I was 6, I guess.
@@edennis8578😂😂
❤❤
My Mom’s first signs of dementia was restlessness at night. She would vacuum at midnight, would sleep on the couch or instead of her bed, and had trouble finding words - she’d say “Put the things in the whatchmacallit” (put the clothes in the washer). She stopped reading. She started occasionally saying mean things to friends. When she started to deteriorate, she’d be looking at photographs or napping, and suddenly jump up and run out the door. I could not believe she could move so quickly! We had to put latches on the top of door (thankfully she was petite) so she couldn’t run away. My Mom’s deterioration was slow, it was over 10 years of little “quirks” that built on one another. No matter what happened, she never forgot my Dad. She forgot she had children, her home of over 50 years, but not my Dad or the little apartment the had when first married.
The same happened with my mother after the passing of my father. Her demencia suddenly worsen.The paranoia and the rage were inbelievable. The force she is able to get to destroy things is terrifying.
Fascinating , extremely similar to my mom - the early signs like upset restlessness weird all night nervous energy , looking back I see it from ten years ago , early on at night she’d go through important papers in drawers throwing out stuff and I’d see family pictures and portraits in the garbage can out back , rarely sleeping in bed anymore always the couch and as a lifelong reader she stopped reading but wouldn’t admit it , but much of her behavior seemed fairly normal back then too , it’s taken ten full years and although the dementia is sort of obvious even to strangers she can can still fool people for awhile . It’s been a nightmare , I’ve never had her diagnosed she’d absolutely refuse
@@KimberlyButler-y5y The not-reading sort of coincided with the downfall of cheap daily papers so I didn't catch that. But my mom isn't even reading recreational books now. The Bottom Line magazine is just brief enough fact and advice blurbs and short articles she can comprehend. The couch and chair sleeping and night time TV started but my mother also has A-fib and some persistent fluid in a lung. She used to putz around with watches and clocks but even that seems over. The tough part is my mom saying she's going to do something but gets sidetracked by finishing the TV shows she likes. Since the last fall her time sense is about a week off in the future.
My mother-in-law is sadly in the final, most severe stage. So, it gave my husband and I the impetus to see a neurologist at the earliest of signs from him. Our neurologist suspected MCI and referred us to a fantastic UCLA Research Study. Because we are participating in the Alzheimer's Research Study, they have underwritten all cognitive tests, physicals, blood draws, PET Scans, MRIs, etc. It has been a godsend knowing we are getting eyes on my husband early, and also for me to know that my tracking him and participating as his study partner empowers me to not feel so lost and helpless. This channel is a godsend too. It's hard to come to terms with what we are facing, and the support given here is tremendous. Thank you!
That's great that he was willing to get diagnosed early... I am curious as what his early symptoms were that led him to get tested?
@@larisarockenback3727 me too
@@larisarockenback3727 He is recently retired, so we are spending much more time together. I initially noticed short-term memory lapses, in a variety of settings. I was making note of the lapses, and our adult children had also noticed slight issues. We then started watching a well-loved TV fantasy series, and he had an extra tough time following the family plot lines. His mother is in severe, late stage Alzheimer's, so he is much more focused on doing everything he can to prevent the onset of the disease and extend his wellness. The Research Study has been a lifesaver, as is this channel---I am quite new here. With two APOE-4 genes, we know that it's important that he get early medical support (especially in creating a baseline of where he is in reference to the disease) and that we both stay current on all information available, as much as possible.
Has he taking a statin?
Those increase risk of Dementia.
@@marlenegold280 he is, but there are also studies reporting the opposite. His doctors are aware of our concerns, so he is staying on it for now. We are definitely monitoring it, thanks…
I was the one to notice the 'black hole' in my father's memory on a visit.He loved quizzes , especially 'Who wants to be a Millionaire', but when I came to visit and put a disc with photos to look at in his laptop he said,'Oh, where did that come from,' referring to the drawer and I said,' That's where you put your disc when you play on Millionaire.' And he said, 'I never play on Millionaire.' I went straight out and said to my mother and sister, 'He needs to see a doctor asap.' My narcassistic, victim presenting, bully of a mother said, 'Oh he's always been like that. 'Even after he was diagnosed and his symptoms much worse, she was still bellyaching about how she'd told him something but he still hadn't done it. I blame myself for not removing him from that toxic atmosphere. When he was in a residential home and sitting in a chair without noticing anything around him, I put some headphones on him, attached to an MP3 with songs from the shows on, something he loved. He had a really good voice and loved to be in a choir. He began tapping his fingers to the tunes and it broke my heart.
I gave my BF's mom a book that I read and figured she'd enjoy it too. She finished it right away and loved it. A few months later, she was so excited to recommend me... the same book. A couple months after that, she "discovered" the same book in her house that she thought a guest must've left behind...so she read it again, but she thought it was her first time reading it.
I try to read 50 books a year. I have always had short term memory issues unless I really lock it in. If I have to present about a book that tends to help me. the good news is that I can reread an interesting book and enjoy it as if it’s the first time or almost the first time
@@MrSurferDoug I've been this way with books and movies my whole life. Enjoy them while I'm reading/watching, then forget the plot soon after. I've always insisted that it's because I consider them to be "entertainment" and when the show is over, it's time to move back to my "real" life. I do, however, always recognize (if I start the same book/movie again because I didn't recognize the title) that I've read or seen it before because it feels familiar. Now that I'm a senior (at 72) I guess I need to be sure my kids know that this has always been the case for me so they don't think it's a sign of decline.
Oh that’s so sad. God bless her. ❤️🙏🏼❤️
I can watch a movie I’ve seen before. I realize I’ve watched it, but I don’t remember what is going to happen. I’m easily amused.
@@TheShunpiker1 This happens to me, too. I'm constantly in the middle of a movie that I like, and I recommend it to my daughter, who then says, "We already saw that together, remember? " It seems to be happening more and more now. Like you, it's familiar, but I don't always remember the entire thing or the ending. Now I just want to announce that I'm watching something I think I watched before, so I'm watching it again because it was good. I also forget the names of things while talking with friends.
Losing things, stopping activities (gardening, cooking), confusion with time, repeating a conversation we had five minutes ago.
@susangoslin6089 where did my big sense of humor disappeared!! Zombie toast from prescriptions
The first time I *SHOULD* have noticed something was off was when I got a notice from the tax assessor that my mom had not paid her property taxes. I asked my mom about this. She fumbled through a drawer, handed me an envelope and said, "I keep trying to pay them but they keep sending it back to me." She had made out the check properly, but had addressed the envelope to the tax assessor at her own address. More than once. She never noticed the error. When I pointed it out, she said, "well they should have just called and told me. They don't need to keep sending it back without explanation." I just thought she was juggling too much and not really paying attention. The next two years were a very rapid downward spiral. It's only in this past year in Memory Care that she has stabilized a bit.
Yes a doctor I was working with had drastic personality changes. He would get angry. He wasn’t bathing. He would get lost and forget which clinic he was going to. He would steal my prescription pads. He would be late and have patients wait 1-2 hours. He would forget who I was. He kept a 2 yr collection of one sipped sodas along w/ rotting food in the office and would get angry of someone threw away the sodas. He’s was 81 and part owner of the practice. The staff was afraid to point out these issues. I confronted the doctor myself and he said it was ok for the medical assistant to train for my nurse practitioner job. He proceeded to speak to me with his eyes closed and then got aggressive and started to scream at me. There were also a ton of other issues that were posing a threat to patient safety as well as office staff stealing from the doctor so I reported him to the medical board. Shake shake on that staff for not reporting all of this sooner. This is not safe for patients. This mam definitely had dementia or was experiencing schizophrenia.
I would have called adult protective services.
@ I called the medical board he was a danger to patients
My husband had bvFTD for 20 years before he died; however, we had no idea what he had for the first 11 years. On your list of early warning signs, he had #9 and #10, but no one would listen to our children and me when we tried to say how much he had changed. Looking back, I recognize little things like not lining up his shirts in the closet the way he had always done, not hanging the towels after showering, but mostly it was his apathy and lack of empathy that was most noticeable. He had always been the kindest, most caring person, and he became cruel and indifferent. Also, he lost his love of music, which was very painful to observe. He looked so lost.
I see all of them. I’m still dealing with it. It’s getting harder every day. It’s my 84 yo aunt. Never had children. Husband died 5 years ago and she has no one except me. By the time I took over caring for her, everything in her life was in such a mess that it took months to straighten things out. Unpaid bills, taxes, HOA fees, what a mess. Thanks for your video’s. So helpful!
Your Aunt & Uncle are so lucky to have you... and even in her ill mind, I'm sure she is grateful. My mom in her stage says 'thank you & sorry' occasionally. I know they have lucid moments. Hang in there, you are doing an awesome job.
Pretty much all of these signs I have witnessed. The change in personality was the most easy to spot.
1. memory loss (important information, well learned information)
2. challenges in following through with steps or solving problems
3. forgetting rules or familiar tasks (rules of a game, going to familiar location)
4. confusion of place or time
5. trouble gauging spatial relationships (tripping going up or down stairs, parking, bumping into things)
6. difficulty speaking or writing
7. misplacing things, forgetting where things are, trouble retracing steps
8. increased poor judgment (falling for scams, giving out more information)
9. withdrawal from social activities and hobbies
10. changes in behavior and personality
And please dont forget aggitation.
Sounds like Joe Biden.
@@KMF3seriously I was just thinking the exact same thing only about trump 🤔
@@micaonyx5301 give me examples of how it applies to Trump
@@micaonyx5301 exactly!
How would you list this: My father started eating food that had gone bad. My mother divorced my dad. I was left living with him. I was only 18. I knew nothing about dementia and was left to deal with him on my own. One afternoon I happened to be home he told me to fry up a pork chop for him. I told him it needed to be thrown in the trash, it was turning green. I threw it away. I then checked the refrigerator to see if anything else might be going bad. I found O.J. that had soured. I left the kitchen and a few minutes later I heard the sound of the pork chop being fried. I knew something was very wrong.
Watching your videos helps explain so much that happened with my husband. I hadn't been around anyone with dementia in my family, luckily, so I missed so much about his. Plus I can now trace the more obvious signs starting around when he had covid. I wrote some of them off to that, some off to his drinking too much due to self treating of anxiety. But his forgetting to pay bills was the last straw. He had been an accountant. He never didn't pay the bills. After I took over paying bills I found out he had been spending too much money behind my back. Little things that I wrote off as, he is retired and it is hard to remember what day it is, because he would ask Alexa a dozen times a day what day and time it was. He stopped driving most of the time, said it was because it was my car and he didn't want to drive it. We found out he wasn't taking all his meds everyday. He would claim I never told him about an appointment when I had. So many little things I didn't really pick up on excused away. He just had other health issues that masked this new one. We were just starting to plan for the dementia when we found his cancer, so we never got past his moderate stage.
I hear you, I am living this now with my husband. His mother was our first we experienced having dementia, then my father lived it for 10 years. My mother took good care of him, after he passed my mother started to have dementia. It is heartbreaking. Many blessings to you.
I noticed my mom becoming increasingly confused about how to work the tv remote as well as the phone. Also she was becoming somewhat obsessive about various things like finding something in her closet or looking at the calendar to see when her dr appointments were. The thing that ultimately made her dementia worsen was her breaking her hip. It’s a tough road ❤
The day my Dad forgot who I was will forever be burned in my memory, and brings me to tears just thinking about it. I know he couldn't help it, but it still doesn't lesson the pain. I'm so thankful my Dad didn't have the "angry sort of" Alzheimer's.
I walked into my grandmothers room in the Alzheimers Unit one day and she asked “When have you seen that Leah?” It was a little like a gut punch, but I made her laugh when I said “This morning when I looked in the mirror.” She laughed, but you could tell she had the name but she still couldn’t put my face with it. It was her first grandchild, a girl after she had 3 boys. We were very close. ❤
I know your pain. I sent my mom a few photos of me and when I asked her if she received the photos I sent she said yeah I go them, but who's the old lady? I tried telling her it was me and she kept saying no it's not!
I know that feeling😢. Although my mom forgot us later, it still burns, her dementia progressed so quickly... delusion before any early signs noticed 6 if 10 symptoms before diagnosed in mid 2021.... she was in denial for 2 years. Now, she is in late stage... and lucky me she has aggressive behaviors.
I totally understand
My father shortly before he died thought that I was his mother. 😢
One thing I noticed looking back was making up stories or or exaggerating or mixing up different events.
My MIL had 9 of these early on but also hoarding of papers and lots and lots of lists. Lists of names, dates, old shopping lists and what she'd bought etc
I noticed hoarding as well with paperwork! You should have seen the amount I took to be shred!!
@@SCSig1971same here🤦♀️
10 signs of dementia, all applied although I find myself having a couple of those traits as well. My loved one is very much in denial and basically refuses help. It is very, very frustrating. Your videos are an excellent source of information and have helped me tremendously. Thank you for being there Dr. Natali!!
The first time I noticed something very off was when my Mom asked me “why do I have a house payment “ BOOM 💥 I was in shock. I explained to her that her husband my step father left her their house in his will. She was furious and asked me why in the hell did he do that. I told her he also left her enough money to make the house payments. This was about 5 years ago. So between that incident and 2 years ago she has been diagnosed with Dementia. She doesn’t remember that she has been living with us since 2016. I am her caregiver along with a nurse visit once a week and a CNA 2 times a week. I don’t go anywhere unless a family member is home with her. She had 4 horrific seizures and spent a week in ICU. That was last year. The medication she is on seems to be helping with seizures none for a year. I want to tell all caregivers we will get through this. Stay strong and Blessed ❤
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you, such a useful video. I think it’s memory but it was definitely repeating themselves with a story, or telling me my story back to me as if it were fresh information. The time between these incidents became shorter and shorter. Also being driven in the car becomes stressful because she cannot judge the spatial distance, so often thinks I am about to have a bump or put her in danger. Very stressful for both driver and passenger but so isolating for dementia sufferer. It’s all heartbreaking.
Another big warning is paranoia-thinking someone is stealing from them
My father thought people were stealing water from the outside spout. He put a lock on it. Then he thought people were stealing mulch from around our trees. I had to explain to him that it deteriorated and gets washed away with the rain.
Oh God! The paranoia is the worst sign. My mother is convinced thar her neighbor has the key of her home and is coming at night , when she's sleeping, to steel ( insignificant things, btw). And the rage phase that comes with is terrifying.
My aunt accussed family visitors of stealing her bed linens. They'd put them in the dirty clothes hamper as they always had done! When they told her that, she was adamant it was a different set of sheets.
steal
@@n.h.8520 steal?
My mother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in January but her "brain fog" as she calls it has been around for quite some time. I think the first thing I noticed was that she was repeating stories as far back as 2019. When Covid hit, she was so isolated - her partner was severely immunocompromised - and the lack of socialization really did a number on her. Then at the end of 2021, her partner and her brother died within two weeks of each other and I think "widow brain" just accelerated the dementia. She was scammed out of thousands of dollars before I was able to get control of her finances. She felt ashamed at the time, but now has no memory of it, thankfully, sort of.
My husband diagnose with mild symptoms but is allowed to drive on local roads 12month driving licence it’s second nature to him and I always felt because he’s tall and seems confident let him drive but I feel dreadful when he goes past turnings I get angry poor guy says I know what I’m doing I feel so sorry for him and I feel that I’m like a abuser and a horrible person but I think I’m going to drive and take it off him This illness is the worse thing to happen to anyone his poor sad face when we have gone through this familiar thing each time we go out I wish this had never happened Five years ago he had a operation for heart valve He has said it would have been better that he had died We were so happy that he had his life back I nursed him through that I loved him needed with me he is /was a dear husband .
😳
Did the doctors put him on a statin after the procedure?
Those are known to increase risk of Dementia.
Don’t let him drive. I had a friend who made a left in front of a tractor trailer and died because she could not judge distance. Early onset dementia age 62.
My husband had a head injury last year , he has had memory loss since it’s progressing , he spends up to two hours in the bathroom in the morning , cleaning his teeth up to three times , not shaving very well etc , he has trouble paying money doesn’t seem to be able to recognise the coins or notes value , can’t recognise time on the clock , dressing inside out , back to front ! Cannot sign his name , fears making phone calls , doesn’t understand his computer anymore , loosing things every day , short term memory is gone , driving is scary because we live in Portugal but our original country is uk , he often tries to drive on the wrong side of the road , we’ve been money scammed out of thousands because he doesnt realise what is happening , he gets sleepy ,finds swallowing difficult , it’s hard for him to concentrate , he doesn’t seem to react to things , his modesty has gone . He seems cheerful all the time and doesn’t react to problems that are important ! I haven’t had him assessed yet , should I do it ? He is 64 years old , his grandfather had Alzheimer’s .
Wasn’t there any medical care after the head injury they have a protocol for post concussion. If you can find a Neurology Clinic, like physical therapy for the brain that might help. But yes, get an assessment!!
@@stevecrane8102 yes he had scans and saw a surgeon to repair his nose , but that was a year ago and we are still waiting to be called to the hospital for that repair operation .
I think it’s serious when he can’t swallow 🌷
*Need a New Husband Lady!!!!*
Love you, Nat, and you have been SO HELPFUL on so many levels. I do want to stress (not to you, Nat, but to those seeking help), though, that this is SO TRICKY! They really need to have a professional evaluation if there is a concern. Every one of those items could be attributed to 'something else'. Recent cataract lens surgery, medication side effect or too many meds, stress!, overwhelmed other circumstances/worry; the list is endless. Get a professional diagnosis! It will be worth it. They may just be needing a little extra help (KIND help!) to get past something that is taking up too much time in their brain... Love ya, Nat, and THANK YOU!
My mom's 6 early signs 3 yrs before diagnosis were: Familiar Tasks... forgetting recipe ingredients; Confusion... getting lost within 2miles of home; Misplacing... lost her purse 3 times within few months; Poor Judgment... dated a guy who took all her money; Withdrawal Socially... her friends called me; Personality Change... her friends told me her demeanor changed. Also not on your list, one of mom's very first symptom I noticed was her delusion of people in TV coming into our house through underground tunnel... she told this to me and her friends.
Thank you Dr Nat for all your insightful coachings. Been watching you for last 3yrs... and I've learned a lot💕😅
Did she ever take a statin?
Those are known to increase Dementia risk.
@@marlenegold280 hello... yes she was on it for about 4years before being diagnosed.. her two older sisters as well suffered almost 10yrs before her.
@@marlenegold280 yes she did but only for brief period of one year
When my mother landed in the hospital for a UTI, they would not release her because of her apparent dementia, and sent her to a nursing home. There they doped her up so much that she and I both got frightened. I flew out to advocate for her, and was eventually able get her home. I was used to her repeating herself during phone conversations, and knew she was having trouble completing certain tasks, but I was horrified to see that she had difficulty learning something as simple as how to use a glucose meter and finger stick. She also had no idea what to do when we encountered an elevator, and made an excuse that it had been a long time since she had used one. She was generally confused. She spent hours in the grocery store. Her living room was covered with piles of lists and notes and things she meant to read. She would blame others for misplaced objects. Her penmanship had deteriorated and she eventually spoke with a stammer. She went steadily downhill and was gone in seven years. Pure torture, and terribly sad.
It all started after she got a bunch of dental implants. First trigeminal neuralgia, gabapentin, necrotic jaw bones at the implants, then the list of 10…
Physical trauma like surgery is often a trigger for dementia. Your poor mom had a terrible experience with her dental issues! Makes my hair stand on end.
Yes, medications for anesthesia can cause dementia to worsen. It is said that often people have already had dementia for 10 years before they are ever diagnosed, because symptoms can be subtle or easily explained.
I feel like I've heard about people having issues after dental implants before. The actor, Peter Falk (Columbo), was said to have suffered cognitive decline after dental work too.
I can see the dental implants causing it due to the closeness of mouth to brain. There has to be so many nerves in the jaws that they could get disrupted during the process.
Or perhaps the work or anesthesia have triggered mini-strokes?
I'm currently undergoing testing for dementia. Last June, I came across two interesting events. The first one was to forget how to use my car keys and the second event was to forget how to lower the passenger side window in my car. I'm somewhat apprehensive of what I'll forget next time. I'm 66 years old.
It is scary, isn't it? Lost my mom to vascular dementia in January. I am 61 and I have had several similar experiences that make me fearful I may be in the early stages or MCI, too. I spent an hour preparing the lesson I was going to teach, but as the students walked in the room and I walked to the front of the class, I stood dumbly, with absolutely NO IDEA what we were doing. I stood for several minutes, and it never came to me. Had to go back to my desk, fake casual, and bring it up on my computer. Another time I finished giving students directions for something important and they were all looking at me strangely. I said, "What?" and they said I "literally just" told them the same thing......
Withdrawl was a big sign for my mother with dementia and we missed it. She stopped going to church, family and class reunions during the covid years....and never went back. The social isolation really kick-started the symptoms of her dementia.. She gave the excuse of, "I don't want to get the virus! (and she never did)" which we totally accepted as reasonable, but hid what she was actually doing, which was withdrawing because of the dementia. She didn't want anyone to notice the changes in her.
I feel for all of you. I went through this with my Mom, and have been fretting about myself as I have become more aware of so many of these problems. But I realize I also have ADHD!!! Just now diagnosed at almost 60! So many of these signs parallel ADHD problems, but I see now there really is a differing degree.
I am close to your age and began treatment for ADHD in my fifties. I cannot drive my car without Ritalin. Forget the meaning of traffic lights, forget how to work the car, have great trouble with spatial relationships - especially in parking lots. In my case, I was diagnosed with MS in my thirties so I always blamed that for any cognitive issues I experienced. Honestly, my childhood memories are classic ADHD.
My mom’s early signs forgetting and repeating herself. When I mentioned it to her doctor he shrugged me off as if I was the problem. Soon after, when adult protective services got involved he changed his tune quickly declaring my mom incompetent. I tried changing doctors before than but really struggled getting help within the medical community. Nothing but a nightmare followed, my advice, take action before the state does.
Dementia/Alzheimers + medical community is a nightmare in itself. My sisters father in law had to go to a memory care facility. It was a beautiful place but that was all it was. $7000 a month. He would roam the halls at night. No nurses on the floor. He would of course forget where his room was and they would find him sleeping on chairs/sofas the next morning. He had so many falls. He couldn’t cut his meat but they would put big chunks of chicken in front of him without an offer to cut it up. When my bro in law complained about the treatment, they “evaluated” him and said that he fell too much and he had to be moved to another facility. Guess for $7000 they wanted the “easy stable dementia” patients that sat in a corner babbling to themselves. It was so very sad. He went downhill when he was moved and subsequently died a few months later.
@@patl.4170 shit :(
The medical community has become largely useless, particularly the GPs which are the access point for the specialists who are still pretty good. A lot of the burden gets shifted from non-emergency services to emergency services, and then the non-emergency services are rewarded with more public funding. It's ridiculous.
Also a person can only retrace their steps to find a misplaced item - if they live in a tidy & organised environment! 💜
Progressive decline: My husband began to have trouble remembering which buses to take to go to his PCP visits. He had to check the schedules (including transfer). Then he couldn't read the schedules and know how much time between buses. Then he couldn't figure out what time to leave to walk to the bus stop in time. Then he couldn't figure out how much time it took to get ready. Then he forgot which side of the street to wait. A couple of times he'd miss the second bus at the depot. I was usually at work so he was on his own. One time I was home and the doctor's office called because he hadn't arrived. That's just one thing.
I kep tabs on myself as I don’t have “loved ones.” The only one I notice is being more clumsy, a bit off balance. It’s really frightening to contemplate what could be one’s medical future!
I'm so sorry that you don't have loved ones
There are exercises-easy-that u can do for balance. I do this utube guy, they are primarily while sitting and it's really helped my balance and leg cramps. The standing ones I do while making coffee, tea-anytime I am waiting for 20 seconds or more. Your encouraged to do them 5 times a day-i do them 1 time and it's helped a lot. Good Luck🙏💖🙏
I was caregiver for my husband wish I would have noticed signs quicker to help him and his was also getting a lot of UTI's which didn't help. I miss him a lot and this very hard for me to move on.
Dementia is terrifying. I hope I can take myself out before I become a burden to others and end up with a painful degrading end to my life.
With oncoming dementia, a family member told me she wouldn’t know she was not remembering important things except that others told her. A doctor later told me that not being aware you’re forgetful is more serious than when you know your memory is not as good as it was due to maturity onset.
This may fall under poor judgement, but, using objects improperly...My mom started rubbing Neosporin all over her arm instead of her lotion, she used siccors to trim branches and put peices of tape over pealing paint on the outside of her house, etc.
I noticed all of these things in my Mother. It was difficult to get any kind of family to support me. After about a year of me asking her to go, she got tested and has mild cognitive impairment. I have a degree in healthcare and worked my entire career in long-term care with the elderly. It was very frustrating for my family to continue to make up reasons to explain her behavior. So, this is a great video of signs to look for and if you or a loved one notice them, please just get the person tested. The earlier you know the better.
Yes I use to put the little things to the side only when I mention it to the doctor he said we test for uti but she got lost on the way back from the toilet he said said there’s more to this and we had a test
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, dr.porassss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I wish they were readily available in my place.
Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac.
He's constantly talking about killing someone.
He's violent. Anyone reading this
Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
Is he on instagram?
Yes he is dr.porassss.
I've been tested and have mild Parkinson's dementia. My big sign is forgetting words or names. For awhile my husband would fill in the bLank. Wed joke that he could finish each mothers sentenes. Once other signs appeared, we realized it was the first stage.
5:14 got me laughing even though this is a serious subject. I saw many of these symptoms leading up to current status of my mother. I think we all wish we could predict these things 10+ years before they become an issue. We could prepare. Thanks for sharing and making these videos.
For the symptoms. Memory loss for sure my mother would get lost going to her sister's house in the early days but we brushed it off. Planning was an issue as well trying to keep up with projects around the house or coordinating plumbing, gardening was an issue. This is more advanced but the ability to do laundry, cleaning the house and cooking started to fall off. The confusion with time and place is often. She will wake up at any time of the day thinking it is the morning even though it is totally dark outside. Being able to use the TV remote was always an issue we had to use universal remotes with 8 buttons instead of the cable tv remotes. Speaking wise she sometimes talks to me even though I cannot hear, or I am in another room but speaking wise seemed ok. Misplacing things have always been an issue. Judgement in the early days... I am pretty sure it happened, but I was not aware until the later stage. She used to be involved with Mexican dominoes with her sisters on a weekly basis then fell off totally during covid and never restarted. Mood and personality changes seems to be easily triggered emotionally over small things so yes.
Well, most of these are showing up in my husband. He acknowledges that he needs me to "keep him going" but Mr. Marine refuses to get evaluated. It's a day to day work in progress for me trying to stay ahead of whatever poor judgement decisions, endless repetitions, removing donation requests from the mail, writing checks,etc.
Any hints for convincing him to be evaluated? He refuses to see himself as anyone other than a 29 year old Marine and MY caretaker.
I just told my husband that our insurance is requiring we get evaluated, so we are both going, it takes all the anger and frustration out. I haven’t told him I suspect, my husband was born with cerebral palsy and requires forearm crutches he’s been using them since he was one year old, the doctors at The Shriners hospital for crippled children did an amazing job. He’s had some issues with getting lost and I talked him into using his GPS so it will tell him if there’s a traffic issue plus an ETA to get home so I can time dinner. But he’s denied saying things to me within minutes of saying them, and he’s had two bad falls, requiring staples and ER visits, very out of character. I don’t think I’m wrong, but he would never go if I came to him, he’d think I was being critical, he’s always leaned to be defensive anyway, which I understand, people are still very comfortable staring, bad being discriminating towards people with disabilities. It’s mind blowing.
Could u ask him to get tested to give u peace of mind? Also telling him if there's nothing wrong (in his opinion) then there is nothing to be afraid of.
I hope that helps 🙏
My mother was in serious denial and also refused to be evaluated. However, she WOULD go to her doctor for other things (diabetes checks, annual checkups), so we called his office before her next appointment, explained what we were seeing, and he did a terrific job of incorporating a simple evaluation into her visit. He was also tremendously helpful in convincing her that it was time to stop driving, which she had resisted mightily (and which she fought over and over for years.) It was helpful for us (family) to get an official diagnosis and medical support for her; however, she later forgot what the doctor told her, angrily declared we were wrong, cried as she was told the diagnosis (multiple times)....all part of the 8 year journey. Mom passed away in January.
Don't tell him he is getting tested, just tell him he is just going to have a chat with someone from a doctor's office.
My Mom's general practitioner asked questions during her checkup. "Can you count down from 100 by threes?", and such.
My MIL is increasingly isolating. Turning down company or activities we want to do with her. She hangs up on us. Idk if she’s severely depressed or what’s going on. But it’s not like her to be this way at all. She jumps at the chance to be with her family and loves going out and socializing.
Thanks for this post. Good info to have.
I'm 68 and have concerns about dementia, mostly due to my fear that I would burden my wife if it occurred.
I've never dealt directly with a dementia but recently my brothers-in-law's law partner died due to dementia complications at 74.
I knew his wife and my sister explained that she had to get him committed as he became violent in the later stages.
It's a horrible aliment.
My husband is aware of a paternal tendency for Alzheimer disease. He is going on 80. He’s had several cognitive tests and has been prescribed several medications. I see #5 (trouble understanding visual info) and #6 (problems with speech) the most. His gait has definitely changed and I would like to have you address that. Thanks for helping me understand what he is facing as he ages so I can be the most helpful partner possible.
Avoid statins which increase Dementia risk.
My husband exhibited 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, & 10 before or soon after diagnosis 3 years ago. His lack of interest in his CCR collection, watching the Dodgers play ball was concerning. So was the change in driving abilities/habits. He started driving slow and to the right; look right and left then pull out without looking again as he was pulling out. Thanks for your good works.
I feel I have two or three of these signs myself and as my mum had signs of dementia and my dad had alzheimers I really am concerned !
The shuffle. Their walk changed.
I have a shuffle it's called osteoporosis 😎 very painful. Boomer here
@@deborahwhit118 my apologies. I too have RA. My dad’s shuffle was distinct and I wa stinking of that shuffle. The I’m lost shuffle. .
❤😢
Shuffling feet is also a symptom of liver failure. So is memory impairment, muscoskelotal weaknesses, and many other dementia symptoms.
You were right on with misplacing things. My mother-in-law came to visit for a holiday and stayed in our home. She accused someone in our home of stealing her jewelry. My husband assured her we would not take anything from her. We helped her look through her luggage and found the jewelry she had missed placed. At the time I was so upset with her that she thought we would steal from her. One year later she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
I’ve been diagnosed with frontal and temporal dementia. I first recognized a problem, speaking and remembering words I wanted to use and had to substitute because I couldn’t think of them.
*STOP SUGAR, NOW!!!!! START Cod Liver OiL & Fish OiL, NOW!!!!*
My dad definitely showed these signs . He was a very Savvy person and when he got scammed I was really surprised but now looking back that makes sense. He also just stopped hanging out with his friends and going out but then again he also had poor judgments and started smoking marijuana a lot and drinking so a lot of times we attributed it to that . Thank you for the video.
I got shook up a few days ago I’m retired 4 years. Usually when say HSN asks over the for last 4 digits of Social Security number. Easy but then for a one company asked for the last 6. Oh no I went blank for a few seconds only after I had to the entire tell myself the hold number. Scared me but I hardly have ever give that out.
My MIL is currently showing all of these signs, but I think I would say we noticed 10. Personality changes first - she started becoming very judgmental, easy to anger, and paranoid. As more of the signs became apparent, it made sense this was the first sign vs just normal aging.
if you go in for a test... insist and let me repeat this ..insist on an MRI... my parent was diagnosed with dementia and had a catscan.. yes it was dementia they said... 12 months later that family member died ... autopsy showed that literally half the brain had been eaten away by cancer... and MRI would have picked it up...
Excellent video! I wished I had this video years ago because my MWD was showing signs of dementia but neither my dad or myself could figure out what was wrong and the doctors just thought it was anxiety/depression. 😞
My loved one is me and I have had some of these all my life. I'm the same as I was in my 20's and before and therefore, I've always had dementia.
If you've be this way all your life it may not be dementia... seems like it could be something like ADD.
If you haven't already, you should get evaluated for ADHD.
Me too! I've always been forgetful, scattered, can't remember what I went into a room for. Start a project and get side tracked. Buy ingredients to make a special dish and can't remember what it was I was going to make! It's a little worse with age but same old same old. For decades my motto has been, "if I know my name and where I live I am not worried"!
Constantly writing notes, from conversations on the phone or daily tasks, not wanting to throw any if the notes away - getting really obsessive about it. And so much diary stress generated - copious amoynts of notes in the diary taking up so much space appointments can no longer fit in.
And asking the same 'safe' question with every conversation, not deviating from the conversation pattern.
Not telling people about their life anymore because every outing/visit/activity gets forgotten.
So many changes now, and looking back, so may changes that werent initially recognised.
In retrospect I see now that an early sign , in my brother's dementia , was his occasional lack of social manners .. like eating food from someone else's plate ... he has even less now as it has progressed
1 - noticed a de-crease in strength in her hands and feet / legs. She thought at times she had Parkinsens
2 - up until she had a general anaesthetic for a broken leg she did well, it appears it was a trigger for dilusion which lasted for 6 weeks but then cleared, within 4.5 year she had left us
3 - we noticed she was not wearing glasses to watch TV or read and watching her seen she was looking at the words but not reading them but would say she was reading as she always did and when pushed to talk about what she was reading would only get grumpy
4 - hand writing went from super neat to very poor fairly quickly
My husband had surgery and had some difficulty coming out of it, but i was not sure if it was normal or not for him, he had not had been put under for that long in the past, i mentioned it to the doc that day. Nothing came of the inquiring. Then within the next 6-8 months started showing signs of several this with memory, confusion and feeling strange,(spacial effects). Later diagnosed with lewy bodies dementia. Can or do you address issues with surgery or big events kicking off the symptoms? Thanks for all you do
A change in the person's sense of taste and smell can be a very early warning sign, also.
One of the earliest signs was my husband having trouble reading a menu and picking out something to order. Another - related to personality change - was this formerly reserved, never outgoing person was suddenly talking to anyone. Meaning strangers in stores or on the street. It's been embarrassing and inappropriate a couple of times. It reduces my interest in taking him places.
Oh, that is so hard. We saw both of these, too. Taking Mom out to eat really took 4+ hours by the time we got her ready, into the car, perused the menu for half an hour (until we "forced" her to pick/chose for her), and ate with her poor coordination. It was sad for us, but she seemed unaware and delighted in going out. She also threw food and napkins and straw wrappers on the floor (talk about embarrassing!) And she said LOTS of inappropriate things, from asking for presents to telling the bank teller (as we were trying to help her sort and simplify all the accounts she had opened) that we were there because we "wanted our inheritance money early." She cussed at nurses - a woman from whom we had never heard a swear word in her life. She gave mean nicknames to other residents. I tell you this only to sympathize - you are not alone. Anyone who has been a caretaker for a loved one with dementia would totally understand this behavior....and those who haven't just can't. Do what is right for you and your husband; you don't owe anyone an explanation. So very sorry you are going through this.
My mother was telling stories about people visiting her that were not there. Keep an anecdotal record of events. Be sure to include time of day and dates. This will help at the doctor.
I believe you mean to use the word anecdotal.
@@JW-kh9bm you are correct. I was talking and not typing.
There are some of us who are not that social to begin with. When we retire we just want to be kinda left alone. We still function, solve problems do exercise, but just dont enjoy teh social BS.
I’m experiencing these losses. I’ve been reporting cognitive decline for years but my primary care physician waves it off as due to low oxygen.
I didn’t realize how far along my mom was until i got a week off caregiving. I was shocked.
Some are very good at masking their symptoms, for a time.. but when you spend more time with them... it's all there in plain sight.
@@xNialx my mom is in hospice now. She has lived years past expectations. I just took care of her by myself 24/7. I was saw the deterioration, i didn’t realize how bad. Till i came back from visiting some friends.
People suffering dementia often act very clear headed when family members visit. My elderly brother had been a psychology major in grad school so he was clever enough to fake clarity when he was tested by a professional. 😊 He should have been put in a care facility years before. But it wasn't until the last few weeks of life that the family was able to convince doctors to refer him.
@@janetstonerook4552 ty for sharing.
My mom was unable to recognize her limitations very early on. She wanted to paint her garage at 75. Hoarding is linked with dementia and was also a sign. You mentioned poor judgment as in scammers, but choosing to pull weeds in the garden in the middle of a 95 degree day is another example of poor judgement.
Praying for your strength.❤🙏
My mother has all 10. Now my cousin insists that she does NOT have dementia, as her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers, but she has gone WAY past the early signs. She forgets where she is, looks for things I've never seen and asks about her husband and where her children are. (I am grown and my brother and father has passed.
Number 9, but it was immediately after lockdown ended post Covid. We went to meeting we both enjoyed and had attended regularly pre-Covid, but mum wouldn't go again, saying her hearing wasn't good enough and she couldn't hear the speaker, nor did she speak to anyone there, although her hearing wasn't that bad at the time (not as bad as mine, in fact). She never came with me again. Number 10, she has always been very strong but now cries at the slightest thing. She also has what I call a ten-minute memory. She can go through something extremely painful - like the physio in hospital getting her up and out of bed - but 10 minutes later would have completely forgotten about it and tell me the physios had never been to see her to find out if she wanted to try to get up. She hasn't been diagnosed and I think she would be very resistant to that, even if I could actually get her doctors here to organise it.
I noticed this in my step father 8 years ago. No one in his family would believe me. Now my mom and I are the caregivers. He has been diagnosed. Unfortunately I now see my mom where I saw him all those years ago. I don't know if I can handle both at the same time.
I feel for you! Discovered my father had Alzheimer’s while caring for my mother during her own diagnosis. They were at different stages - mum mostly not mobile but would once in a while surprise us while Dad was still very physically active but had poor judgment which put him in danger. Luckily, there were five of us kids and we worked well together so didn’t feel alone. I hope you don’t have to be alone 🙏
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This takes out all the carbs which convert to sugars in the body.
1. Mom had been playing bridge for years with her group. She expressed her hurt feelings, to me, when her group told her to stay home as she was too slow. It sounded like the people she was playing with were rude and uncaring. Then some time after that we were playing cribbage, she had been really quick counting points, but this time she was so slow, playing became painful.
2. Another sign was her telling the same stories over and over again. They were things that happened before she was 15. Nothing about her life after that age.
3. Another was her expectations of us. If she needed something, it was right away regardless of the situation. Helping her make her bed is not an emergency. She could not be reasonable and wait until my sister had a shower and was ready to go out. She wanted her to come over right away.
4. Another was complaining her microware, oven, washing machine, tv, portable phone, cell phone, etc., were not working anymore. We replaced quite a few of these with new ones with no improvement on her ability to use them.
Of course she had many of the other signs you listed. We played a lot of "hide and seek" I called it. We spend a lot of time searching for things she had misplaced. And of course this was over a long period and we did not know about dementia. She appeared to be functioning so well on her own in all aspects of her life.
Late 40s and I can relate to most of these. Scary stuff.
For me it was my mom having a few significant falls within a span of a few months. I used to work as an aide in physical therapy and that was one of the issues mentioned with elder clients who came in with balance issues.
Several falls within in a year or less is a sign of cognitive decline.
My mom also started having hallucinations (bugs crawling that didn't exist, etc).
Yes, FALLS! It was a huge issue for Mom. Some hallucinations later, but more difficulty with other issues for her.
My mom has poor judgement about being stuck on the floor and not calling county fall assist or 911. The visiting speech therapist pointed out the closed eyes when speaking. That was a sign I didn't know about. My mother already went through the clumsy phase two years ago with some wicked falls.
With my case my husband had a stroke but his symptoms went back 7 months before but I never recognized them. He would forget where he was driving too. He forgot how to put gas in the car.
I have been following you for information. You have a lot of helpful advice. I will say though some of the pictures you show, the people look more agitated, when some of my husbands early symptoms aren’t quite what the pictures portray, but I know there’s definitely symptoms of dementia.
My mother started to become frequently agitated during the middle stages...after 3 or so years with the disease, if that helps.
I've found that changes in (or withdrawal from) personal practices like exercises, stretching, meditation, or prayer can be an early sign.
Sudden unhealthy (fast) food cravings too?
These changes can exacerbate any health issues.
Thanks for making this video!
🌿💚🌿
Isolating from social engagements was a big one here. Also some paranoia involving fringe members of our family. Repeating the same stuff with increasing regularity and often becoming enraged over these stories. Wow so many I paid so little attention to. By the time we convinced him to see the geriatrician he was already in the moderate stage.
Driving a vehicle different than before; driving way below the posted speed limit, running stop signs and difficulty driving in the garage.
I saw all of these signs very early and so wish I had this information then. Also, he had trouble understanding the television. He said the people were talking too fast.
A close friend of ours is 83. She's had memory problems for years and repeats herself often. But in the past year or so, she's suspected there's an issue between us and asked us many times if we want her out of our lives or if she should leave us alone. It's been hard on us. We love her. There's obviously nothing wrong with the relationship from our point of view, but something is causing her to think differently. For some reason, I don't think we can get her to see otherwise, which is sad.
I saw at least 7 or 8 of these 10 signs in my mom within the few years prior to her dementia diagnosis. That's what led me to get her to the neurologist who diagnosed her.
One specific problem with speaking than my mom exhibited in early dementia was using pronouns without antecedents. For example, saying "She gave me that" without ever saying who "she" is.
My mum has been doing that since the restrictions.
My dad has started doing that. Just starts talking about something like we were mid conversation and he gets frustrated when I don't know what he's talking about. Uses words like "it", "they", "thing" etc. I often have to ask "Who's they?" "What thing?" It's like he was having an imaginary conversation in his head and then continued it for real. Either that or it's me and there actually was a conversation that I forgot! One of us is losing it.
My friend started taking food after meals or at parties. She would wrap several foods in napkins and stuff them in her purse. She never used to get takeout or a takeout container when she had leftover food, she always stuffed food in her purse. This was so odd for a dignified person like her. About 3 years ago she developed Alzheimer's, but she had big gaps in communication with friends which was very strange. She passed away last fall.
Looking back… the wife is always the last to know 😅. The two big warning signs I missed- or helped him cover for- were 9 and 10. He stopped playing senior ice hockey which he loved . At 85 I thought it reasonable but unlike him. He was so fit and youthful. And my normally calm and rational loved one was increasingly argumentative and quick to anger. Soon I realized he was getting lost on familiar routes and his long time friends told me they thought something wasn’t right. I’ll admit I was in denial for awhile but once I found Dr Natali and learned what was happening to him - and how I could adjust my behavior and expectations to support him- we had a wonderful few years together. He was walking , talking and his fun old but younger self until he died at 90. I feel lucky to have had all this time with him.
Watching this video, I am starting to examine MYSELF. I am 78.
*I can't Remember any of it!!!!*
Losing a pocketbook at store then claiming someone stole it. Gong to the bank for decades then one day forgetting the account number. Taking things out of cabinet's in the kitchen but forgetting to put items back. Over stressing on simple daily things......like a leaky faucet or ants in the kitchen.
What about rigidity in their thinking? My friend has come to believe things that aren’t true and doubles down when you point that out to her. We’ve gotten in to arguments until I realized it was a symptom. Such an unpleasant one!
My dad forgot where ro go when he drove a very well known route. After that, my sister found him staring at a buffet not knowing how to go about serving himself food. Then he would forget how to theow things in the garbage beliw the kitchen sink. He would open the door but then had to do a lot of thinking to put the thing in the garbage.
I don’t know if this is one but for me, what I noticed first was repeating a story as if it hadn’t been said in a conversation (not the same story repeated many times over time).
I just turned 57 in July. I am 30 yrs HIV+ and T2 Diabetic for almost 15 yrs. I've had Major Covid 3 times since 2020. It almost killed me.
1. I cannot grocery shop properly without a list. if I go into the store meaning to buy something, off the top of my head, I will forget it, usually remember IN the checkout line, or after walking out of the store. Hence the list. (I don't know if this has to do with the fact that I was the Covid grocery shopper. It was traumatic every time I had to go inside of a building).
2. I get into the shower, and start washing. Then I go off into a thought tangent, and stop washing. Some time later, I realize I am standing in the shower, and go "Oh, I need to turn off the water and get out," before realizing that I had stopped mid stream, so I toss my towel, turn the water back on and finish up.
3. My sleep patter is all out of whack. I try nightly, to go to bed at the same time, 8-8:30pm, listen to a pod cast and go to sleep. But come midnight or 3 am, I am wide awake.
4. i forget things, like names, ideas, memories. Then I rack my brains, until i figure it out, or better yet, look it up on Google. My long term memory is shot.
I have pictures of a family event above my desk, and I have no memory of it. I look at old family photos and I am like ????
Yet, I do remember specific memories that were joyful for me. Even if I don't have a physical photos of them, they are seared into my brain.
5. Just little things I notice about myself that are "off." My husband usually laughs them off. When His Nana ended up in a lock down building the last ten years of her life.
6. I've got visual issues, this Wednesday I am having a full eye exam and such to see how bad my vision has gotten since the last exam.
I have sent a note into my medical assistant at one of the clinics where several of my doctors work.
None of them want to touch anything that is off base, from WHAT they individually treat me for, HIV, Diabetes, or my Osteoarthritis.