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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Having Advanced Stage Dementia, Hospitalized For Liver Infection, UTI. Do The Infections Mean One Is In The Late Stages Of The Disease?

My dad has been diagnosed as having advanced stage dementia for the purposes of activating his health care power of attorney. From what I have read, he is not even close this stage. In July he was hospitalized for a Liver infection and recently for a UTI . Do the infections mean he is in the late stages of the disease. He can still chat with me, he makes relevant comments without prompting, he still feeds himself and when he is not too week he can walk with a walker. He can still beat his friends at cards and, I assure you, they are not letting him win. However, he is weakened after the recent infection and he is 81 years old. He has been diagnosed with vascular dementia. My question? Is he really in the late stage of the disease. I am going to ask his VA doctor the same question but am scheduling an appointment. The insurance company will not pay for his rehab and I believe they think we should give up on him now. His hospitalist agrees with me that he still has his personality and a lot of life left in him. Your thoughts?
posted on Fri, 11 Oct 2013
Twitter Sat, 23 Nov 2013 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 25 Nov 2013 Last reviewed on
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hi!
Welcome to HCM!
Infections doenot mean that your dad is in the late stages of the disease.
Vascular dementia is dementia caused by problems in supply of blood to the brain, typically by a series of minor strokes. is thought to be an irreversible form of dementia, and its onset is caused by a number of small strokes or sometimes, one large stroke preceded or followed by other smaller strokes causing problems with attention, orientation and urinary incontinence
The recommended investigations for cognitive impairment should be carried out, chest X-Ray, ECG, and some type of neuroimaging, preferably a scan When available as a diagnostic tool, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) neuroimaging may be used to confirm a diagnosis of vascular dementia in conjunction with evaluations involving mental status examination'
hope this helps!
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Having Advanced Stage Dementia, Hospitalized For Liver Infection, UTI. Do The Infections Mean One Is In The Late Stages Of The Disease?

Hi! Welcome to HCM! Infections doenot mean that your dad is in the late stages of the disease. Vascular dementia is dementia caused by problems in supply of blood to the brain, typically by a series of minor strokes. is thought to be an irreversible form of dementia, and its onset is caused by a number of small strokes or sometimes, one large stroke preceded or followed by other smaller strokes causing problems with attention, orientation and urinary incontinence The recommended investigations for cognitive impairment should be carried out, chest X-Ray, ECG, and some type of neuroimaging, preferably a scan When available as a diagnostic tool, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) neuroimaging may be used to confirm a diagnosis of vascular dementia in conjunction with evaluations involving mental status examination hope this helps!