Expert: Michalene Peticca - 2/28/2010

Question
My Mother was diagnosed by a doctor with AD in Jan 2005.  She has been incontinent both ways for over 3 years.  She stopped talking about 3 years ago also.  Hospice doesn't believe she has AD.  They said she could have had a stroke or some dementia mixed with pschotic issues.  Even though she doesn't speak, they said I should consider a mental evaluation?  Some drugs with serotonin might help her regain the ability to speak?  What do you think of this?

Answer
Hi Tina,

I am not a physician, but having a second opinion can never hurt.  

I will say that your mother's historical progression with her physical and cognitive declines do not follow the "normal" pattern of Alzheimer's disease.  They do "look" more like a by-product of a stroke.    You can easy have a CAT scan performed and see if a stroke did occur in the brain.  Then you can proceed to a "mental evaluation" or some other type of medication treatment based on the outcomes of the CAT scan.

It certainly is worth the effort.

Best Regards,
Michalene Peticca, MA