eye movement change as part of Alzheimer's?

ninalu

Hi everyone,
My mother is late-stage Alzheimer's, bed & chair bound. She still communicates in multiple ways - holds hands, looks at and speaks to others. Sometimes her speech makes sense, and sometimes it is very difficult to know what she's saying, but it's always clear that she intends to communicate (even if the words are not decipherable.) 

I'm writing with a question about new eye movement that I notice. Lately, her right eye doesn't always track and coordinate with her left eye. In the past, when she'd look at me, both her eyes were focused together (on me or on whatever object.) Now, it seems that her right eye "floats" out of track and looks off to the side, while her left eye remains looking at me. It doesn't happen all the time, but it is happening more and more. 

I'm wondering if this is a known thing with Alzheimer's and what - if anything - I should know or do about this? It seems like it would cause headaches or more confusion?

She is on hospice, so obviously no surgery or big deal intervention. But I wonder about what I should know about how to support her. 

Thanks in advance!

SusanB-dil

Hi ninalu - I had to look that up, too... (because I've noticed something with MIL at times) There is a lengthy and in-depth article at NIH.GOV, but evidently, eye movement has been at least somewhat studied. Of interest - that there is quite a link between not only sight, but eye movement and cognition.

Here in partial: I found this at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5332166/

"Although some eye movements are reflexive and involuntary, viewing behavior is primarily driven by top-down, goal-driven processes. Because there is an intimate link between eye movements and cognition, changes in eye movement patterns can be used to infer AD-related changes in cognitive processing. Only a handful of studies have investigated complex viewing behavior in AD."

LaurenB

This is very interesting.  Thanks for sharing.

harshedbuzz

ninalu-

Eye movement issues were a prominent feature of dad's alcohol-related dementia, but I could see where this could happen in Alzheimer's later stages as the part of the brain that controls this is damaged.

HB

ninalu

Thank you for the replies!

SusanB, the paper you shared is helpful - thank you! I also found one that discusses eye alignment & neurodegeneration. Since mom also has Parkinson's, it may apply too? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5964131/

HB, thank you for affirming your recognition of this issue. I'm sorry your dad also had eye difficulties. 

I plan to discuss this with my mom's care team and if I learn of any treatment or care tip that can be helpful & comforting, I will share back with everyone.