Expert: Michalene Peticca - 12/11/2009

Question
My father has experienced an incredibly fast onset of neurological problems.  A year ago, he was fine, except for some basel cell skin cancer on his temple, and a general slowing down.  We had noticed in the past few years he was becoming more ornery and set in his ways but since he's always been rather autocratic, this was not surprising.  In April, he began struggling with word usage: he couldn't remember the word he wanted to use, only it was to a worse degree than just normal forgetfulness.  He continued to get worse, eventually not saying much of anything.  He was diagnosed with Alzheimers in October.  However, according to the Mayo Clinic's stages of Alzheimers, he has progressed from Stage 1 to Stage 5 in 11 months.  I just heard this morning that he is now suffering incontinence.  Is there anything else this could be?  Has anyone ever heard of Alzheimers progressing that quickly?  

Answer
Hello Angela,

I am very sorry for the rapid decline in your father's health.   I would strongly urge you to get a second opinion about his diagnosis.  AD does not progress that rapidly.   He may have had TIAs (mini strokes in the brain) and that would cause a faster progression.   CT scans are able to detect past TIAs.

Good luck and go make that appointment!

Michalene Peticca, MA