Depression or Alzheimer’s?

Memphisdee

Do you think when they stop playing games, reading magazines and watching favorite shows it is depression or Alz?

Ed1937

Just a guess, but I think if it were depression, you would see it in other things. If there are no other signs of depression, it is likely dementia.

Stuck in the middle

I think dementia.  My wife isn't depressed, but she can no longer follow the story in an episode of Mystery or Masterpiece, nor can she solve sudoku puzzles without the answer sheet.

Depression can affect the ability to concentrate, but dementia surely does.

Your LO may have both depression and dementia, but depression should have other signs in addition to limited concentration.

Jeff86

Apathy is not uncommon as AD progresses, so along with losing the ability to concentrate there could simply be the loss of interest.

Memphisdee

Thanks everyone, I think it is apathy!

Quilting brings calm

In my Mom’s case, antidepressants helped.  Her cognitive function seems better, and her anxiety is much less.  I still see some apathy though too.

Brigv

Quilting brings calm wrote:

In my Mom’s case, antidepressants helped.  Her cognitive function seems better, and her anxiety is much less.  I still see some apathy though too.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Dad is currently experiencing something like depression (or dementia). I read that the best way to understand is to pay attention to a person's memory. People who are depressed may have trouble concentrating, and they may have occasional lapses in memory, which can make their mood worse. And people with Alzheimer's have consistent problems storing new information, such as a recent visit with a close relative or what they ate for dinner. I guess I'll read about antidepressants on the Canada Drugs site https://www.canadadrugsdirect.com/ (usually, I check descriptions there) and talk to a doctor about my Dad's case. 

jfkoc

Decline/apathy/depression...could be all of them. How about talking to the Dr and trying a small dose of an antidepressent. Often that helps.

ChHodge

Yeah, it sounds like apathy to me too. But the best way is to ask dr asap.