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