Is there a link between Dementia and late diagnosis of other illnesses or diseases?

[JaneDee]

Apology accepted

My mum was on thyroxine for 20 years + but it was only monitored every year or so, she never saw a specialist and the 'normal' range was quite vast. Her dementia became obvious at 63 but could have been developing for a few years before that, she was ever so good at hiding it!

I like reading research pieces such as these, keeps my brain going anyway!

 

[tomkitten16]

my mum didn't smoke or drink-she didn't overeat- now she has dementia.Dementia is such an emotive subject ,it is difficult to discuss how or why some people suffer from it.All I can say is that it is a destructive ,cruel illness and it weighs you down like a rock.

 

[Wiggywoos]

My mother didn't smoke, drink or take drugs (other than prescribed for illnesses since childhood) and I believe that she now has pre-senile dementia due to a lack of diagnosis when she first contracted Encephalitis. She took bad on a Friday evening, went to hospital on the Saturday and was sent home after we were told she is just having panic attacks and is bringing it upon herself!! She then spent the next 2 days sleeping and in a state of delirium. The following Tuesday she ended up being blue lighted back to the same hospital after suffering a fit at home. Doctors kept her in triage for over 6 hours asking questions that she couldn't answer, she thought it was 1985 when it was in fact 2008!! She thought her parents were still alive and told the doctors that she still lived at home when in fact she lived with her long term partner. She was constantly complaining of a severe pain in her forehead and her actions were almost as if she was trying to tear her skin off. She couldn't have the lights on in the room as it was affecting her eyes. Finally at just after 2am she was taken up to a ward before being admitted for the night. As far as we were aware she was just given her normal medication and general painkillers at first and it was the next afternoon before she was sent for an MRI and a further 3 days before we were finally given a diagnosis and she was given the correct medication. That's over a week from her initially taking ill to being diagnosed! She was in hospital for just over 3 weeks and suffered memory problems almost immediately, pulling out drips, not remembering where she was, having no idea of what had happened to her (all short term memory) gradually she seemed to improve and was discharged from the hospital..... by a doctor who had no record of her lifelong medical history nor any real idea why she had been in the hospital and WE told him what had gone on.

Ever since that day we have done nothing but fight for a full diagnosis of what her situation is now, she has huge problems with her memory now, cant even remember what she has been told 10mins earlier and more recently hygiene problems where she would be happy to never have another bath/shower ever again as she doesn't see the point in them etc etc. She doesn't/can't work, cant drive and its a real struggle to leave her alone for extended periods of time in the home as she just sits there and does nothing (as she is unable) or leaves the house to go to her friends (over the road) and leaves the property completely unsecured. This is an ongoing problem that is never going to get any better and I believe that had it not been such a length of time between her becoming ill, being admitted and finally being diagnosed then she (possibly) would not be in the mental health situation that she is now.


So after boring you with all that, YES, I do believe that dementia can be linked to late diagnosis of other illnesses or disease

 

[Saffie]

That thyroid link was last updated in 2008, 5 years ago. One wonders why there has been no further developments nor any news connected to this.
My daughter has a very underactive thyroid and her thyroxin prescription is high. She also suffers from Crohn's disease, hiatus hernia, endometriosis, debilitating pain in the right side of her face and head - the reasons why are too detailed for reference here. Do I now tell her that she is a very likely to develop Alzheimer's too?

On the other hand, my mother's thyroid was fine, she drank coffee, tea, walked miles, was reed thin, ate sparingly, was an avid crossword fan and was well -informed and interested in everything - and died aged 73 having suffered from Alzheimer's for a number if years

I also had an aunt who had her thyroid gland removed when she was in her thirties and who died aged 90 with a mind as clear as a bell.
There is no sense in all this conjecture. One day, the causes will no doubt become apparant. Until then, these ideas do nothing but cause worry and stress - and you know what they can lead to.....!