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My 55 yr old DH was recently diagnosed

msanderson75
msanderson75 Member Posts: 2
First Comment
Member
in I Am a Caregiver (General Topics)

Hello, I am loving these forums from just a little bit that I have seen so far. My DH had the PET scan in August and it confirmed signs of early on-set Alzheimer's. I noticed about 3 years ago that his personality started to change a little but the since 2024 his decline has been rather rapid (hindsight). I have looked up a bunch of different ways to help keep his brain firing and have suggested them to him. He tried a couple and then stopped and hasn't tried anything else since then. We recently put him on Lexipro trying to help with some of the depression symptoms he seems to be displaying but now that I've read some of the posts, it seems they may also be EOA symptoms i.e. sleeping a lot, loss of appetite, watching tv all day. I am at the point where you can lead a horse to water…any suggestions how to get him to do new things? Our PCP recommended learning a new language, musical instrument, puzzles etc. We won't be able to see a specialist until after the first of 2026 b/c insurance.

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  • Zelda
    Zelda Member Posts: 3
    Tenth Anniversary First Comment
    Member

    My husband's mother was diagnosed today after the PET scan, Alz and mixed dementia. I am processing this information and wondering what mixed dementia means? There is a plan in place for her treatment with infusions. not sure what those are.

  • Michele P
    Michele P Member Posts: 153
    100 Comments 25 Likes 25 Insightfuls Reactions 5 Care Reactions
    Member
    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/74363/my-55-yr-old-dh-was-recently-diagnosed

    I sorry you are here with us. With short term memory loss, I would not recommend trying a new language or instrument. What has really helped my husband with early AD is Brain HQ. It’s online brain games based on brain research. It is used by the Mayo HABIT Program. We suspect it has built new neurons in the part of his brain not impacted by the disease. He has regained some lost executive function and is more focused. If you are near a Mayo Hospital that offers the HABIT Program, I would highly recommend that.

  • Michele P
    Michele P Member Posts: 153
    100 Comments 25 Likes 25 Insightfuls Reactions 5 Care Reactions
    Member
    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/256258#Comment_256258

    A person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can also have one or more other types of dementia that impacts different parts of the brain. The infusions are one of two drugs that might help slow up the progression but are not a cure. There are serious side effects for each of these drugs. There are posts on this site for each of these drugs. Brain bleeds are a side effect in some people on the infusions.

  • msanderson75
    msanderson75 Member Posts: 2
    First Comment
    Member
    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/256269#Comment_256269

    Thank you so much for this! We aren't near a Mayo Clinic but I have already downloaded the app on my phone to check it out and will download it on his this evening.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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