Sudden deterioration in memory and change in demeanor

LindaWeiss

Is it common for someone with Alz/dementia to have memory suddenly decline significantly? My Mom (96) has a show she LOVES to watch on TV - loves to the point that we have recorded every episode on her DVR and replay them continually. She talks about the star (local vet), wants to meet him, wants to see his clinic, etc. Yesterday morning, she suddenly had no idea who he was. I prompted her with his name. Nothing. I showed her part of an episode. No recollection. Thinking maybe she was just tired, I tried again later in the day. Same result. This literally happened overnight - from being his #1 fan to not having a clue who he is. She has also suddenly become more irritable and sullen...very unusual for my Mom.

I know changes like this are to be expected over time, but is it common for them to just appear overnight? I was thinking maybe it has to do with a certain neural connection or part of the brain suddenly being destroyed by the disease.

 *Addendum - On another message board, I was asked about the possibility of a UTI - Mom is on Bactrim all the time to prevent UTIs, so I am presuming that is not the issue, but I will check with her home nurse tomorrow.

 Thank you for any insights!

 Linda

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MN Chickadee

Sudden changes are often a result of a UTI. I would still get her tested and make sure they culture it. If there is bacteria, having the culture will tell the doctor what antibiotic to use. My mother has had UTIs that were resistant to certain antibiotics and we had to find the right one.

andrew250

My mother had a massive drop off between Christmas and New Year's. She's been though a zillion medical tests, and she's otherwise fine. We're left to believe it's her vascular dementia causing a sudden decline. On my support groups, they tell me this can happen, especially with older people. My mom is 90.

They tested her for UTI a few times, all negative. She had Covid tests (plural), and then tests for flus and cold viruses, MRSA, and other bacteria.  X-rays, CT Scans. Not another MRI yet, I think. 

My mother was only diagnosed last August 2020. From one day to the next in August, she forgot what telephones are. Could not tell the difference between a remote control and the cordless phone. Did not know what the ringing noise was. From her family's perspective, it happened overnight.

In MC, she seemed to forget "modern" TVs. "Where are the dials?" she asked. She has no memory of TVs with remote controls now. She doesn't seem to know what a remote control is.

Now she's in a hospital after some severe delusions and hallucinations that had her out of control. She was very verbal, yelling at people, clearly communicating her distress. After a couple days in the hospital, she has become non-communicative. Another drop off? Seems like it.

My point is that I think severe drop-offs can happen for some people. I can totally understand why that seems completely bizarre for you. So much of this experience is just bizarre to those without dementia.

RobOT

Linda, I am a medical type, and here's how I think of dementia, especially ALZ.  The brain is a central operating center, like the hub of operations in a city or a computer.  As damaging forces march through, various operations, controls, memory banks, etc., are either damaged or the link between them and Central Control are severed.  Then they are lost.  Sometimes there's a flicker of something, but the connections are deteriorating, and the result is what you are seeing.  It can happen suddenly, through tiny strokes stressing a fragile system, through toxins released from an infection, or it's the death of cells due to the disease.  I, too, am watching this unfold with my father, and I am constantly surprised at what functions are still going and what isn't.  I hope this explanation helps with a little more understanding, even though it doesn't do any other good.  Stay strong, I'm sure she will still appreciate loving touch and calm.

M1

Sorry this is happening to you both, Linda and Andrew. Keep us posted how things go.