Forgetful Friend

[genesis]

I do some volunteer work at a retirement home. There's this one guy who keeps calling me "Serena" everytime he sees me...um that's not my name. He's about 78 years old I think, and he's a cool old dude. But sometimes he does wacky stuff, odd stuff, like one time, he brought me his paper plate after lunch and told me to put it in the laundry. I have known him for about a year, and he's always been sort of like this, but he wasn't always like that. At first, he would forget things or ask the same questions more than once. I am assuming this is definitely alzheimers...Is old age the only cause for alzheimers? Is there anything I can do? Sorry if this sounds really crappy...is he going to die from it? I really wanna know because everyone at the home really appreciates this man, and I'm not the only one concerned about him.

[siouxzee]

Well it sounds like alzheimers but it could also be dementia. Dementia is suspected when there is impairment of two or more brain functions, including language, memory, visual-spatial perception, emotional behavior or personality, and cognitive skills (such as calculation, abstraction, or judgment).

It can be caused by aging,impairment of the vascular or neurologic structures of the brain. Most is caused by hardening of the arteries.

Certain medications that elderly people take may make him behave this way also.

He should be evaluated by a doctor as he may have some very helpful treatments, depending on the cause.
Good luck trying to help him. You are a kind person.

[genesis]

can estrogen treat alzheimer's?

[siouxzee]

There have been a couple studies done that show some promise in treating alzheimers with estrogen. [url="http://www.alz.org/media/positions/estrogen.htm"]http://www.alz.org/media/positions/estrogen.htm[/url]
This is a good site that shows the current research.



[This message has been edited by siouxzee (edited 10-01-2001).]

[genesis]

Thanks for the link!