Learned Something New About Alzheimer’s

Cardenas1816

My DH (57) was diagnosed exactly 2 years ago with EOAD. Progression has been slowed a bit by Leqembi but he had to stop due to ARIA. Now I’m seeing more signs of progression. One are I see it in most is his loss of words. He struggles more an more just to get out a few sentences.

But a few nights ago he had a dream where he was fighting someone and had a very coherent full conversation talking in his sleep. I asked his neurologist why he could find his words while asleep and I learned that he’s not actually forgetting the words. There is a part of the frontal lobe that acts as a gatekeeper for speech. When awake that gatekeeper is overactive because of the disease, but it turns off when the person sleeps. So my husband knows all of the words, he just can’t get them out. It was a revelation for me because I thought he wasn’t understanding anymore.

Have you learned anything about Alzheimer’s that was a revelation to you?

tsulzy1

Hi Cardenas1816

That is so interesting. I too have heard my husband talk in his sleep. He was diagnosed in 2021 at 65. He is going to be 71 this year. Doc says he is in moderate stage. Last appointment we had, he could not tell the doc what my name was. Pretty sad that day. Just the other day, I made him mad. He said my name twice! I was so happy! I said oh you do know my name!!! Anger must trigger that gatekeeper off too! hahaha

Timmyd

The disease is insidious in that is will occasionally tease you with evidence that what you desire most still exists, but you are only allowed brief glimpses.