Mom started out with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) about 8-9 years ago and it slowly progressed till last summer she was diagnosed officially with Alzheimer's after her brain scans showed damage indicative of Alzheimer's as primary and vascular/mixed as secondary. Up until the last six months she was able to go for walks in the park and her gym work outs with no real balance or shuffling issues. She has declined in the past six months and her confusion and gait and shuffling has gotten much worse in the past month. When I look at video's showing the Parkinsonian gait/shuffle that's exactly how she's walking now. Just this week we started helping her in the shower and are considering a walker too. She has neurologist appointments every three months, so she's going in two weeks. Hard to believe 3 months ago they watched her walk down the hallway and thought she looked fine. Her father had Parkinson's, her brother has Alzheimer's. Do you think it's possible she's developing Parkinson's on top of her Alzheimer's, or maybe that's just the pattern of the brain damage and it's now affecting her dopamine levels? Can you think of any good questions I should bring up at the next neurologist's appointment in two weeks? UGH...this stinks.
Get her to the doc.
I'm skeptical that all these tests are going to reveal something super helpful, but on the off chance that they do, I feel that we must go through with them.
When I got home, I did some of my own research. There is also a disorder that mimics PD. My mother had PD and Lewy Body Dementia, she passed in 2005. It hit me really hard to know that my dad may go down the same road that mom did. The difference is that we had each other for support, and I don't have much support. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is something else that you may want to check out if your mom doesn't have tremors.
I hope that everything goes well for you and your mom. This journey is definitely not for the faint at heart. Be well!
My Mom was tentatively diagnosed with that and i had thought she was starting to get Parkinsons becuase she was having tremors
Most people with Parkinson's Disease do develop some dementia as time goes on. The neurologist will be able to determine whether your mom has PD too, and there may be some medications to help.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia, and nothing really helps to slow its progression. My mom lived with my brother and his wife for almost 10 years, until behavioral issues worsened. She was having a lot of anxiety as my sister-in-law was having her own health problems.
In May 2015, I moved my mom to an elder care foster home within 5 minutes from my house. They provide 24 hour care, and my mother does what she can for herself, with supervision. Her anxiety is much reduced now, as she is not so worried about my brother's wife.
I do visit her a few times a week, and take her to appointments, to get her hair done, to lunch. She uses a wheelchair, and I found that getting a "transport" wheelchair was much lighter for me to lift and fits well in the trunk of my car.
I hope your mom will receive some hopeful news during her next appointment. I would be happy to be of support to you and your family any way I can. I know it is very difficult when our parent is going through these changes.