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Suggest Treatment When Diagnosed With Dementia
Question: I am a 61 yr old white male who was shunted for hydrocephlus at the age of 22. I was comatose for 8 days.
I completed a BA but have not been able to complete 8 graduate courses attempted. I have been recently diagnosed with dementia. My cheif concern is continued cognitive functioning, and of course the fear of an untimely death. Kindly advise.
I completed a BA but have not been able to complete 8 graduate courses attempted. I have been recently diagnosed with dementia. My cheif concern is continued cognitive functioning, and of course the fear of an untimely death. Kindly advise.
Brief Answer:
You may have benefit with a medicine of SSRI group.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome to HCM.
It is a wise decision to ask your health related query here.
We understand your concern. Due to positive history of neurological illness (hydrocephalus) and prolonged coma in past, your concern about higher mental and cognitive function is well understandable.
But, I must tell you that such kind of neurological illness may also give rise to prominent persistent anxiety and sadness of mood. Due to saddness /anxiety and in the background knowledge of possibility of deranged cognitive function of brain in such cases with advancing age, many person fail to perform well on cognitive testing tools. As a result, they may be erroneously diagnosed as a dementia patient.
With your abilty to communicate, ability to think about future and with scrutiny of your ability to select words during this conversation, you are unlikely having features of dementia at present. It is more of an anxiety situation that can be well taken care of by starting you on a SSRI group of medicine like Escitalopram.
I advise you to discuss these issues with your doctor who may prescribe the medicine and or psychotherapy for some time for cure.
I wish you all the best.
You may have benefit with a medicine of SSRI group.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome to HCM.
It is a wise decision to ask your health related query here.
We understand your concern. Due to positive history of neurological illness (hydrocephalus) and prolonged coma in past, your concern about higher mental and cognitive function is well understandable.
But, I must tell you that such kind of neurological illness may also give rise to prominent persistent anxiety and sadness of mood. Due to saddness /anxiety and in the background knowledge of possibility of deranged cognitive function of brain in such cases with advancing age, many person fail to perform well on cognitive testing tools. As a result, they may be erroneously diagnosed as a dementia patient.
With your abilty to communicate, ability to think about future and with scrutiny of your ability to select words during this conversation, you are unlikely having features of dementia at present. It is more of an anxiety situation that can be well taken care of by starting you on a SSRI group of medicine like Escitalopram.
I advise you to discuss these issues with your doctor who may prescribe the medicine and or psychotherapy for some time for cure.
I wish you all the best.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Answered by
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