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My Husband's Memory Seems To Be Holding Steady Since He Started Namenda, But His Ability To Reason As And Comprehend Is In Decline. Is Tha?

A myALZteam Member asked a question 💭
Mount Vernon, GA
October 12, 2024
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Answer Summary

Members affirmed that decline in reasoning and comprehension while memory holds steady on Namenda is typical of Alzheimer's progression,... Read more

Members affirmed that decline in reasoning and comprehension while memory holds steady on Namenda is typical of Alzheimer's progression, explaining that different brain regions atrophy at different rates, with frontal lobe damage affecting judgment and decision-making, and parietal lobe damage impacting cognition. Several members shared deeply personal experiences with new milestones like fecal incontinence and confabulation, offering practical wisdom about questioning whether additional testing serves a real purpose, thinking about the care they would want to receive themselves, and giving grace when loved ones become defensive or try to shift blame for incidents they cannot remember. A recurring theme was the profound emotional toll of caregiving, the importance of allowing yourself to cry and grieve openly, and leaning on community support and faith to find the strength to continue caring with patience and love through each increasingly difficult stage.

A myALZteam Member

@A myALZteam Member: I always go by the question of "To What End?"

For my husband with Alzheimer's: We know that atrophy is ongoing, and simply going by his cognitive changes and behavior is enough. I see no reason to put him through another MRI, unless there's an "event" that makes it necessary -- for example, if it suddenly looked like he had a stroke, or suffered a bad fall, etc.

In my son's situation, periodic MRIs do make sense because he had a TBI that caused large subdural hematomas, and physical damage to the brain. This caused scar tissue to form, and encephalomalacia then ensued, which continues to be an ongoing physical process, even now (5 years later). Two years in, he received a secondary diagnosis of Vascular Dementia, and microbleeds are common to VD, so in his case, periodically monitoring his condition with MRIs absolutely makes sense.

Last but not least:
If and when an MRI is done, I always request a Volumetric Report. They provide so much good information about the location and kind of damage.

October 13, 2024
A myALZteam Member

Thank you to @A myALZteam Member, and @A myALZteam Member, and @A myALZteam Member, and @A myALZteam Member (and all those who previously commented): I don’t know what I would do without everyone here. Truly.

October 24, 2024
A myALZteam Member

@A myALZteam Member, sending you so much love. You did so well to accept and give space to your grief. We can't process pain by running away from it. We have to walk towards it, acknowledge it and only then can we start to move forward again. You're a warrior, Helen. I have such admiration for you, how you care for your family, and support us, your fellow caregivers.

October 23, 2024
A myALZteam Member

My heart goes out to you, @A myALZteam Member. Of course, you needed to cry after your visit with your son. It’s heartbreaking. I, too, thank you for all the help you provide on this site. You’re a treasure.

October 23, 2024
A myALZteam Member

That sounds typical of Alzheimer’s to me. Even before his memory started noticeably failing, my husband, who’d always been a wise man, started falling for scams and sales gimmicks.

October 12, 2024

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