We have just received the official diagnose that my mother has alzheimers, we knew that she had some form of dementia but it has taken a couple of days to sink in, where do we go from here! We have been informed that there are four drugs to try and they will most probably start with Aricept but before they can we have to have her heart tested this has been arranged for Friday and then we must have a "CPN" to visit her at home to monitor this, why! Does this drug damage the heart? What can I expect. I know so very little but have been reading and researching as much as I can - but it is so much to take in. My mother scored 23 this week and last month she scored 19, she appears to be changing in front of my eyes. I am desperate for her to start taking the medication so that we can slow down the process but everything seems to take so long. We have not told her she has alzheimers, she knows she has "memory problems" but I am not sure if I should tell her. I have so many questions and am just looking for anyone else's input, is she early stages or not! What can I expect over the next few months!