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On Respirator. CT Scan And MRI Findings Showed No Signs Of Stroke Or Seizure. Getting Worse Day By Day. What Can Be Done?
Question: My husbands mind has gone slowly but surely from a 66 yr old man to a two year old child in a matter of about 3-4 weeks. He is now in a select special hospital where they are trying to ween him off the respirator and get him off his feet. He has had two ct scans and an MRI with contrast and they have not found any signs of stroke or seizures. Or anything. Everyday he is getting worse .
Hi.
Thank you for posting your query.
It is unfortunate that your husband is deteriorating and no cause has been found for the same.
Based on the description, it seems to be a case of rapidly progressive dementia. Given that MRI and CT scans are normal, we need to look for metabolic and infective causes. These include Hashimoto's encephalopathy (thyroid antibody test would be useful), meningitis/encephalits (lumbar puncture would be useful). In addition, an EEG to look for subclinical seizures would also be useful in this case.
If all the causes are negative, then, it could be Alzheimer's disease, which occasionally can progress fast.
I hope it helps. Please get back with any followup queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Thank you for posting your query.
It is unfortunate that your husband is deteriorating and no cause has been found for the same.
Based on the description, it seems to be a case of rapidly progressive dementia. Given that MRI and CT scans are normal, we need to look for metabolic and infective causes. These include Hashimoto's encephalopathy (thyroid antibody test would be useful), meningitis/encephalits (lumbar puncture would be useful). In addition, an EEG to look for subclinical seizures would also be useful in this case.
If all the causes are negative, then, it could be Alzheimer's disease, which occasionally can progress fast.
I hope it helps. Please get back with any followup queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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