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Suggest Treatment For Memory Loss In An 85 Year Old
Question: My father, who is 85, has suffered memory loss in the last 6 months. He is not himself. We live in Lecanto FL (near Inverness and Ocala) and would like to see someone. We think we should see a neurologist, but we don't know how to get the ball rolling.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Need to monitor closely to get proper history.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. He is possibly suffering from dementia and will require specialist help. Dementia is often missed by primary care physicians.
2. Treatment is more effective during early stages, so early diagnosis is important.
3. Ask you doctor to conduct a XXXXXXX mental state exam. It will give an exact idea of amount of dementia/memory loss. Based on this, further evaluation for cause or treatment would be necessary.
4. Things you need to watch out for in dementia are
a. memory impairment
b. language impairment
c. inability to perform previously learned tasks
d. poor abstraction, planning and judgement
e. visuospatial skills - getting lost.
Look into these things as you will need to answer specifically, about these issues.
5. Further cardiac physical examination, laboratory evaluation and Imaging may be necessary for further diagnosis. Evaluation of living skills and ability to manage self daily activities will also be important.
Meet your doctor after looking into his ability to manage and all the above. Based on this he will refer you to concerned specialist for further evaluation. Do it at the earliest.
Hope it helps. Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Need to monitor closely to get proper history.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. He is possibly suffering from dementia and will require specialist help. Dementia is often missed by primary care physicians.
2. Treatment is more effective during early stages, so early diagnosis is important.
3. Ask you doctor to conduct a XXXXXXX mental state exam. It will give an exact idea of amount of dementia/memory loss. Based on this, further evaluation for cause or treatment would be necessary.
4. Things you need to watch out for in dementia are
a. memory impairment
b. language impairment
c. inability to perform previously learned tasks
d. poor abstraction, planning and judgement
e. visuospatial skills - getting lost.
Look into these things as you will need to answer specifically, about these issues.
5. Further cardiac physical examination, laboratory evaluation and Imaging may be necessary for further diagnosis. Evaluation of living skills and ability to manage self daily activities will also be important.
Meet your doctor after looking into his ability to manage and all the above. Based on this he will refer you to concerned specialist for further evaluation. Do it at the earliest.
Hope it helps. Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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