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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Alzheimer's Disease Cause Mental Problems?

My wife, age 66, has most of the signs of early alzheimers. However, one is very troubling to me: she makes up stories that those around her are trying to hurt her and are a danger to her. She really thinks that these events are true. I don't know how to handle this.
Fri, 6 Jun 2014
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hi,

I can understand your concern regarding your wife's symptoms. Dementia is a condition where a person's cognitive functions like memory, attention, judgement, etc starts getting impaired. Dementia can be due to multiple causes including Alzheimer's disease. In addition to memory, a person suffering from dementia can have symptoms of hallucinations and delusions as well. In fact, in some types of dementia, such symptoms may predominate the picture. You wife suspecting that people are trying to harm her is suggestive of her developing paranoid delusions.

I would suggest you seek a neurological consultation for evaluation of the cause of dementia. In addition, a psychiatric consultation can be sought for evaluation of behavioral symptoms. She would need a brain scan to rule out any other cause of dementia. Treatment with medications like donepizil or memantine would be required for her memory symptoms. In addition, treatment with anti-psychotic drugs like quetiapine would take care of her delusions.

Hope this information was helpful. Best wishes.
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Can Alzheimer's Disease Cause Mental Problems?

Hi, I can understand your concern regarding your wife s symptoms. Dementia is a condition where a person s cognitive functions like memory, attention, judgement, etc starts getting impaired. Dementia can be due to multiple causes including Alzheimer s disease. In addition to memory, a person suffering from dementia can have symptoms of hallucinations and delusions as well. In fact, in some types of dementia, such symptoms may predominate the picture. You wife suspecting that people are trying to harm her is suggestive of her developing paranoid delusions. I would suggest you seek a neurological consultation for evaluation of the cause of dementia. In addition, a psychiatric consultation can be sought for evaluation of behavioral symptoms. She would need a brain scan to rule out any other cause of dementia. Treatment with medications like donepizil or memantine would be required for her memory symptoms. In addition, treatment with anti-psychotic drugs like quetiapine would take care of her delusions. Hope this information was helpful. Best wishes.