I just listed to a recording of a lecture about cognitive changes in atypical Parkinson's, and it discussed an interesting set of issues.
1. adynamia (loss of drive and initiative) 2. speed of information processing is slowed--long pauses 3. difficulties with attention and concentration 4. Mental inflexibility (rigidity) 5. Reduced insight 6. Can’t wait (the person wants what they want instantly), narrow focus 7. Reduced empathy 8. Lack of appropriate concern (for example about the future progression of the disease)
That's such an accurate list of my frustrations that I felt validated for almost the first time about my husband's cognitive changes. Those are apparently associated with damage to the basal ganglia and somewhat into the frontal lobes. I thought that they were worth posting here because it might put words to some things other people are experiencing if the brain damage has reached those areas.
The original lecture is here: Part I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2o_lCDk0QQ&feature=relmfu Part II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxWGipPsG4s&feature=relmfu Part III: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4XagPUf0V4&feature=relmfu Part IV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhfdGwGq_I&feature=relmfu Part V: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJUV9NxEhHo&feature=relmfu
Thanks pamsc. My husband was dx with AD, and Parkinsons, however I always wondered how they could classify that. There are so many similarities. All of the symptoms you mentioned were apparent in my DH prior to his diagnosis, but we did take awhile to finally seek a dx. This was in 2006. With no clear means to classify his dementia and his lack of physical ability, I have always been suspicious of a dx. Seems that not much has been offered as a treatment that will help anyway. Your find was interesting. Thanks
At dx in 2006, DH was just beginning Stage 5. He had VaD and every one of those symptoms were on board or coming on board. It's good to have validation of what we know, coming from the "official experts'.
Seems to me, that each kind of Dementia has its own form of progression and degree of severity in different symptoms, but on a day-to-day basis,we are dealing with the results of brain damage, and at this time it really doesn't matter what kind is the cause, since weare treatingh symptoms--not the Disease.
pam, dh was dx'd in 2008 with FTD and had was experiencing just about all of those changes. By the time we got a dx I'd say he was in the equivalent of stage 5.
Interesting talk, thanks for the link. Jeff has continuously diminished in so many ways that are distinct from the classic memory Alzheimer's. It seems like anyone dealing with dementia should have a primer on these various manifestations.