Does anyone out there have a loved one who is blind where the back of the brain is affected? My husband has that along with memory loss. He was diagnosed about 2 years ago with Alzheimers but symptoms were probably over up to 2 years before. Susan
The symptom you're referring to is called "visual agnosia". It was probably the first symptom my husband showed, if I'd realized what was going on. When it IS the first symptom, it's called "visual variant AD". I shall now trot off to track down a couple of good references for you to read about agnosias. (The other senses, such as hearing, can be affected in the same way. The ears work fine, but the brain doesn't process the signals properly.)
Welcome to my website. You have come to the right place for support, information, and understanding what spouses go through with this dreaded disease.
Please log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com, and scroll through all of the resources on the left side. NewlyDiagnosed/New Member is an excellent place to start, as well as "Understanding the Dementia Experience right under it. I would also strongly suggest clicking on "Previous blogs" and scrolling through the topics. I guarantee there will be many to which you can relate. The older ones take a long time load, as I am in the process of updating them, so they will load more quickly. Just be patient, and they will load. Be sure to check in on the home page every day, as there is always updated news, information, and blogs.
We are all on different legs of this journey, so there is always someone who has been where you are, and can offer advice or just a shoulder to lean on. Or cry, vent, scream, whatever you need for that day.
I am sorry but don't know how to get to the threads. I found the blogs which are great and very helpful. I am 63 and my husband is almost 71. We have been married for 24+ years. We met in church and have been serving God together ever since until a few years ago. My husband, John, and I were missionaries to Chile for part of our lives together and up until he was diagnosed, John took pharmaceuticals to countries in S. America and Haiti. I have been working full time for a Christian ministry in Ft. Lauderdale for 10 years. John was actually diagnosed with Progressive Posterior Cortical Degeneration until last August when we went to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. We were then told he has regular Alzheimers in the back of his brain instead of the normal type in the front. I just put him in day care last Monday after trying 2 other times in the past year but he wouldn't go back. This time he went back. Broward County offers a lot for people with dementia. His day care is subsidized or I don't know what I would do. Anyway, please let me know how to get to the threads. I am in a support group that has been a great help. Thanks for all your support for for this website. Susan