Expert: Mary Gordon - 8/2/2010

Question
My mum, who is 90, had been diagnosed with Alzheimers 4 years ago. I have noticed of late that she will just stare at her hands.
This goes on for quite some time.
Sometimes she will count or say abc, other times she will say names, but most of the time she will just stare at them.
Do you know what may be the cause of this

Answer
Hi Julie

It sounds like she is in late stage. Keep in mind that at this stage, her brain damage is quite advanced. It is quite common for the person to sit and stare at nothing for extended periods of time. As long as she doesn’t seem upset, I wouldn’t worry about it. When she stares at her hands, I don’t think she is thinking anything in particular or focused specifically on her hands.
It is a kindness that she is not worrying herself about regrets from the past or fears for the future. She just is, here and now, in the moment and no where else.

If she was in pain or something was bothering her, she would be moaning, plucking at things, restless, agitated. If she is just sitting quietly, I suspect she is quite comfortable and content.

As to the speech challenges, it is common for the person to repeat certain phrases or even talk garble. That she is repeating numbers or letters has no real meaning. Just bits of random words are passing through her mind. She may not even know she is saying them out loud.

Fluctuations are common – it is like a light with a short circuit in it – every now and then it might flash on when you think it’s broken completely. Out of the blue, the neurons will connect, and you may get a flash of the person, a few phrases, a look of recognition.

Hope this helps. This is harder on you than on her. At this point, I suspect she is entirely at peace - I think you can take from that that everything possible has been done for that can be done. She is comfortable and secure and tranquil.

Thinking of you.

Mary