Worried about memory clinic appointment

I looked after my husband since his stroke 26 years ago ….then 4-5 years ago started to develop dementia …..then all through Covid he developed Alzheimers….i had my 2nd stroke and then my kids decided enough was enough and he’s gone into full time care ….27 years of my life given up to nursing and caring ….my relief is tangible .
So, no wise words from me !

Hearing loss is also a risk factor for dementia.
I went for a hearing test last October; my Mum died with Alzheimer's and my Dad has vascular dementia, so I'm interested in anything that might help avoid them!
I wasn't aware of any hearing problems but I do have tinnitus. The test showed some hearing loss in the upper register, with the damage in the inner ear, so I've had the NHS hearing aids which I'm perfectly happy with. All free 🙂

The way it was described to me is that if part of your brain can't hear, it will shut down hence the risk factor for dementia.
I'm happy to wear the hearing aids now as an insurance policy, rather than wish I'd done so in years to come. They're also really helping with the tinnitus 👍

Not all dementia are suitable for treatment.

Definitely ask him to get a hearing test,could be one of the problems,huge difference with hearing aids.

Early diagnosis of dementia can lead to excellent early treatment which has a better outcome than otherwise Worrying won't change the memory score or diagnosis but isn't good for your own health As soo as a diagnosis is in place get all the help you can for both of you

I suffered from memory loss and disorientation for a few months recently. I often lost all sense of what day it was, which was quite frightening. My GP gave me a 12-question memory test and told me I could be referred to the memory clinic if I wanted to be, but he didn’t seem to think I needed it at this point. A friend in her late 60s has just been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, which obviously made me worried.

There are lots of things that can cause memory loss, and memory loss certainly made me bad tempered! It might help your DH a lot to be assessed if it sheds some light on why he’s forgetting things.

I hope the visit to the clinic is helpful.

Do you happen to have any links for those articles, dalrymple23? (Sorry, got the name wrong before)

That is really interesting, dalrymple1. OH and I both worked in the pharmaceutical industry (research) and I tend to look out for any side-effects mentioned in the literature. OH was on Atenolol, another beta-blocker, but has recently been taken off it. Like many others, he's been on statins for a while too.

A friend has recently been for the various tests for dementia. He is 80. His wife told the clinician that he forgets things and the response was that forgetfulness was quite normal in people of that age. He did have a brain scan which showed some slight deterioration but nothing to be worried about at the moment.

I'm always forgetting peoples' names, even actors and film stars who I've liked for many years. Everyone that I know who are around my age (77) including my DH forgets some names from time to time.

I have been reading some articles recently (James le Fanu) - both beta blockers (Bisopralol) and statins (of any sort) can affect the memory. When stopped for a couple of weeks, memory returned to full function. Also, someone else was assessed as having dementia but, in fact, there was a small growth on the brain (which was successfully removed) and all went back to normal.

Also, something as easily curable as a UTI can affect the memory and cognitive function.

Check everything before panicking.

Shelflife and Ourkid1: have pm'd you both.

Fair2good

We can’t even get an appointment for the memory clinic here. Despite telling the doctor my husband is forgetting the names of everyday items, let alone peoples names we have known for years, it’s just put down to his age and normal forgetfulness.

That is awful. There was a Panorama programme on recently which highlighted the long waiting times. We had to wait around 9 months from first seeing GP. So frustrating when we (the partner) know that something is wrong but there is no appointments available.

Hi, what a worrying time for you. I've had my Mum diagnosed with MCI and my Husband diagnosed with mixed dementia (Vascular and Alzheimer's.) All within the last year.
My Mum's memory is very poor, however she is still living independently with some supervision by us. She actually has a new partner after being widowed 5 years ago, he is very aware of her problems and it is a good relationship for both of them.
My husband has responded very well to the medication which treats the Alzheimer's. He is still very much himself. He is an upbeat sort of man, which helps a lot. We have even been told that he may stay as he is.
My Mum has had some crises when she has become confused, just on a few occasions.
What I would say to anyone in your position is-please be careful what you read. There are forums where people understandably vent about how hard having a loved one with dementia can be. However, I went through months of terror reading these things.
Our family are fortunate so far and I realise that things may get harder. But living for the now is, for us, a good thing.
Wishing You and Your Husband all the very best 💐

Sorry I can't give advice, but remember worrying about it never changed anything.

granfromafar Is your other half on any medications? If so, read the leaflet that comes in the box, especially if he's on several different medications. Then read Dr James Le Fanu's book, Too Many Pills. It may give you food for thought.

OP I’m sorry to jump into your query but feel it maybe better to join an established thread as it’s so close to my situation than start another similar one
I’m following this thread as I too have concerns about my husband’s mental wellbeing, he’s 68 this year and since retiring at 66 he’s had two heart attacks and has developed worrying symptoms of memory loss together with other physical symptoms, About 2 years ago a casual acquaintance he knows who is a retired GP asked him if he was aware that he had an ‘intentional tremor’ in his hands and advised him to see his GP, DH also stoops, drags his feet, and often struggles to follow a WhatsApp conversation with friends for example, forget what I want to eat between me telling him and getting to the counter to order it we’ve told his gp but they don’t seem to to think there is a problem Whilst I don’t want to ‘which’ an illness on him I’m concerned about what to do next as I’m worried about him

Romola

Does anyone here have any definitive information about drugs that can delay the progress of dementia?
One of my dear friends has been persuaded by her son to go to memory clinic, but it increases her anxiety, which is itself a symptom of dementia. She knows this.
She feels that a diagnosis would be helpful only if she could then be prescribed a drug that would really help her.

I used to volunteer with the Alzheimer's Society, assessing proposals for PhD studies into dementia. Yes, there are several drugs which, it's said, can help with symptoms. Rather than me tell you (and I may be wrong), I'd check the Alzheimer's Society website for updates. Also there's a Forum for anyone concerned which is very, very helpful.

Does anyone here have any definitive information about drugs that can delay the progress of dementia?
One of my dear friends has been persuaded by her son to go to memory clinic, but it increases her anxiety, which is itself a symptom of dementia. She knows this.
She feels that a diagnosis would be helpful only if she could then be prescribed a drug that would really help her.

You have my sympathy and understanding. My husband (aged 71) was recently diagnosed with MCI, which we have been told may or may not lead to dementia. Like yours, his scans were "fine for his age." Following his diagnosis, he has been advised to keep his brain active and to keep physically fit, which he does. I am worried though as, like you, my mother had dementia and it was awful. I just hope that you get a reassuring diagnosis. The one thing I can say though is that worrying won't help. I try not to read too much into any mistakes he makes, but it is difficult, when you've experience of what it can mean. Sending thoughts and understanding. Feel free to PM me if you would like to. xx

We can’t even get an appointment for the memory clinic here. Despite telling the doctor my husband is forgetting the names of everyday items, let alone peoples names we have known for years, it’s just put down to his age and normal forgetfulness.

Sorry not really any words of comfort I looked after close family member with dementia it was controlled quite well with aricept given by the memory clinic try not to worry ( very hard not to) and good luck to you both

I have no words of wisdom, except that I hope you get the answers you're looking for.
As an aside, does your DH have hearing loss? I'm partially deaf in both ears and sometimes I just CBA to keep trying to hear what people are saying, especially if they're mumbling or walking away as they're talking to me. Just a thought. I've also got a rubbish memory, but sometimes I do think that's because people tell me things and think I've heard, when I haven't. COVID has also made my hearing worse, I believe.

Wishing you all the best.

nanna8 - I have heard of people having memory issues after covid so that may be your cause. We have both had one mild dose each and don't think there was any deterioration afterwards.
The appointment was this morning, and after 2 hours of questions and a long memory test, there was no conclusion. Will have to wait another 2 to 3 months before seeing the clinical psychiatrist so will find out more then. He didn't do too badly on the memory questions, mainly stumbled on things like today's date, who is PM and which US president was assassinated in the 60s.
Thanks for the info, kitty, will look out for those courses. My late mother had Alzheimers, but as they say, if you know 1 person with Alzheimers, you know one person with Alzheimers, as each case can vary so much.

I know it sounds alarmist but both my husband and I have noticeably poorer memories since a couple of bouts of Covid. Really noticeable, we both search for words and forget peoples’ names. He is older than me and quite a bit worse. Just a thought.

I help on courses run by AgeUk which help the Carers of people living with MCI. Please see if anyone runs them in your area. MCI doesn't always develop into full blown dementia but often does.

Dementia is an umbrella term for all the different types there are. Alzheimers is one form of dementia as are vascular, lewy bodies etc.