Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Is It Normal To Forget Things When Suffering From Dementia?
My husband experiences aprox. 10 minute episodes of not knowing what he should do next, where he works and who he works for. As I remind him, the memory slowly returns. He began this about 4 years ago infrequently but now he has had 2 in 2 weeks. He has been tested for dementia with the finding of mild cognitive disorder, which they say is due to his age of 61. I do not agree that this is normal. Any ideas?
Thu, 13 Feb 2014
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your husband's symptoms. Based on the description, his forgetfulness and memory impairment are episodic and they become normal after 10 minutes or so.
In a case of dementia, the memory impairment is present all the time and not in episodic fashion.
In your husband's case, we need to exclude seizures and transient ischemic attacks. In both these conditions, the person's memory may return to normal after a few minutes or so.
Please discuss with his neurologist regarding these two possibilities.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, India
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your husband's symptoms. Based on the description, his forgetfulness and memory impairment are episodic and they become normal after 10 minutes or so.
In a case of dementia, the memory impairment is present all the time and not in episodic fashion.
In your husband's case, we need to exclude seizures and transient ischemic attacks. In both these conditions, the person's memory may return to normal after a few minutes or so.
Please discuss with his neurologist regarding these two possibilities.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, India
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Cognitive disorder
Loading Online Doctors....