In the past three years I’ve noticed my moms personality changing. Only until the last year it seems to have gotten worse. Some things I’ve noticed. Very Antsy (leaving the house constantly) driving around aimlessly. Very outspoken now and can be insulting at times. (Very quiet lady before). Hard time following instructions and goes off about something irrelevant. She seems to lose track of time.( Ex. Saying she did something yesterday when it was a week ago). If we correct her she gets very angry and insists she’s correct. She likes telling people stories of her past when she was in her teens and her memories are spot on, but doesn’t remember recent year stuff. Doesn’t understand meanings of words and pauses to think and asks what’s that? (Ex. ketchup). She has been recently clearing out and rearranging things in the house compulsively. We also had these freezers that she unplugged and removed everything out and left everything in bags in the basement for a week to rot. When asked she said she just had them unplugged a day when it was actually a week. (Not thinking things through carefully). She seems to have a spending problem so we’ve kinda taken over. (Stockpiling unnecessary items). She talks to random strangers quite frequently and running up to children. She has inherited this childlike behaviour and very giddy, silly in impromptu times. (Ex. at the doctors). Her hygiene isn’t the greatest and wears the same outfit day in and out. She has a CT scan booked soon but it seems to sound a lot like FTD. Any feedback would be appreciated. She’s 63.
She progressed quickly as is many times the case with early onset. A secure environment was necessary a couple of years later after she started boarding busses to ride around the city and nobody knew where she was. The secure environment, in her case, was the state mental hospital (excellent care by the way) because of her level of agitation and combativeness.
Best wishes to you and mom. Has she been checked for a urinary tract infection? There may be another cause that can be treated.
Many of the examples you list are similar to what we noticed. She ate with the wrong utensil, couldn't put a hamburger together (would put the patty on top of both buns, or ketchup on the top of the bun), loaded the dishwasher with the glasses standing up right, no longer cooked or drove, and no longer participated in the community like she once did. It was so bizarre to comprehend what was going on.
We moved mom to AL 5 months ago and while the transition was difficult she is now happy and settled. She has friends and activities to keep her busy most of the day (even though she regularly complains about having nothing to do). Her decline has been quicker than we would have expected. A year ago we were looking for AL options with clubs and groups she could be part of. If we were moving her today we would be looking at memory care and know that she is no longer able to participate in clubs or activities that require following instructions or steps. Even attending church is now difficult on her because she can't follow along in the bulletin.
Best feedback I can share is that everybody is different, but the best thing we did was get my mom into assisted living where she can still have a life of her own to whatever extent she can. She sees a doctor monthly and has trained people around her to catch the changes that we may miss.
Best wishes to you and your family
My LO was diagnosed at age 62 with Vascular Dementia. It really is especially hard when it's someone so young. Once, you get a diagnosis, you can then research progression, but, it does vary from person to person. My LO's progression was in stepped down fashion, but, they were pretty substantial and happened fast after her diagnosis. She needed secure memory care within months.
Many of the things you mentioned hit home. The stockpiling of items, poor hygiene, agitation, lack of focus, rearranging things in house. repeating stories from the past, no short term memory, etc. But, my LO did not have a personality change. She was more disagreeable with me, but, in general, her personality was the same. So, I see why you mentioned FTD.
Have you spoken to her doctor about her change in mental status?
See All Answers