Pseudodementia

Saya_G

Had another one of my LOed tested for dementia - neurologist says pseudo dementia. But I’m not sure, she repeats, forgets and doesn’t comprehend situations.

I still wonder if she has dementia.

Has anyone had a similar situation?

Saya

towhee

Pseudo dementia has to be caused by something- did the doctor say what was the cause? Also there is usually a medication prescribed or diet change at least.

jfkoc

Interesting diagnosis. I googled it and suggest you do the same. Seems like the cause of the dementia could be something treatable. Were her labs extensive??

I am not medical!!!

Saya_G

The neurologist did a brain scan of some type (I did not go in, but when she came out her hair was covered with goo of some type - she wasn’t too happy about that - I agreed that it would have been nice to know before). He also ran some major blood tests.

He said that her body does not retain B vitamins, he has her on a folic acid vitamin. He also put her on anti-depressants. He seems to be done with testing, wants to give the vitamin and antidepressants time to see if they help. She goes back in 4 months.

Problem is that she is our LO with dementia’s full time companion. We do have hospice folks helping, but they aren’t there all that often. 

I have read some on pseudo dementia, I was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with it - and wondered what helped the best in eliminating symptoms.

 Saya 

Iris L.

Saya, pseudodementia means a dementia that is possibly treatable if caught in time.  Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause pseudodementia.  It also causes anemia.  Older adults over age fifty may lose the ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the stomach.  So oral pills supplementation will not work.  These patients will need injections (shots).  When I was in medical school, we hospitalized and treated an older woman who spoke gibberish.  After a few days of treatment, she was able to converse.  Results were that dramatic.

Please research vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia.  IMO, four months is too long a time to wait to see if there will be a response.  I would suggest one or two months.  If there is no absorption by mouth, you would have wasted four months of time.  I understand that in this time of Covid, medical appointments may be hard to come by.

If your mom is already confused, she may gave difficulty in taking the vitamin on schedule.  She may be in need of supervision herself.  If you can, attend the next appointment with her and ask questions.  I hope that she does have pseudodementia because she should have some improvement.

Iris 

Saya_G

Lois,

Thank you for your reply. My mom has dementia and is in moderate to late stage (favoring late). My sister is the one diagnosed with pseudodementia. My sister is my mother’s full time companion. Mom is on hospice, and I handle a lot of her care but I worry that even just being a companion is too much for my sister. I can’t be there all the time, I have other responsibilities that take time too. I prepare my sisters med packets (she is really not on many), so all she needs to do is to remember to take a packet - still she forgets some. She also forgets to give mom hers some of the time.

As a family (me and my other sibs) have decided that placing mom, we’re working on that, but sis has no other life besides my mom - and shows little interest in finding other interests. She is on antidepressants too. 

I will further research what you suggest. 

Thanks

jfkoc

I hope you will keep us in the loop about your sisters dementia and how well the B and depressants help.