Memory Loss Assessment

[Ric.ror]

My mother who is 90 has just scored 50/100 and is going for a scan
Has anybody any information to pass on
Many many thanks

[woofgang]

not until the results of the scan are known. So sorry, its a scary time.

[RATTER15]

Just bare in mind that a little confusion and memory loss is very normal in the elderly.

[mazie]

I took my Mum for a brain scan when her score was poor. Make sure you go in with her Ric. It can be scary. I was nearby and kept reassuring Mum. The Doctor will advise depending on the outcome of the Scan. The very best of luck and try not to worry too much. Let us know how she gets on. xx

[Khandro]

//Just bare in mind that a little confusion and memory loss is very normal in the elderly.//
RATTER; and not only!

Ric.ror; With old age, people remember things which are important to them My mum at 94 (r.i.p.) could not remember the everyday things around her, the last meal she had had etc, but when I showed her old photographs, it was astonishing how she could remember everyone depicted in them, along with anecdotes of which I had never heard.

[woofgang]

khandro, that’s not unusual, it tends to be short term memory that is lost and long term memory that remains....the importance judgement may appear that way but I don’t think that’s how it works....

[RobNorth]

Why put people through memory tests at 90?

[woofgang]

Because there is something to do with memory that is causing a problem. Its called a test but its actually an assessment, the same as having blood pressure taken or urine checked for diabetes. In the same way, unless the patient chooses not to be assessed, its not right to say “oh she’s 90 we won’t check her blood pressure” or “oh she’s 90, we won’t check her memory.

[Sqad]

RobNorth makes a good point at 00.06.

Your mother is 90 years of age, I would suspect that she has some short term memory loss which as Ratter and others have said could be due to "old age",....then what is the point of an MRI brain scan other than of academic value?
The scan plus other factors may differentiate Alzheimer's disease; , cortical basal degeneration; , Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease;, dementia with Lewy bodies;, frontotemporal dementia; , motor neuron disease;, progressive supranuclear palsy BUT...so what?, there is very little that can be done for any of the above disorders.
80% of dementias are due to Altzheimers for which little can be done from the point of view of treatment OR as Ratter said it is just "old age".

"Has anybody any information to pass on?" Not really.

[Buenchico]

This might be relevant:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/download/downloads/id/1808/factsheet_understanding_and_supporting_a_person_with_dementia.pdf

There's lots more and information and advice here:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Thinking ahead, time and time again we've seen posts on AB from people who wished they'd sought a Lasting Power of Attorney (in order to look after a loved one's affairs when they've become incapable of doing so themself) but who've left it too late. (An LPA has to be obtained while the person is still able to give their consent to it). So you might want to read through this:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20032/legal_and_financial/130/lasting_power_of_attorney

[Ric.ror]

One of the reasons I have taken her is because I would like an official diagnosis so I can then decide what care she is entitled to

[whiskeryron]

A gent at 90 says to his wife I must give up golf, my eyesight is so poor now I cannot see where the ball lands. His wife replied why don't you take Bill from next door with you, he replied Bill ? what is the good of that he is 92 ?. Hiss wife says arh, but his eyesight is better than yours. They go to play golf & the Gent tee's off. He says to Bill '' did you see where the ball landed ''? Yes said Bill. So where did it land then ? Bill replied '' I can't remember''.