Well my Dad attended the Memory Clinic today and saw a new Consultant who rather put the cat among the pigeons.... he thinks that my Dad has been mis-diagnosed, or perhaps more accurately the diagnosis of mixed vascular dementia and alzheimers was too simplistic. He came up with the phrase 'disfluent semantic dementia'.
He talked to my Dad with me and my Mum in the room and then carried out the MMSE on which my Dad scored 8 having scored 14 earlier in the year. This was the first time I have been present when the test has been carried out and could see that my Dad's score is significantly affected by his inability to remember words. The consultant felt that with a score of 8 my Dad should in effect be an empty shell which clearly he isn't, and not be able to interact and have a rapport with the consultant. He was even able to have a joke with the consultant, with the consultant seemed to put great store by asking more than once 'has he retained his sense of humour?' My Dad has his sense of humour it's just the rest of us that have misplaced ours!
I mentioned Pick's disease and was instantly told 'no' as he does not exhibit inappropriate behaviour. I have had a quick look on the net to try and find more about this (against the consultant's advice ) and it seems to be a form of frontotemporal dementia. Has anyone any experience of this? I couldn't find any specific mention on the AS web site but came across this information http://www.ftd-picks.org/?p=diseases/semanticdementia
Anyway the upshot is that there is no cure (no surprise there!), we are to continue with the Ebixa as it is doing no harm (the Consultant seemed to be of the view that it rarely does anyone any good ? ), increase physical exercise, keep on top of blood pressure and cholesterol, and try and learn lines of poetry by rote....hmm.... and go back in 6 to 9 months.
My Dad made me laugh when we came out of the clinic by saying to my Mum 'Now, can you remember where you parked the car?' mimicking the way the Consultant had asked him 'Now can you remember what year we are in?' etc.. Then he laughed and said 'IT'S OVER THERE' pointing to the car.
On the plus side my Mum was very impressed with the consultant having refused to see him for 11 months because she had had a previous run-in with him professionally.
Not sure what to expect now... except for the unexpected.
He talked to my Dad with me and my Mum in the room and then carried out the MMSE on which my Dad scored 8 having scored 14 earlier in the year. This was the first time I have been present when the test has been carried out and could see that my Dad's score is significantly affected by his inability to remember words. The consultant felt that with a score of 8 my Dad should in effect be an empty shell which clearly he isn't, and not be able to interact and have a rapport with the consultant. He was even able to have a joke with the consultant, with the consultant seemed to put great store by asking more than once 'has he retained his sense of humour?' My Dad has his sense of humour it's just the rest of us that have misplaced ours!
I mentioned Pick's disease and was instantly told 'no' as he does not exhibit inappropriate behaviour. I have had a quick look on the net to try and find more about this (against the consultant's advice ) and it seems to be a form of frontotemporal dementia. Has anyone any experience of this? I couldn't find any specific mention on the AS web site but came across this information http://www.ftd-picks.org/?p=diseases/semanticdementia
Anyway the upshot is that there is no cure (no surprise there!), we are to continue with the Ebixa as it is doing no harm (the Consultant seemed to be of the view that it rarely does anyone any good ? ), increase physical exercise, keep on top of blood pressure and cholesterol, and try and learn lines of poetry by rote....hmm.... and go back in 6 to 9 months.
My Dad made me laugh when we came out of the clinic by saying to my Mum 'Now, can you remember where you parked the car?' mimicking the way the Consultant had asked him 'Now can you remember what year we are in?' etc.. Then he laughed and said 'IT'S OVER THERE' pointing to the car.
On the plus side my Mum was very impressed with the consultant having refused to see him for 11 months because she had had a previous run-in with him professionally.
Not sure what to expect now... except for the unexpected.