Signs of changes...subtle or not??

DWofDH

Hello. My DH recently scored a 22/30 on MOCA. I don't see much change in that from months ago. I am seeing subtle things that are different and was wondering if anyone has any wisdom to share on what they may mean as far as progression. He is in the process of filing for FMLA/DI due to cognitive decline and the anxiety at work making it worse. He seems to need me for more basic computer type tasks or even to talk to repair people (we recently needed our garage door spring repaired). We went to dinner last night and I noticed he took a cloth napkin that had silverware rolled into it and laid it out on the table as if it were a placemat. I've never seen him do that before. I understand these are subtle now but wondering if there are specific things to look for when a more drastic change may be near.

Marchbanks

Google Tam Cummings dbat, it’s a helpful staging tool with specific behaviors. The progression is not always linear but it will give an idea of behaviors to be on the look out for.

H1235

If you go to groups on this site then to new caregiver help, there is some great information. The staging tool marchbanks mentioned is there. There is also an article titled understanding the dementia experience that is very good.

https://alzconnected.org/group/32-new-caregiver-help

Vitruvius

The issues you describe are what is described as “executive functions” and their decline are more subtle than can be measured on a 30 point, 10 question test. But they are certainly real and more impactful than problems with memory or math. This decline is far more noticeable to spouses who see their LO daily. It’s about poor decision making and an increasing inability to understand the way the world works. I also recommend the Fisher scale website as it goes into a more narrative discussion about each stage. This can be found in the resources link here.

Stan2

This disease is just so hard to understand. Last night DW and I were playing a word game where you threw dice with letters on them and found what words could be made from the random letters. You got 2 points for a 4 letter word and 3 points for a 5 letter word. She found more words than I on every round, but was unable to add her score on any round.

Quilting brings calm

Don’t read too much into the test score. Mom scored high enough that the NP would only say she had mild cognitive decline. Yet her actual functioning level was mild dementia. Go by what you see daily.

SDianeL

I kept a list of my husbands behaviors and sent it to all his doctors at least monthly or more often as new behaviors happened. I did not let my husband see the list. The Neurologist changed his diagnosis due to the behaviors I sent her. Google stages of dementia and there are charts that list behaviors within each stage . The reason doctors don’t like to discuss stages is that dementia patient progress differently based on the area of the brain that is affected and many other factors. Someone could have behaviors in multiple stages or not exhibit a behavior listed. No way to know how it will progress.

Sandi Roe

I do see changes daily with my LO. I figure he is stage 4 from what I read. I’m reading The 36 Hour Day that was recommended on this site. One thing I know for sure is get a real diagnosis, He had every test and I fought insurance for them all! The genetic blood test for the APOE was first. He had two APOE4 , both parents. PET scan confirmed Alzheimer’s so people don’t think it’s just old age memory loss. I pretty much do everything with him, now I’m fixing lunch because he forgets to eat. He has a work shed he spends lots of time rearranging. Now we know where nothing is😳he’s 86, I’m 81, not really on my buckets list but life never turns out the way we imagined. Take care of yourselves , we are important too!