what is the average age it occurs? - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

Rorie · 05-10-2004, 12:27 PM

I have a relative who has done some strange things lately. She is 60. I mentioned to someone that I think she may be getting alzheimer's and they said she is too young. She forgets things that happened recently, but seems to remember 40 years ago really well. We were at a fast food place and she got really agitated because she couldn't find a "Big Mac" on the menu...we were not at McDonalds. When we told her that, she got agitated and insisted we were at McDonalds. Do Alzheimers patients forget where they are? She handed me a magazine one day and asked me if I wanted to look at it. So I browsed through it a minute and put it down. She picked it up asked me if I wanted to look at it while she handed it to me. She had just asked me that! She also asks us to repeat things and she writes them down, only to call and ask the same thing again. Her mother had alzheimers, so I am suspicious; however, other family members don't think anything of these situations. They think she is just forgetful sometimes. Is there any harm in waiting to get a diagnosis until things get worse, if in fact they do?

SnowyLynne63 · 05-10-2004, 01:44 PM

Shr Is not too young to get Alzheimer's.She needs to see a Nuerologist for complete testing,plus MRI.I was dx at age 58,but we knew two years earlier.
I have a friend who is 39 with AD.Age does not matter..........ASAP!!!

Rorie · 05-10-2004, 02:00 PM

What is the risk of waiting to get tested? Is there something the doctor can give to slow it down? I'm afraid she won't go until there are more "signs" and the rest of the family finally sees that it is necessary. Would it be too late for treatment then?

SnowyLynne63 · 05-10-2004, 04:15 PM

Not necessarily,but if there is a problem,best to get tested soon.The earlier the better a person does if indeed it is AD.There are meds to help,but they are not given unless the Dr.thinks there is a reason.............

kawondergem · 05-11-2004, 08:38 AM

It's so sad! My grandmother lived alone and was diagnosed with Alzheimers at the age of approx. 65. But when we started going through her records and looking at stuff she had done, there were signs of it back at least five years (i.e. she had signed checks on the date line and written the amount on the signature line). She lived in a small town so no one ever said anything because they all knew and respected her. Meanwhile, she managed to pull it together while family was visiting on weekends. The children of the "patient" should definitely step in and encourage her to go to the doctor. They can give AD patients medicine to help them at least deal with the process.