My mother has been diagnosed with the first two by different doctors. she has also been diagnosed with Cortical Basal Degeneration and Posterior Cortical Atrophy. Overall her disorder is mostly in movement, although she has slight memory issue and "alien hand syndrome."

How can I tell if it's "vascular dementia" or the other dementias I am seeing?

Just get her to relax, if it's the side effect it's the side effect!

alzheimers.about.com
check this website!
it explains the symptoms of different types of dementia.
some meds are available for Alzheimer's and these are also used sometimes for vascular dementia.
agitation,confusion,delusions,hallucin… can happen.

yes, anger and agitation can be very common symptoms of dementia. You would be angry too if you didn't know what was happening. In the early stages, patients will often try to cover up their memory loss, but as memory degrades, they become less and less able to do so. Often doctors will prescribe meds to reduce aggression/agitation as well as meds to slow memory loss.

Dementia treatments can only be assessed once a person is diagnosed with dementia. it is termed as dementia when a person suffers from loss of cognitive functions as a result of the loss of brain cells. This disease is typically characterized by memory loss and may even encompass the inability to function at work or on a social level, difficulty with speech and limited movement. This progressive disease may even bring a person to the point where they cannot take care of themselves properly. They may end up needing aid to get dressed, eat and to get around. Some typical dementia symptoms are listed below:

Dementia is not referred to as one of the normal aging processes even though it is more prevalent in older persons. There are even types of vascular dementia that are mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease.

Other dementia symptoms:

• The blockage of a blood vessel to the brain
• A brain injury
• Huntington’s or Parkinson’s disease
• A brain tumor
• Vitamin B deficiencies
• Contact with certain medications, toxic matter, and drug abuse or alcohol
• Hypoglycemic episodes

If a person is thought to be suffering from dementia symptoms they are brought in to the doctor that will confirm a diagnosis by relying more on the interviews that he conducts with the affected person and family members as there is nothing specific that can be done. it may be that the patient is depressed so that has to be eliminated. if the doctor feels that the condition may be as a result of damage to the brain he will order a computer tomography scan (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the brain.

Dementia treatment options:

There are medications currently available that will slow down the progression of the disease even though there is no direct cure. some behavioral or psychiatric therapies may also be involved. it will also take a strong support system to help the afflicted person to deal with the emotional challenges that they will face. Dementia treatments are aimed at lessening the symptoms experienced and slowing down the advance of the disease.

 Mail this post

My mother has vascular dementia – the symptoms are similar to those of Alzheimer's, except that the rate of progression of symptoms is different. my mother can no longer speak, and she is in a wheelchair. she does not/can not read anymore. she remembers things and ideas, but often gets them confused. for instance: she remembers how to play checkers, but often moves pieces of the wrong color during the game, or starts going the wrong direction. I read somewhere that items like a bag of buttons to sort are good ideas. however, she often flushes small items like that down the toilet. for many months she enjoyed coloring, but no longer takes an interest in it…I think she has too much difficulty with the fine motor skills.

I would appreciate any gift ideas anyone might have.

Your question reminded me of the book, "my many Colored Days" by Dr. Seuss. she might enjoy someone reading that to her. It's a great book…one of my favorites. Another thing that comes to mind is something that she once had a passion for before she got vascular dementia. what is her favorite color? Perhaps find that color in a piece of clothing.

What about a book on tape/cd read by yourself or other family members? Or anything read by loved ones. my great grandmother would do much better when she heard familiar voices repetitively. she had a tape of my great grandfather telling the night before Christmas that she really enjoyed. good luck and God Bless!

this may seem lame but it worked well for us…my wifes grandmother is in the same boat and we made the mistake of getting her clothing and keepsakes….but for all she knew she had that clothing for 20 years and as far as keepsakes ,she forgot who she got it from the day after we got it for her…so what we do now is put together a gift basket of fine edibles,like good chocolates and jellies and jams and fine cheeses etc….that way we know our gift will be enjoyed and used and …the sorrow of not having the gift remembered is minimalized as it is only food…I guess i am reccomending getting something short term and disposable…but is still a pleasureable treat for them.

8 December 2010 last updated at 02:20 ET Share this page the 15th Duke of Hamilton was diagnosed with dementia in 2006

The Duchess of Hamilton is spearheading a £1.5m appeal by Alzheimer Scotland to place a specialist dementia nurse in every health board.

Kay Hamilton has called for improved dementia training to assist general hospital nurses and doctors following the death of her husband, the 15th Duke of Hamilton, earlier this year.

The Duke was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2006, at the age of 66.

Lady Hamilton wants to increase NHS staff understanding of dementia.

Alzheimer Scotland is looking to improve standards of care and reduce the "inappropriate" prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to modify behaviour.

It also seeks to reduce the number of people with dementia who are compelled to go from hospital into residential care, instead of being able to go back to their pre-hospital homes.

About 71,000 people in Scotland have dementia and the number is expected to double over the next 25 years. it is estimated that the illness costs health services £1.7bn a year.

Currently, only four of Scotland's 14 health boards have a dedicated dementia training nurse in post.

Three are being funded at a cost of £50,000 a year each by Alzheimer Scotland – one in the Borders, one in Kilmarnock, and a third in Edinburgh. the fourth is now being paid for by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in Paisley, after three years of funding support by the charity.

‘Huge problem’

Alzheimer Scotland has now raised enough for a fifth nurse, who could be in place at an unspecified location as early as next April. the charity still needs to find the resources to fund dementia training nurses over three years for the other nine health boards in Scotland.

Lady Hamilton told BBC Scotland's news website: "Hospital staff have very little specific dementia training – and that is a huge problem because it can be a terrible experience for people with dementia and their families.

"the staff can do the job of fixing a broken hip, or repairing a heart valve, but if they don't know how to handle a person with dementia, it is hopeless.

"My husband was admitted to hospital when he broke his hip – they were very good in accident and emergency. they addressed him, but when he got to the ward it was a different cup of tea altogether."

She added: "No-one in the NHS goes off to work hoping to do a bad job – they are not. It's just that they are not being trained in it."

‘Shifting focus’

Henry Simmons, chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said health authorities had not realised the scale of this problem until recently.

He said: "in an average 900-bed hospital, approximately 150 patients will have some form of dementia.

"the system within a general hospital environment doesn't really know how to deal with people with symptoms of dementia. Even though they want to help they might not have the skills base. We want to help people to shift their focus."

Mr Simmons added: "these dementia nurses are a bit like Macmillan nurses, and they become a bridge between what people are doing in communities and what is happening in a hospital environment."

The Scottish government said it was working closely with Alzheimer Scotland and agreed on the importance of supporting hospital staff in being able to identify dementia.

A spokeswoman said: "One of the two key areas for improvement in our dementia strategy – published earlier this year – is improving the care and treatment of people with dementia in general hospital settings.

"Health boards across Scotland are already working to improve how patients with dementia are identified in hospital so their care can be planned and their needs met."

When we are beyond a certain age and we find that there is a decline in our memory, many of us may fear that we are suffering from dementia symptoms.

The idea of losing our mental abilities is terrifying to many of us. The good news is that most people do suffer a certain amount of memory impairment as we age. Learning the symptoms of dementia can help us identify when it is dementia and get the help we need for our loved ones or ourselves.

Unlike regular memory loss due to age, there are specific issues that come with dementia.

There are several types of dementia including vascular dementia and Alzheimer?s disease and the symptoms can vary depending on which one of these conditions we have.

Here is a look at these two disorders and the symptoms that you or someone you love may show if either of these two disorders are present.

Alzheimer?s Disease

Alzheimer?s is perhaps the most well-known form of dementia. not only is there a gradual memory loss, there is also an inability to learn new skills or retain new information.

Therefore, a person with Alzheimer?s may be incapable of remembering that they have moved or that there have been changes to their life.

They tend to repeat themselves when speaking and may become confused and misplace objects that they use. as the disease progresses, they also tend to become restless and wander more.

Their personality may change and they can become irritable, anxious and depressed.

Vascular Dementia

There is a second form of dementia called vascular dementia. unlike Alzheimer?s disease, which is a gradual process, there may be a sudden loss of memory or mental function.

There may be other signs of mental impairment that can be quite similar to a stroke in many ways.

These can include a loss of motor skills, an inability to walk and paralysis.

Other physical symptoms can include a loss of bladder or bowel function.

If you think that someone in your life is suffering from either of these forms of dementia, it is very important that they get a proper medical diagnosis so that treatment can begin.

Depending on the form of dementia that is present, treatment methods may include medication, physical therapy and other support that is designed to help the patient establish routines and develop coping mechanisms that can keep them living independently for as long as possible.

There are specific tests that can be performed by trained professionals in order to diagnose whether someone is suffering from dementia or whether they are simply experiencing age-related memory loss.

If someone you love has been diagnosed with either vascular dementia or Alzheimer?s disease, it is important to find out whether there is any counseling or support for yourself as this can be a frightening and stressful time.

The Good News

The good news is that it is now easier to diagnose dementia at an early stage and new therapies and medications are being developed that can help preserve mental function for as long as possible.

There is no reason why someone who has dementia cannot live comfortably for quite some time to come. back to Womens Health Questions home page.The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. All information here is intended for general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting any new supplement, diet or fitness regimen.Privacy Policy ? Disclaimer ? Terms of Use