Not Recognizing Family Members

Delinda60

Any advice would be appreciated. We are only 1 1/2 yrs into this (I think] still no diagnosis. My DH has been suffering with memory loss, trouble finding foods and difficulty recognizing objects. It come and goes, some days better than others. Yesterday at our grandson’s high school graduation party he didn’t know ho our niece was. He came up to her and said hello but then later came back to her and apologized for not knowing who she was when he did that. All this time I assumed we were in the earl stages f this but know I don’t know what to think.

Denise1847

Wow! I would wonder if there is another problem. Did they do an MRI or CAT scan. I would contact your doctor and ask him/her to conduct further studies.

Delinda60

He’s had 2 MRI’S one last year that showed some volume loss and then again in April of this year that showed more loss.

elainechem

It sounds like it may be posterior cortical atrophy. This type of Alzheimer's often starts as difficulty with vision.

tgeno

It's not unusual for someone with AZ to have lucid moments. My DW started having a lot of memory issues a year and a half ago. Her doctor ordered both an MRI and CAT which revealed nothing. However, a thorough neuropsychological exam concluded that she had early stage AZ.

White Crane

My DH no longer recognizes our children (except our daughter) and grandchildren or any of our friends. It's painful for him and for them. One thing I have done is to "introduce" him to them and tell him who they are. He still may not recognize them but it seems to calm him and ease his anxiety. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this.

michiganpat

We are 5 years into this and my DH is undiagnosed as he refuses testing. His doctor is aware and we are pretty sure it's FTD of some sort. He still seems in the early stages but has had difficulty recognizing people since the beginning. If there was anything different about them he would not know them. In the past year it has gotten worse. Lately it has happened a hand full of times with the worst not recognizing our 17 year old granddaughter. It has to do with where he sees them. If it's an unfamiliar place it throws him off. We were at a softball game and he asked this girl if we were on the visitors side. She said yes to him. I got there and asked if he had seen our granddaughter. He asked where she was and I pointed her out. He was very upset and went to apologize to her. She lives near us and used to visit us weekly but over the past year she has been busy with work and school so it's been a few months, but still he certainly should have recognized her. I can't explain it except new places or a change in the person looks throws him off. It makes me wonder if he's still in the early stage but in other ways he is. I hope this helps you, knowing you are not alone.

housefinch

Can he see to read? Apparently vision for reading can be affected in posterior cortical atrophy early in the disease. I know PWD eventually stop reading because they don’t remember the information. This is different. They can’t see words properly. They also have specific visual problems where they can see details of objects but can’t put details together to identify the actual object itself. Their vision can look normal on a regular ophthalmologist exam & apparently has to be tested by a Neuro-ophthalmologist (subspecialist). MRI can show volume loss in the posterior cortex (back of the brain). I read an article about PCA after someone suggested it and wanted to pass this along. Maybe helpful?

Delinda60

Thank you all for your posts and your advice.

jfkoc

Please get lab work etc to rule out treatable causes.......You can tell him it is for insurance or medicare.......no reason to tell him he may have a form of untreatable dementia.

Delinda60

We are going 05/31/23 to a new neurologist for a 2nd opinion. He has had 2 MRI's, a spinal tap, psych evaluation, and has been taking an antidepressant since April of last year. Both MRI's (one last year in March and then one this year about a month ago) which both show volume loss in right temporal horn and hippocampus, with the MRI this year being worse than last years. Spinal tap, and psych evaluation were normal. Dr. thinks this is all due to depression and not sleeping well. I don't know what to think anymore. His depression seems under control now and he is sleeping better now than he was last year, but his symptoms seems to be getting worse. Also, he will be 62 in August.