Is there a marked difference between senility and alzheimers

[soleft]

yesterday my mother was writing a check and she asked if it was July or August. She doesn't confuse people's names at all - yet - but she can't keep track of recent events - her short term memory is non existent but her long term memory is very sharp. Sometimes I'm tempted to complete sentences for her because she can't remember a word, but I try not to because I want to see if she'll eventually come up with it.

She is in the process of getting evaluated by doctors, but I was just wondering what people's experiences are. Can anything be done to improve function if it is senility.

[HERVEPA]

1. Senility is a general tem not in use much today

Dementia is what is usually used today.
Alzheimer's is a cause of dementia, as are mini-strokes and many other conditions.

[RedEarth]

12. That is exactly right.

My mother was diagnosed with alzheimers several years ago and they mentioned that it fell under the general term of dementia.

[flamingyouth]

2. Yes, there is

And I'm very sorry about what you're going through.

There is a condition called transient dementia, where the patient acts totally like herself, then a while later can be very forgetful. I just recently went through this with a close friend's mother - if you want, you can PM me for more info.

There are meds available too, but of course they have side effects (as usual). Take care.

[radwriter0555]

3. Short term memory loss is a sign of alzheimers... what's important

is to reassure her, comfort her... because chances are anxiety will come along with this.

One of the BEST things a friend of mine says to her mom is that they "will do the remembering for her"... especially about events, occasions, get togethers... or even in day to day situations.

I think it's ok to help her... and not let her strain. Might want to check and see if there are alzhiemers support groups for you near by.

Good luck.

[HERVEPA]

4. See doctor also

There are drugs which when used in the early stages can slow the progression to some degree

[JewelDigger]

5. As I understand it....

Dementia is a SYMPTOM of some cause. Dementia means the loss or impairment of mental powers. (Can have numerous causes).

Senility is a SYMPTOM caused by old age in general. Showing signs of old age; elderly; weak in body and mind.

Alzheimers is a disease. One of the SYMPTOMS of the disease is dementia.

[TNDemo]

6. Just went through it with mother, FIL and grandmother.

One thing the pros told me was that if I could cite a specific incident where the memory loss started (some event and change in behavior) then it probably wasn't Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is generally very slow and insidious and hard to pinpoint the onset. I thought for a long time my mother just needed Prozac or estrogen or something because she was grouchy and hard to get along with and perhaps depressed. She was in her 50s so I didn't think about Alzheimer's. As it turns out she and her mother came down with it simultaneously, though I think my mother's was true Alzheimer's and my grandmother was garden variety dementia, as they were very different.

Bottom line is it all ends up in the dementia category. Sometimes medications can cause it or an illness or a small bleed and sometimes it is just a transient thing and will pass. If it is progressive then it needs to be evaluated.

[asjr]

7. senility

My mother had Alzheimers. I live in fear of it myself. Hers began to be evident around the age of 67. Well, not really evident but we knew something was wrong. At the age of 72 she told us that the young man next door to her was in love with her. The young man next door had not lived in that house for over 30 years. She lived in the past. When I realized she did not know who her other daughter was or who her granddaughter was I knew something had to be done. She did not live in the same town as I did, so I just packed her up and moved her in with me. Things really went downhill after she had gall bladder surgery. I had heard that something traumatic such as an operation could accelerate things and it did. If you think your Mom has it, try to find the book "The Thirty-six Hour Day." I can't remember who wrote it but it will be your bible. This disease can wreck a family unless you really know what you are dealing with.

[soleft]

9. she did have a trauma

She fell down some stairs two years ago, prior to that she was a thriving senior citizen, even at 78 years old. The doctor said at the time it would take ten years off her life, and I think the doc was right. What a shame. One misstep on some basement steps and within two years she's become frail and elderly. The good news was she really had some serious post trauma depression and really bounced back from that, but not even close to what she was befor the fall.

My maternal grandmother lived to her mid 80's and I remember her being pretty sharp right up til the end.

If it is dementia I will chaulk love of Bill O'Reilly up to that.

[jrthin]

8. This question is very timely.

I'm going through the same thing with my mother who's in her late 70s. She's hospitalized and they are attempting to treat her with medication. I cry every day after seeing her and I hope the doctors come up with the right combination of meds.

As I understand it, the older some people get, the brain chemistry changes. As a result there is dementia/senility and alzheimers. There are meds that can help to delay the process (I hope this is true in your mom's case). But as one of the nurses tell me, dementia/senility is the "long goodbye." It's tough.

[sangh0]

10. The simple answer is YES!!

I see that some have explained that senility is a symptom, and not a disease like Alzheimer's. I just wanted to make it clear that the dementia that Alzheimer patients get is NOT the same as the dementia (ie senility) that some seniors get as the result of aging. Doctors have tests they can use to determine if you mother has Alzheimer's.

And as far as remedying senility, there are some mental exercises which supposedly help, but I don't think there's any silver bullet. Needless to say, speak to your mother's doctor about this.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Alzheimers is a specific type of dementia

caused by lesions forming in the brain. Temporary or permanent senility can also be caused by "little strokes," narrowing of the arteries leading to the brain, tumors, drug reactions, or trauma.

My father's thought processes began deteriorating after he was in a serious car accident at the age of 67. The decline was gradual, but noticeable by the time that moved back from the east coast five years later.