HELP--Im demented
 

Hi all Im new & may take a while 2 find my way around -Have just lost my drivers L 4 fronto temporal dementia (I believe unjustly-the mri was perfect & 3 different computerised scans from naturopaths were fine) yet i probably have the very early stages&wonder if there is any way 2 halt or even reverse it???

Hello pbards !
 

:welcome_sign:

You've found a great place for support and care! I'm sorry you are facing this issue!

As you look thru the forums, there is a 'search' option at the top of each forum.....type in the key words to your concerns and you should find posts on this discussion......

I'm sure you'll get responses from other's who can share in your situation!
There IS hope!!

Truly Caring
Rae :hug:

Hello pbards and welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm sorry to read what you're going through; it must be quite distressing for you.

There's been quite a lot written recently about memory loss caused by different disorders (including dementia) and studies have shown that playing games, like cards, Bingo or computer games, can help to delay memory decline.

In one report they said that :
Also, there are medications known as cholinesterase inhibitors which are often used to slow the onset of dementia. Your doctor might discuss these with you at some stage.

I hope that's the sort of info you are looking for.

We do have a Dementia Sub-Forum within our Alzheimer's Disease Forum. Here's the direct link :http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum97.html

Welcome to NT

I would be upset without my driver's license. It's hard to get around without them. Things will be different.

I hope you do find something to help slow the dementia down.

Here's a hug for you.

Welcome, pbards! Well, you found your way here, so you must be giving it all you've got to resist getting dementia. Good for you. :hug:

I'm sorry about your dx, though. My dear mother suffered from that debilitating condition and its difficult for everyone involved.

If, indeed, you are on that slippery slope, I hope you will be able to take advantage of this time to make decisions concerning your future.

Koala has given you the links for the forums that should help you. Best wishes and please let us know if we can be of help. :)

Hello and welcome to NT!

As a brain injury survivor, I can relate to the frustration of memory loss and the decline in independence (like not being able to drive :()it causes. I also know the unadulterated terror of facing impending dimentia.

However, like you, I am determined not to "go gentle into that dark night." To that end, I stay as mentally active as possible. I supplement my formal cognitive therapy with online memory games like those at luminosity.com I do crossword puzzles, play cards and I come here for stimulating conversation and support.

Support is very important. In addition to family and friends, I'd suggest that you seek out a local support group. As our Australian friend pointed out, it's important to plan for the future, both to protect your interests and so that if and when you need help it will be there. In this regard, you should consider writing out your care wishes and giving a trusted friend or relative power of attorney. The sad truth is that if we don't straighten out our affairs before we might lose the capacity to make our own decisions, strangers (like the government) might end up calling the shots.

The good news is that advances in dementia medication are being made everyday. With the population aging, more and more research money is being devoted to studying this problem. I'm confident that drugs, like the exelon patch, will just get better and better.

Courage:hug:

Hi, and Welcome to NeuroTalk!

There are some things that present as "dementia" but can be fixed.

1) Nutritional deficiency-- low vitamin D and low B12 give mental symptoms. These can be tested for.

2) Low thyroid functions-- can be tested for

3) Insulin resistance and beginning type II diabetes, gives low blood sugar episodes,which lead to brain fog and other demented type behaviors in some people.

4) Normal pressure hydrocephalus develops in the elderly and can give false Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Here is an article about it:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1150924-overview

5) the elderly can respond to some drugs with dementia-like side effects. The H2 antagonists for lowering stomach acid, like Zantac, Pepcid and Tagament, can cause this mental confusion.
Other drugs also can be culprits. Anticholinergics like some antihistamines or drugs used for bladder control, may give dementia- like side effects. So you need to consult your local pharmacist to go over all the drugs you use to see if one is hidden in there and bothering you.

Perhaps your situation is one of these situations. The nutritional interventions are easy and inexpensive.

Hello and I'm so glad you have found us here at Neuro Talk. As you are already finding...there are a lot of very nice and caring folks here.

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I can't do much but give you a big :hug: and hope you find some comfort soon!

Hi, and welcome to NT! This is such a great place with so many friendly, caring, and helpful people.

We're so glad you found us! :)