Where to find help

tcspencer

My wife has been diagnosed with MCI by the neurology department at Mayo Clinic. She functions normally in day-to-day activities: cooking, driving, personal care, and interaction with others. What's missing is the memory of recent events: times scheduled for events, meetings, community events. According to the tests, some memory functions are outstandingly good while others are unsatisfactory. We're told that with coaching, the areas of strength can be employed to backstop the areas of deficiency. We need to find that coaching, whether through a professional (either in person or on-line) or through self-help lessons or courses. One way or the other, we need a program that we can follow that will help us to cope with are memory functions that are lost.

M1

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately I doubt that such coaching exists. It sounds hopeful, but it also sounds like wishful thinking. If there were a systematic approach that worked consistently, i think we'd all know about it. The disease is so unpredictable in terms of what areas of the brain are affected and also in its speed of progression, that i think you may find yourself scrambling. We spouses end up compensating for our loved ones' losses, but most of it is by the seat of our pants. I'd be very wary of anyone who tries to sell you stuff, most of us are vulnerable in the sense that we wish there were something out there that worked.. Maybe your wife's doctors can be more explicit in terms of what they were recommending.

Jeanne C.

If Mayo is suggesting this support for your wife, ask them for a referral. Please be cautious of anything offered by someone other than your wife’s health care provider - as M1 said, there are those who may try to take advantage of you. All the best to you both.

SDianeL

they may have been referring to aids like digital clock, written notes, calendar etc. Those things helped my husband early on for a very short period of time. As the disease progresses the person doesn’t retain training or coaching. My husband couldn’t learn to use a walker and both PT and OT tried. He couldn’t operate the TV remote or a phone. As others recommended I would clarify with the Neurologist what they meant.

Iris L.

Did the doctors offer Exelon patch or Aricept? They might help her memory.

Follow Best Practices:

--take medications as prescribed

--eat the Mediterranean diet or MIND diet, including antioxidants and omega-3 fats

--exercise vigorously

--continue to stimulate the brain with new learning

--continue to socialize.

Avoid stress and get restful sleep.

Ride with her and assess her driving in traffic to see if she drives safely. Dementia impacts driving abilities.

Iris

SusanB-dil

Hi tcspencer - Totally agree with what's been posted. Especially what Iris has said about her driving. If she is still driving safely, please keep on top of that often.

Also make sure paperwork is in order - DPOA and HIPAA accesses.

Sorry you are dealing with 'this'. and make sure you take care of yourself as well.

keep_hope_alive

There is a type of cognitive retraining/rehabilitation. I found one at my local hospital and have asked for a referral.

I was found to have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a screening but the cause has not yet been identified.

The therapist I spoke to who works in the cognitive retraining program said 75% of her day is spent working with people with MCI.

She said in dementia patients it can often stabilize them or help them not decline as quickly.

Here’s a description from Healthline. The link speaks to brain injury but the article also refers to MCI and dementia.

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/cognitive-rehabilitation

PeggyLouGA

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/71041/where-to-find-help

In May of 2022, my husband was initially diagnosed with MCI and his doctor said he had an 80% chance of advancing to Alzheimers. 2 plus years later, he is definitely now Alzheimers. I can tell you that at first I hoped we could gain back some of what was lost, but I learned that everything lost is lost forever with Alzheimers. HIs memory will not return and he will continue to progress in the disease no matter what. He has been placed on Donepezil and a year later, when his memory lapse was at 2-5 minutes, Memantine was added. neither drug will stop Alzheimer's from progressing but may slow it down and I believe they have. Today, we function as a normal couple from all appearances but in reality he is pretty much dependent on me. He doesnt drive now, he doesnt make decisions (big or little), struggles ordering from a menu, does only simple tasks and I have had to restrict his phone because scammers have sold him on all kinds of stuff. The last month or so he has been talking about memories that simply never existed and he gets things really mixed up (example: we were watching the sunset at a local lake this week and out of nowhere, he thought it was July 4th and wanted to know when the fireworks would start). I have no real advice, just wanted to share where I am and hope you will find something helpful in my post. My best to you!!

keep_hope_alive

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/227269#Comment_227269

Do you mind if I ask if they also found beta amyloid or Ptau, or how was he diagnosed?

It depends what @tcspencer’s wife has been diagnosed with that is causing the MCI. Not all MCI is caused by or progresses to Alzheimer’s.

Iris L.

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/226946#Comment_226946

This sounds like a formal Best Practices program. It's nice to see that professionals are taking Best Practices seriously.

Iris

keep_hope_alive

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/227362#Comment_227362

Yes, while this sounds like it helps people develop healthier habits to manage their MCI, which is great, I’d just mention for anyone reading this and wanting information that it is different than the cognitive retraining program I mentioned above.

That program uses concepts of neuroplasticity to regain cognitive function or at least better maintain it, and it’s an ongoing therapy program rather than a short workshop.

I’m fairly sure that it’s the same one that My Mom had started several years ago, but she denied she had anything wrong with her memory (which she did) so she refused to participate more than a couple of sessions.

Iris L.

Since most PWDs have anosognosia, which is different from denial, the caregiver must use alternative methods to accomplish goals.

Iris

keep_hope_alive

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/227425#Comment_227425

Yeah, that’s what I had to do. People said I worked miracles with her in turning things around. When I came back she was in bad shape. Couldn’t remember things I just said, problems standing up on her own, couldn’t walk well nor in a straight line without someone holding her hand, etc.

Now she’s back to walking around on her own and the people she barters with at all the yard sales I take her to can’t tell she has dementia. It takes a lot of work, and she’s not “cured” but some things can be turned around.

PeggyLouGA

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/227313#Comment_227313

After 3 years of my seeing and documenting a clear difference in his memory challenges vs our friends who are like aged, our doctor referred my husband to a Neuropsychologist. This doctor did an initial evaluation, asking a series of questions very quickly and that led him to have an in-depth testing done. That second (in-depth) testing was a 4 hour question session with my husband. The results were his diagnosis, which was MCI with an 80% chance of him advancing to Alzheimer's, which he did about a year later. I am not familiar with beta amyloid or Ptau, or saw it noted in his diagnosis, so I am going to say no to that question. Hope this helps.