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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by B2chica on April 17, 2009, at 13:36:36
ok, so i'm thinking outloud and just curious, not paranoid.
So how do i know i dont have early onset dementia instead of a mental illness? when many of the symptoms are the same. mood changes, memory issues, cognitive issues...etc.
b2c.
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2009, at 16:54:29
In reply to mental illness vs dementia??, posted by B2chica on April 17, 2009, at 13:36:36
B2c can you remember names for the things you use and see everyday? I think these are some of the diagnostic tools used. As until autopsy don't think positive Dx can be made. That's my take anyway. ps better not be getting lost when driving as just did myself
Posted by Zana on April 17, 2009, at 21:50:38
In reply to mental illness vs dementia??, posted by B2chica on April 17, 2009, at 13:36:36
Dementia is pretty hard to miss. It's like you would forget you had just been asked a question. You have "memory impairment, language disturbances, impaired ability to carry out motor activities, disturbance in executive functioning. The onset is gradual." That's from the DSM. But I do think depression causes it's own kind of thought disorder which involves some of the same features.
Zana
Posted by Sigismund on April 18, 2009, at 2:44:24
In reply to mental illness vs dementia??, posted by B2chica on April 17, 2009, at 13:36:36
My skin doesn't look that good and I doubt my brain looks any better.
Dementia is cool with me.
It's a good excuse too.
Posted by Sigismund on April 18, 2009, at 2:45:48
In reply to Re: mental illness vs dementia?? » B2chica, posted by Sigismund on April 18, 2009, at 2:44:24
>It's a good excuse too.
Some of us need one.
Posted by SLS on April 18, 2009, at 6:26:18
In reply to mental illness vs dementia??, posted by B2chica on April 17, 2009, at 13:36:36
> ok, so i'm thinking outloud and just curious, not paranoid.
>
> So how do i know i dont have early onset dementia instead of a mental illness? when many of the symptoms are the same. mood changes, memory issues, cognitive issues...etc.It has been my opinion, and I have argued for many years, that the word "dementia", which is a purely generic term, should be considered a feature of Major Depression Disorder. I have only encountered one piece of medical literature that did exactly this. Alzheimers Dementia is only one form of dementia. There are others. In fact, when depression occurs in the elderly, it is often mistaken for Alzheimers and is thus called "pseudodementia". For many people, it is the dementia of depression that limits them most when trying to function in society. Without being able to read, learn, and remember, it makes it difficult to remain employed or in school.
Interestingly, most of these cognitive impairments all but disappear when someone is treated to remission. Even a partial treatment response can produce a significant improvement in dementia.
Yes. You have noted the great overlap that exists between the dementia that is part of Alzheimers and the dementia that is part of depression. The thing that troubles me, though, is that the risk of developing Alzheimers Dementia seems to be higher for people who have suffered Major Depressive Disorder. I imagine that the same association exists for Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder. This is just one more reason for why it makes sense to treat these illnesses as early and as aggressively as possible.
You don't have Alzheimers. There are psychometric exams that can discern between early Alzheimers and depression. You would have deteriorated quite a bit by now should you have had Alzheimers. For instance, you would forget names of family and common objects, get lost in familiar places, and having difficulty performing previously routine tasks.
Not to worry.
- Scott
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 19, 2009, at 14:15:35
In reply to Re: mental illness vs dementia?? » B2chica, posted by SLS on April 18, 2009, at 6:26:18
I think they are finding (or at least exploring) connections between mental illness and Alzheimer's. I have had two grandparents with Alzheimer's, a mother with depression, a father with depression, a great-grandfather who committed suicide, and a sister with schizophrenia.
> > ok, so i'm thinking outloud and just curious, not paranoid.
> >
> > So how do i know i dont have early onset dementia instead of a mental illness? when many of the symptoms are the same. mood changes, memory issues, cognitive issues...etc.
>
> It has been my opinion, and I have argued for many years, that the word "dementia", which is a purely generic term, should be considered a feature of Major Depression Disorder. I have only encountered one piece of medical literature that did exactly this. Alzheimers Dementia is only one form of dementia. There are others. In fact, when depression occurs in the elderly, it is often mistaken for Alzheimers and is thus called "pseudodementia". For many people, it is the dementia of depression that limits them most when trying to function in society. Without being able to read, learn, and remember, it makes it difficult to remain employed or in school.
>
> Interestingly, most of these cognitive impairments all but disappear when someone is treated to remission. Even a partial treatment response can produce a significant improvement in dementia.
>
> Yes. You have noted the great overlap that exists between the dementia that is part of Alzheimers and the dementia that is part of depression. The thing that troubles me, though, is that the risk of developing Alzheimers Dementia seems to be higher for people who have suffered Major Depressive Disorder. I imagine that the same association exists for Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder. This is just one more reason for why it makes sense to treat these illnesses as early and as aggressively as possible.
>
> You don't have Alzheimers. There are psychometric exams that can discern between early Alzheimers and depression. You would have deteriorated quite a bit by now should you have had Alzheimers. For instance, you would forget names of family and common objects, get lost in familiar places, and having difficulty performing previously routine tasks.
>
> Not to worry.
>
>
> - Scott
>
Posted by B2chica on April 20, 2009, at 12:36:44
In reply to Re: mental illness vs dementia?? » B2chica, posted by SLS on April 18, 2009, at 6:26:18
well, i guess that's kind of my concern.
granted since i'm prego i'm off all my typical medications.
but i feel i have such severe word finding issues.this weekend i was rearranging my DD room with my DH and wanted him to put something in the closet, i asked him to put it in the...stuttered for what seemed an hour and finally said 'doors'. about 2 minutes later i yelled out "CLOSET", i was so happy i remembered the stupid word.
its things like that. and yes things i use all the time, like spoon, refrigerator, diapers pants...yes i got so frustrated i was going to say i'm going to change these pants, i couldn't think of the stupid word and i was already in the other room changing and finally yelled "these stupid things on my legs".
its SO frustrating.
i guess the good news is that i DO eventually think of the word. it just takes a while.
also, though i've never been good at names, i'm not forgetting the few i know. and as far as procedural tasks i'm doing ok.it is not effecting my work or severely at home.
But it is more than enough to make me concerned.thanks for all your input on this subject.
********************
oh, and i knew there were other 'types' of dementia but when i did searches using the phrase dementia it seemed only alzheimers information popped up.if you know some sources on other types, i'd love to take a gander.
Thanks much.
b2c.
This is the end of the thread.
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