the memory test...

[Soobee]

Mum had a doctor testing her memory etc yesterday. They (according to my dad) clearly said she didn't have Alzheimers because she was able to remember, when prompted, some words that were said earlier in the session. According to that particular doctor there is no way that she could remember, even if prompted, if she had alzheimers. Forgive my cynicism, but if it was that easy to tell, surely no-one would be looking on this website?!

They did say she had problems with procedural memory and was probably in the early stages of vascular dementia (which does confirm what I thought anyhow). If the memory test doc writes to mum's doc with her report, would that make anything (e.g. will, PoA forms) mum signs from now on not valid?

[Nebiroth]

I think your dad may have misunderstood.

First, it was probably the MMSE test, this is nearly always used if dementia is suspected. Whilst there are parts of it that check short term memory, other parts do not. A diagnosis of dementia would not be made soley on the ability, or inability, to remember some words earlier in the test. Although, memory loss is nearly always one of the earliest signs.

A diagnosis of vascular dementia would probably rely more on the patient history rather than the test, because they both produce very similar symptoms, but one of the big differences is how those symptoms progress.

Second, a formal diagnosis of dementia does not automatically invalidate any Wills or PoA documents that you mum signs after that.

The important thing is that your mum must be mentally competent to sign, and this means she knows and understands what she is signing. Someone in the early stages of dementia may be quite capable of doing this, even if they have trouble remembering doing so later.

Usually if such documents are created with a solicitor, they will want to satisfy themselves that their client is competent to sign them.

However, the longer the dementia is diagnosed, and the more it progresses, the more doubt there is over them.

It is I think a fairly grey area, since it's not really possible to place an absolute figure of how "badly" someone has dementia.

If mum has been diagnosed with the early stages, it might be wise to look into creating an LPA whilst it is possible, since without one you have to go through the Court of Protection which can be protracted and expensive.

[Tony]

Hi Soobee I was first sent to a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry in November 1999 after the usual test I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and in March 2000 was given Aricept tablets, because I thought my memory wasn’t so bad I didn’t accept the diagnoses and told the Consultant this after having had further memory tests with an assistant Psychologist with these memory test being more extensive which took anything from ¾ of an hour to 1½ hours and finally after having a MRI brain scan in March 2003 which showed damage to my frontal-lobes the scan was repeated in April 2004 with only a slight change my diagnoses was changed to mild Alzheimer’s Frontal-Temporal-Dementia hope this helps
how and why I was sent to the Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry in the first instant is another story

Cheers Tony

[Plum1108]

Hi
It was only after my mum was diagonised with dementia that we got our act into gear and sorted out the POA. We did it ourselves and it did take a while and had to go back and forth several times but we eventually got it all signed off. Then they lost it - but that's another story!
As long as you're mum understands what she is signing when she is signing it and you have a witness to agree that, it should all be fine.
As for the MMSE, my mum usually does quite well in this test and we, as a family have to labour to the consultant that it is because she is focusing and concentrating but in day to day activities etc, she has really poor short term memory as well as huge gaps in her long term memory. I always find these tests uncomfortable, because on one hand you want your loved one to do well but on the other hand you want your concerns to be taken seriously.
Good luck
Plum

[myheadisinaspin]

my mum signed her POA in the early stages of the disease and she had quite low memory score and we ha dto get consent from her GP that she was capable of doing it. get it done early. something this disease has shown all the family is that anyone of us could be at some stage in our lives not just dementia or alzheimers but anything, could stop us from taking care of our affairs. i know that my mums brothers and sisters have all taken out POA in an event they too become ill. the paperwork is in place til such time its needed, putting their minds and their siblings at rest.

[myheadisinaspin]

my mum is 62