Suggest treatment for Dementia
Patient: My mother whom is 80 yrs old has been diagnosed with dementia, in the ER just yesterday she could not talk they did a cat scan of her brain showed me all the white spots and stated she has small vessel disease and he used another work that I believe started with a M (too technical for me to remember) it meant the same thing so he said. she was admitted he stated she may of had a tia, the attending physican today cancelled the mri and started with the heart as she heard something they did a echo cardiagram and the results arnt back yet. Could the heart have something to do with the dementia, she is very confused very fast almost within the last two weeks she has been really confused.What is the long term prognosis is it possible for her to be so confused so fast? Doctor: Hello!Thank you for your question on HCM!I understand your concern, and would like to explain that acute episodes of confusion are normal in persons affected from dementia. The cardiac tests, have resulted normal, and we can exclude this as a possible cause of this confusional state. Regarding the small white spots in her brain, they indicate for a small vessel disease causing a vascular dementia. They are not related to any cardiac cause, but to high blood pressure or diabetes. Dementia is a progressive disorder, which is treated with different neurotropic drugs (donepezil, rivastigmine, memantine) and to help maintain as much as possible an adequate cognitive function and a lot of emotional support is needed. Unfortunately the situation deteriorates progressively. Antipsychotic drugs may be necessary in case of frequent confusion episodes. Hope to have been helpful!Greetings! Dr. Iliri