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

[Mary Ann Ryan <bentwillow@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

It may be because Alzheimers involves destruction of brain cells because of 
plaque formation whereas PD is mostly a disease of neurotransmitters.  In 
Lewy Body Disease  where plaque formation occurs, dementia becomes a major 
symptom.  LBD can only be identified at autopsy and is frequently identified 
as PD.  The difference is that decline is rapid and dementia occurs early 
within the diagnosis.
---------
Mary Ann
www.bentwillowfarm.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kbachn" <kbachn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 3:54 AM
Subject: Re: need help with dementia diagnosis - Alan & Patti Zapf Texas


> 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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