Question: My mum was 90 years old when she had a ct head scan to test for mental impairment/damage. The below is the only information I have. Can you explain in layman's terms if she has mental impairment/damage? (possibly Alzheimers/Dementia)
Generalised involutional changes with right parietal subcortical ischaemic changes otherwise normal brain parenchyma, ventricles, sulci and the CSF spaces for the age of the patient without any prominent brain volume loss, ischaemic changes, mass lesion or extra axial collection. No orbital, sinus or bony pathology. Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification. Normal sella, parasellar region. No vascular pathology. Skull base appear unremarkable. Moderate bony osteopenia.

Thank you.

I understand that you cannot say if she has Alzheimers/dementia, however,
would the shrinkage of the brain and the decreased blood supply cause any damage to the brain and/or mental impairment?

My mum had a TA XXXXXXX stroke well over a decade ago and a lapse during recovery which may, or may not, have been an after effect or another minor stroke.
For around 5 years or more my mum has been confused and it became prudent to set up Power of Attorney. Mum would leave pans burning, the grill burning and the smoke alarm screeching until we stopped her cooking. Mum couldn't cope with paying bills (often crying on the phone) or finances in general. She'd often stay in bed until at least noon and often well into the afternoon. I'd find her sat in her armchair (even in the middle of a cold winter) with the lounge curtains closed, the television off, no heating on, no lights on, sat like a zombie in complete darkness. Mum would take hours sometimes to finish a simple meal, and often ignored cutlery by eating with her hands.
Mum has incurred most of the symptoms quite suddenly in November 2018, even going to a next door neighbour in a distressed state with a confused scrawl of a Will and Testament that she wanted them so sign. This happened again not long after with another neighbour. Mum thinks she has hairs growing out of her mouth and cheeks, and into her mouth too. She thinks her skin is peeling off, sometimes in sheets, and claims her ears are blocked by wax.
None of these symptoms are valid and she'll claim her wax is invisible when a doctor finds nothing.
15mg of Mirtazapine daily had no effect. 2.5mg of Olanzapine had no effect. Upping the Olanzapine to 5mg daily helped a little with her appetite and her weight loss, but she's continued truly believing she's dying almost every day since November 2018, and she'll pick at her face for hours at a time, and make her nose bleed. I've had phone call after phone call with her in terror of dying on her own.
My mum's panic attacks have even lead to a cataract operation under local anaesthetic being cancelled on the day of the operation, and having to reschedule it for general anaesthetic.
In addition, a care agency morning carer had to call out paramedics and it was only when my distressed mum went on about melting skin that I was contacted and prevented mum being taken to hospital.
Mum will also put dirty clothing into the tumble dryer, and also leave wet clothes in the washing machine which she can't say have just got wet, or been actually washed yet forgotten, maybe for days.
She won't read anything except the TV guide and also can't cope with crosswords and codeword puzzles even though she used to love doing them in the past.
What would you deduce from these symptoms? XXXXXXX Farmer

Thank you for all your advice and assistance. I've had more sense and light shone on my mother's problems from yourself in 3 replies than I've had here since December 2018.
With gratitude
Regards XXXXXXX Farmer