My mother is only 64 years old and already showing signs of dementia/Alzheimer's. She hasn't been officially diagnosed as we are still in the process of getting her in with a Neurologist. She experiences hallucinations, very depressed (cries constantly), increased short term memory loss such as not recognizing her home (she's lived there 14yrs but constantly says she wants to go "home"), unable to cook for herself( doesn't remember how) and lately has been urinating in random places (can't remember where the toilet is). She's also experiencing aphasia. Her cognitive skills seems to be declining rapidly. She is the youngest of 13 children and 3 of her siblings who are much older have already been diagnosed (they live out of the country). Forgive my ignorance but I was under the impression dementia/Alzheimer's affects people who are much older. Could it be something else? Her doctor has checked her blood/urine and everything comes back normal.
This week I watched an episode of a series on PBS about aging and Dementia/ALZ specifically. They highlighted a man who had the symptoms at 58, which means he had it for years prior (once you can really see the symptoms it means they've had it longer than you think).
There is a helpful book that many on this site will endorse, "The 36-hour Day". Also, Teepa Snow has very informative videos on YouTube about dementia/ALZ, what it is, why is causes our LOs to behave as they do, what to expect and how to better engage with those experiencing it.
If your mom has a spouse/partner this person now needs to consult with a professional about finances, since care is very expensive and it will most likely be years of care, even if family participates a lot. Hopefully your mom has a PoA in place and if not, a consult with an elder law attorney would be an excellent investment. May your family receive peace in hearts as you go on this journey with your mother.
My Husband was diagnosed at 62 and he had showed signs for quite a few years prior to that. Often people will hide signs and work around the dementia, and friends and family ignore, forgive little slip ups for sometimes up to 10 years before an official diagnosis.
To be diagnosed in the 60’s is not really “early on set”.
Testing, awareness is allowing people to be diagnosed earlier than in years past. One of the reasons might be because of drugs that might or might not work. So there is money to be made with an early diagnosis. (Sounds like my cynical side woke up early this morning!)
I'm glad you're having mom see a neurologist. Make sure that you and your family members are educating yourselves as well on Alzheimer's/dementia, as that will help you better understand what your mom is going through. Teepa Snow has some great videos on YouTube you can watch that are very helpful, and the book The 36 Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins is a great resource as well.
I wish you all the very best.
Alzheimer's disease can strike at earlier ages. Your mom needs her neurologist to determine the type of dementia and stage. This will help to guide everybody's expectations and her care needs.
In addition, it may be helpful to have your mom get a full physical examination by an internist. This doctor can uncover other physical issues that might be contributing to the cognitive changes. Once these medical issues are addressed, your mom may have better mentation.
"real-life story about how Alice Howland, a linguistics professor at Columbia, and her family deal with her diagnosis of familial Alzheimer's disease at age 50, is both heartfelt and powerful".
Here's a good article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20048356
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