I am heartbroken as my Mum was diagnosed with AD yesterday. She is 76. The doc said on our first visit to the memory clinic that he doubted it was AD (which got our hopes up) as her symptoms were not typical of AD, in that she seemed quite 'with it', and the fact that her memory problems have been going on for over 9 years (which she is completely aware of) other symptoms which have been going on for years include misplacing things and ringing up me/my sister because she thinks we have borrowed them and repeating information to us that she has already told us. Admittedly she has got a little worse in the last 12 months, but not much, but she now repeats the same questions two or three times in quite a short space of time, and seems to feel she is being left out if people don't talk to her and gets quite upset and jealous when this happens. Also it now takes her longer to count money (but she is still able to do it), she is able to care for herself, cook, clean, sew, knit, shop, find her way around town, do crosswords and sums and mark 6 bingo tickets at once. She is still proud of her appearance, wears makeup and has her hair done weekly. On the first visit to the memory clinic she scored 78% (I believe a score of 82% or over is classed normal and no further investigation needed) so doc suggested an MRI scan as he thought it could be furring up of the arteries (she mainly lost points on the short term memory questions). However the scan results yesterday showed shrinkage of the Hippocampus which doc said indicated mild AD (although no one can say for certain)and he has suggested she starts medication. My question is; could it not be AD. Could she go on like this for the next 9 years without much deterioration as she has the last 9? Or does AD always get worse? or might she be stable for a good few years? or am I just in denial? Mum is aware of the diagnosis and seems to have taken it quite well, but does not want anyone to know as she is still proud and wants to be as independent as possible. Mum lives with Dad who is still very 'switched on' and his brain is as sharp as a knife. He is very patient with her, reassures her and they 'have a laugh' about the little things like him having to repeat himself to her. They walk daily and socialise in their local every weekend. Mum won't go on holiday this year, but I try to interact with her on a daily basis and take her out one day a week. Am I in denial about AD?
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