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Can you be too old to have Alzheimer's?

By Anonymous March 4, 2015 - 8:14am
 
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My brother said my mom did not have alzheimer's because she is too old (92). He said it starts in the 60's.

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In this instance, your brother is incorrect. The risk for Alzheimer's increases with age. From the sounds of your mother's symptoms she has some form of cognitive issue occurring. This may or may not be dementia of which Alzheimer's is the most common. Some types of dementia are correctable. For instance, medications can cause confusion or memory loss. It's best if your mother sees a doctor skilled in helping older adults - Geriatric Physician. They will likely then recommend that she visits with a neurologist if they can not determine a cause.

April 15, 2015 - 4:50pm
Guide

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear after age 65.

Most people with Alzheimer’s disease have “late-onset” Alzheimer’s, which usually develops after age 60. Many studies have linked the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene to late-onset Alzheimer’s.

However, early-onset Alzheimer’s is a rare form of the disease. It occurs in people age 30 to 60 and represents less than 5 percent of all people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Most cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s are familial Alzheimer’s disease, caused by changes in one of three known genes inherited from a parent.

Memory problems are typically one of the first warning signs of cognitive loss, possibly due to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Some people with memory problems have a condition called amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with this condition have more memory problems than normal for people their age, but their symptoms are not as severe as those seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Anonymous, has your mother shown signs of memory loss recently or for a number of years?

I hope this information is helpful to you and your brother.

Regards,
Maryann

March 4, 2015 - 10:09am
(reply to Maryann Gromisch RN)

She lived with me for 3 years, and she began saying that the rooms switched ends, in other words, the bedroom that was on one end on the house was now on the other end. Recently, I took her to a neurologist and he said he thought mother had Alzheimer's, but my brother says that she doesn't. She lives alone now and to begin with the bedroom would switch to where the kitchen is. But now she thinks she lives in two different apartments. Both are located at each end of the building with very similar entrances. She talks with a lot of sense, but does forget names, but someone that just met her would not recognize anything abnormal. My sister has started staying with her at night because she got out of her apartment, went outside, and was looking for the other apartment that contained her items. She has started this every night now, which used to be occasional. Thanks for your response it has been helpful.

March 4, 2015 - 11:12am
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