Expert: Michalene Peticca - 1/5/2009

Question
A family member was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about a month ago. He has gone from a 'normal' adult, going to work in the service station he used to own and leading an active life to what I would describe as severe Alzheimer's. I was asked a week ago to help out with hygene and daily activities (I am a CareGiver with a private agency) and last week was the first time I met with him (he is related to my in-laws so I haven't been around him too much) and he was just sitting on the couch talking to a kleenex box and making sure everything was 'straight', two days later (last Friday) he was very quiet and refused to answer questions or hold a conversation. All of a sudden on Friday he jumped up and said he had to go to the bathroom and after that he was behaving like there was nothing wrong, he was upset because it was the afternoon and he hadn't gotten washed or shaved so he took care of his hygene and then was upset because he knew something was wrong. I got a phone call this morning telling me that the family had taken him to a hospital because he became violent and they couldn't handle him. My question is, can this disease progress this rapidly in a month? I know I don't have complete information, I am hoping to obtain that today after talking to his son, but I do know he has recently been diagnosed with another health problem and is on new medication, I am also working on obtaining the names of his meds, I do, however, know that one of them is used to prevent strokes. The immediate family is, I think, still in shock and they haven't questioned anything yet. I would think that maybe he is having a reaction to his meds or something else because I have never heard of Alzheimer's progressing this rapidly. I have looked all over the internet and haven't found anything yet that answers my question. I don't want to raise the issue with the family until I have my facts straight and find more information...Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thank you.

Answer
Hello Jessica,

Thank you for writing.  It sounds like some sudden changes have been occuring for your family member.

I would strongly suggest a CT scan or visit to a neurologist to determine if his recent cognitive and psychosocial changes are related to a stroke or a more acute syndrome.

I'm sure your family member's doctor can recommmend a neurologist.

Best Regards,

Michalene Peticca, MA