Dementia & PD - Parkinson's Disease Message Board

Kimianne · 08-28-2003, 10:01 AM

Hi all:

My father finally had his nuerologist appointment.

He was told that he has had PD for a long time and just recently started the tremors. The doctor said that the dementia is part of the Parkinsons.

The memory and confusion problems started about 4 years ago. Everything I've read says that dementia is in the late stages of PD. What do you think? Does this sound right?

FYI: The tremors came on VERY fast. And started with the whole hand. His shuffle and freezing also came out of the blue and are just there.

Thanks for any input.

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Kimi
Life is a gift. Your loved ones are the benefits.
Respect them both and you will reap the rewards.

Bruce · 08-28-2003, 12:22 PM

Hi Kimi, dementia uually appears in people over 70. Symptoms such as very poor concentration (mind will wander and he will forget what he is doing.) Memory loaa where he might not be able to spell a simple word or count numbers) His reasoning ability is likely to be inhibited.

Googy can tell you more then i, but another problem to keep in mind is older people are more susceptale to drug side effects. Their are drugs that they claim can improve the thinking process, but i am not sure they are effective.

Take care, Bruce

Kimianne · 08-28-2003, 12:42 PM

Hi Bruce:

Hope all is well with you. As always thank you for your input. Everything is so new for me.

Maybe, Googy will read and add her input.

By the way, How's the garden?

Take care my friend.

------------------
Kimi
Life is a gift. Your loved ones are the benefits.
Respect them both and you will reap the rewards.

Bruce · 08-28-2003, 04:09 PM

Hi Kimi, Googy will check in later.

The garden turned out pretty good. I kept my neighbors supplied with green beans plus had a lot of zuchinni. I just planted some Fall spinach and it is coming up.

It's so hot and humid I don't last long outside. I just work on the plots a little each day, but eventuallly i get it done. It is so much easier planting raised plots. I have one small plot that is completly filled up with strawberries and no toxic chemicals were used.

I have learned a lot and should do better next year. I get more yield in the plots than before.

Bruce

Googy · 08-28-2003, 09:01 PM

Kimi,

My husband has dementia.It started in 1994.He told me then he couldn't remember.His PD was DX when he was 52.He is now 81.He also has "sundowners."Late afternoon gets worse. 30 % of PLWP develope dementia.Some meds can make it worse.My husband is just on Sinemet CR.We dropped all others in 1994.He is on the lowest possible dose.He had severe dyskinsias,so we cut back on the meds.But too less more disablement.He went in a nursing home June 10th.He has been in a wheelchair for many years.He is getting better care than I could ever give him.Treasure your Dad .I can see you are very concerned about him.

Googy