Parents with dementia, how dealing with that has gone.

[kenmbz]

So everyone knows its the early stages of dementia?

yes, he has been slipping slowly into his own world.
They try and keep him in areas where he can see an interact with people, like his buildings lobby.

 

[EddieWalker]

My wife has been a RN for 30 years and she is currently a Professor at the University teaching graduate classes to RN's. She said that the paper about a person's teeth relating to Alzheimer's wasn't valid. She said that inflammation is the primary factor in Alzheimer's. Since there are so many causes of inflammation, the Studies are focusing on ways to reduce it.

 

[Runner]

My wife has been a RN for 30 years and she is currently a Professor at the University teaching graduate classes to RN's. She said that the paper about a person's teeth relating to Alzheimer's wasn't valid. She said that inflammation is the primary factor in Alzheimer's. Since there are so many causes of inflammation, the Studies are focusing on ways to reduce it.

This thread was the first I'd ever heard about a connection between dental health and Alzheimer's. However, when you "google" it, that's literally the first thing that comes up under the AI helper. The info sounds kind of suspect to me too, although I haven't really looked into it.

What has been said for years is that there is a connection between heart problems and dental health, so I assume they must have some pretty good data on that.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I haven't heard the good teeth theory before. Both my parents have bad teeth. I always assumed it was from growing up dirt poor in Northern Canada, without any Dental visits until they were adults.

One of the things that I've always joked about was being the only one in the family with good teeth. My hair is another story, which is why I shave my head, but I got lucky with the Tooth Gene!!!

I happen to fallen into the same category you refer to. Dental visits were not only expensive beyond my parents financial limits but they were also considered 'back in the day', as a luxury for the well-heeled. I can only remember going to the dentist twice in my lifetime just before I entered the military service. Perhaps it was more often, or maybe not.

What I can remember was the common custom of tying a string to a 'bad tooth', connecting the string it to a door knob and slamming the door. Not a pleasure experience. Crying was not permitted.

After getting extensive dental repair in the military, I've made it my commision in life to keep the few teeth that I was left with, and get dental aide as needed. Dental hygene has long become my priority in life.

So far, I don't think i have dementia, but then... hmm what was I talking about?

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

On a side note, I start a new drug infusion regiment August 25th. It's called Rituxan. It's given in two separate infusions a few weeks apart. Then again in six months. It's given with Methotrexate which never did anything for me. The infusions take six hours!!! I'm taking a lunch with me and maybe some snacks.

If I don't die from liver failure or PML, this stuff is supposed to help.

My BIL was taking this regimen of drugs. It helped him stay on his feet all day as a machinist. Seems like I kinda remembering him say something about they dropped the Mex as his liver was showing signs of distress.

 

[ning]

I don't think it's the teeth per se but poor dental health will impact a lot of aspects of health because it's such a ready access for attacking the immune system. You could probably pull all the teeth and not have this connection because you'd then have sealed up the entry point (primarily bleeding gums). The point of "not having all one's teeth" is less a count of the teeth and more the side effects of why the teeth are being lost.

 

[KubotainNH]

I was doing the finger pricking and testing several times a day for three straight months and didn't ever get a sugar value above 108. I don't think that's it. Anyway, I drink black coffee.

I know why it started with my thumbs. I used to use a planishing hammer in my autobody shop. The vibrations pretty much destroyed my thumb joints at the wrist. The fingers and wrists just followed. I've been "testing" various RA drugs since around 2016. I've tried, I think, three self-injecting drugs. I used to alternate thighs every morning for about three years. None of it did much good for very long. My body kept developing antibodies for each drug and the effectiveness just decreased until the next drug.

I've been on pills, shots and infusions. Each one more powerful than the last. I start a new infusion drug on the 25th. It's given two weeks apart then again in six months so it must be really strong. We'll see.

Routine testing on my sugar levels have always been perfect. I just thought I'd put this out there as I was kinda amazed that such a small eating change could reduce pain. Very limited cookies and pastries now, like 1 a week.

Before this, my doc put me on "low dose Naltrexone" which is now starting to be used for chronic pain. It did the job and got me to a good baseline in pain management. I ramped up slowly until I got an amount that worked. I think it was like 4.5mg, pretty small.

This teeth conversation is interesting.

 

[ArlyA]

We did keep a few things from the parents house that would be appropriate for that camp we imagine we'll have this late summer.

 

[MossRoad]

We did keep a few things from the parents house that would be appropriate for that camp we imagine we'll have this late summer.

I said something similar a few years ago and a woman sarcastically told me to "keep rubbing THAT lamp".

 

[drssg]

From what I've seen, medications can sometimes have a significant positive effect on the patient's quality of life.

I my FIL's case, even his short-term memory is still pretty good. His first obvious symptoms were severe paranoia and delusions. He believed he had murdered and raped people. He thought the hospital was going to cut off his arms and leave him helpless and in pain.

After a fairly long process, the neurologist found a set of medications that seem to have eliminated these extreme delusions. His primary issues now are a major reduction in his mental capacity and physical mobility, and those don't seem to be in a steady decline. There seems to be valleys and slight recovery periods. After a setback, physical therapy has been helpful in regaining some of his previous mobility.

He can currently enjoy spending time with family and even going out to a restaurant now and then. I don't think he follows much of what is said, but he smiles when others are laughing.