Buttercup
Princess of Florin
There are a number of things that can cause dementia besides Alzheimer's disease. Low-level carbon monoxide poisoning, hardening of the arteries, malnutrition and alcoholism are just a few. Note that many of these are reversible.
And having watched my mother descend into dementia, I can tell you that it doesn't look anything like absent-mindedness or simple forgetfulness. There are some characteristic behaviors you should be looking for. Let me give you some examples. My mother started storing q-tips in a jar of powdered laundry soap. It seemed perfectly reasonable to her. One time when I took her to the grocery store, she was looking for lemons, and instead she picked up yellow marshmallow peeps. They were both yellow, so she couldn't tell the difference. She used to get lost on the way to familiar places, and she couldn't remember her address. I'm sharing these things because I hope you can see that it isn't the same as just becoming absent minded or a tad disorganized.
There is some personality disintigration that happens too, and you really can't miss it. If a previously sanquine person starts flying into rages, you have a problem. Odd moanings, wailings and crying jags are also not uncommon. Finally, if a person starts asking to see friends and relatives who are long dead, that's another tip off.
And having watched my mother descend into dementia, I can tell you that it doesn't look anything like absent-mindedness or simple forgetfulness. There are some characteristic behaviors you should be looking for. Let me give you some examples. My mother started storing q-tips in a jar of powdered laundry soap. It seemed perfectly reasonable to her. One time when I took her to the grocery store, she was looking for lemons, and instead she picked up yellow marshmallow peeps. They were both yellow, so she couldn't tell the difference. She used to get lost on the way to familiar places, and she couldn't remember her address. I'm sharing these things because I hope you can see that it isn't the same as just becoming absent minded or a tad disorganized.
There is some personality disintigration that happens too, and you really can't miss it. If a previously sanquine person starts flying into rages, you have a problem. Odd moanings, wailings and crying jags are also not uncommon. Finally, if a person starts asking to see friends and relatives who are long dead, that's another tip off.
