Re: need help with dementia diagnosis - Alan & Patti Zapf Texas

[kbachn <kbachn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Anybody knows the biological basis for the difference?

Thanks 

-----Original Message-----
From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
[mailto:PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mary Ann Ryan
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:31 AM
To: PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: need help with dementia diagnosis - Alan & Patti Zapf Texas

Alzheimer's dementia is unremitting.  Once it starts the person never 
reverses.  In PD the dementia gets worse and then gets better, gets worse - 
then better.  In my husband's case, it didn't completely overtake him, 
although he never completely returned to normal.  We could still talk about 
what happened yesterday or last week - in snatches.

Ultimately, it seems that death occurs in similar fashion in both diseases. 
My husband slept most of the day during his last months, totally lost his 
appetite and merely slipped away.  He never lost his ability to swallow - 
although that is a common problem in end-stage PD, as it is in Alzheimer's.

Incidentally, with a proper toileting program my husband was continent to 
the very end.
------
Mary Ann
www.bentwillowfarm.org

> Hello Mary Ann
>
> What's the difference in symptoms btw PD dementia and Alzheimer's 
> dementia?
> Thanks
>
>> Patti, Aricept has mixed results - some people do well on it while others
> don't notice a difference.  Our neuro refused to prescribe any dementia
> drugs for Jamie because he claimed that they cause even more balance
> issues - so I have no personal experience with that group of meds.
>
> Please keep in mind that depression is very common in PD - probably 
> because
> there are a host of neurotransmitters involved in the disease.  It isn't
> surprising that depression may result as a consequence.  Please keep in 
> mind
>
> that PD dementia is a lot different than Alzheimer's dementia.  Even at 
> the
> end of his life and despite severe dementia, Jamie still remembered who we
> were, where he was and what was going on in the world.
>
> Just continue to stimulate your husband's brain with puzzles, books and
> games.  Social interaction is also very beneficial.
> --------
> God bless
> Mary Ann (CG Jamie 68/28 with PD, died 11/20/07)
> www.bentwillowfarm.org
>
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