Our Aging Parents

"If only I'd known ... I would have done things differently!"

  • Home
    • Definitions
      • Definitions – A
      • Definitions – B
      • Definitions – C
      • Definitions – D
      • Definitions E – F
      • Definitions – G
      • Definitions – H
      • Definitions – I
      • Definitions J – L
      • Definitions M – N
      • Definitions O – P
      • Definitions Q – R
      • Definitions – S
      • Definitions T – Z
  • Caregiving Basics
    • From Chaos to Confidence
      • Are Your Elderly Parents In Denial?
      • How to Communicate Effectively with Your Elderly Parent
      • “How to …” Videos
    • Biggest Mistakes
      • In the Blink of an Eye
      • How to Find Your “Me” Time
      • Tips for Sandwich Parents
    • How to Talk with Your Parent about …
      • Driving
        • Senior Transportation
      • Their Health
      • Advance Directives
      • Their Money
    • Money | Legal
      • Before It’s Too Late
      • Scams That Target Seniors
      • Missing Legal Papers
      • Social Security
        • Social Security – More Short Stories
      • Old, Frail and Evicted
      • Patient Privacy Rules
      • Who Else Inherits
    • Home Is …
      • Aging at Home
        • Home Alone – Are They OK?
        • Unfriendly Granny Flats
      • Assisted Living
      • Nursing Home
      • Memory Care
    • Support Group
      • How to Participate
    • Caregiver Bookshelf
  • Alzheimer’s | Dementia
    • Alzheimer’s Is …
    • The Seven Stages
    • Worried About Alzheimer’s?
    • Your Odds of Getting Alzheimer’s
    • Is It Alzheimer’s? … or Something Curable?
    • Is It Alzheimer’s? … or Dementia?
    • What Is It Like To Have Alzheimer’s?
      • Their World vs Our World
      • Agitation – A Natural Consequence of Alzheimer’s?
      • My Elderly Dad Really Hates Me
    • Symptoms
    • Quick Tips
      • Alzheimer’s Tip #20
  • Toxic Parents
    • Addicted to Pain Medications
    • Alcoholics
    • Narcissists
      • How to Deal with a Toxic Mother
      • Confessions of a Narcissist
    • Set Boundaries for Toxic Parents, Partners and Siblings
    • How to Divorce Your Abusive Parent
  • Health | Medical
    • Medicare Basics
      • Medicare Benefit Gaps – 2020
      • Medicare Part B Premium and Deductibles for 2021
      • FAQs, Tips & Nasty Surprises
    • Symptoms Not to Ignore
      • Alzheimer’s
      • Aphasia
      • Cardiac Arrest
      • Dehydration
      • Delirium
      • Depression
      • Falls
      • Hallucinations
      • Heart Attack
      • My Toes Are Cold!
      • Pneumonia
      • Strokes and Mini-Strokes (TIAs)
      • Swallowing Problems
      • Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
    • Drug Interactions and Side Effects
  • More Resources
    • Caregivers Ask …
    • Free eBooks
    • Checklists
    • Organizers
  • About
    • About Me
    • My Story
    • My 2¢
    • Testimonials
Home » Is It Alzheimer’s … or Something Curable?

Is It Alzheimer’s … or Something Curable?

by Mike Gamble ★ 2min read ★


A number of medical conditions(1) have symptoms that are nearly identical to Alzheimer’s. But, they are usually treatable if detected early enough.


Elderly Woman with Alzheimer's staring out a windowRecent studies have found that 17 to 30 percent of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are misdiagnosed. Indeed, a recent study in Hawaii found that “… about half of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease did not have sufficient numbers of the brain lesions characterizing that condition to support the diagnosis.”(2)

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association:

“Any new health problem in an older person should be considered drug induced until proven otherwise.”

Prescription drug interactions and side effects, vitamin B12 deficiency, dehydration and normal pressure hydrocephalus most commonly produce false symptoms of dementia.

In other words, symptoms that some people (including many doctors) often dismiss as a “normal part of aging” — really aren’t. If these symptoms are left untreated, your loved one could face a life of despair in a nursing home. But, if the symptoms are treated early enough, your loved one can very often regain a full and normal life.

In 2004, singer, songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson was told he had Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia. In 2015, he learned that he actually has Lyme disease. Now, he’s improved significantly after being treated for the correct diagnosis.


Important Note: Even if a doctor has a lot of older patients, that doesn’t make the doctor an in the special problems of the elderly. If a doctor dismisses your loved one’s memory problems as “just a part of growing older” or decides that he or she has Alzheimer’s or senility without testing for other possible problems, we recommend that you get a second opinion from a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in these diseases.


(1) Among the conditions that can be treated and quite often cured are:

  • Drug interactions and side effects (prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, herbals, minerals and other supplements) (3)
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (up to ½ of the misdiagnoses)
  • The combined effect of weight loss/gain and medications
  • Dehydration
  • Vitamin B1, B12, D or Folate deficiency
  • Falls and concussions
  • Depression
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Blood Pressure Changes
  • Surgery
  • Narrowing of the carotid arteries
  • Poor Sleep
  • Stroke
  • TIAs (“mini” strokes and silent strokes}
  • UTIs (urinary tract infections, sometimes obvious — sometimes symptom-free)
  • Thyroid Problems
  • Kidney Problems
  • Liver Problems
  • Brain tumor and other lesions
  • Infections (meningitis, encephalitis, syphilis, to name a few)
  • High fever
  • Chronic stress
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  • Poor nutrition

(2) “Alzheimer’s Misdiagnosis, Accuracy Is Important”

(3) More than 100 different drugs have side effects that can mimic Alzheimer’s in some people. Among the most common:

  • Antihistimatines (Benadryl, diphenhydramine)
  • Sleeping pills (Ambien, Sonata)
  • Painkillers (Darvon, Toradol, Demerol, Naproxen, Aleve)
  • Anti-anxiety drugs (Valium, Librium, Halcion, Xanax)
  • Anti-psychotic drugs (Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa)
  • Cholesterol drugs (Lipitor and other statins)
  • Older antidepressants (Elavil, Miltown, Tofranil)
  • Incontinence drugs (Detrol, Ditropan, Toviaz)
  • Acid-reflux drugs (Zantac)
  • Blood pressure drugs (Procardia, Adalat)
  • Tranquilizers (Serentil, Thorazine, Mellaril)
  • Heart drugs (Norpace, Lanoxin, Aldoril, Vasodilan, Cardura, Aldomet)
  • Stomach drugs (Bentyl, Levsin, Donnatal, Librax)
  • Parkinson’s drugs (benztropine, trihexyphenidyl)

Sources: American Geriatrics Society, Public Citizen, FDA


We welcome your comments. And, if this post was helpful,
please share it with your friends.

Related Posts:

  • Alzheimer's – What It's Like!
    Alzheimer's – What It's Like!
  • Alzheimer's Tip #20
    Alzheimer's Tip #20
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
    Alzheimer's and Other Dementias

About Mike Gamble

Mike is a former family caregiver with a passion for improving the Quality of Life for Older Adults and Family Caregivers.

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
Please login to comment
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Sign Up for Email Updates

Mike Gamble

Mike is a former family caregiver with a passion for improving the Quality of Life for Older Adults and Family Caregivers. Read More…

By using our website, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Home | Disclosures and Relationships | Contact

Copyright © 2020 · Our Aging Parents · All rights reserved.

wpDiscuz

Cookies

We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site, we will assume that you agree to our use of cookies. Your Privacy