When does forgetfulness become something more sinister?

[Cravingpies]

My mum is 61.

Growing up she would occasionally forget things but just normal stuff but in the last 5 years I’d say she’s become more forgetful. Mainly things like repeating the same conversation as we had the week before or telling me stuff I’d already know.

DH thinks she’s doing it to make conversation which could be true. She is socially awkward.

It’s just made me wonder because it seems to be getting worse and she said something a couple of weeks ago which concerned me.

We definitely aren’t close and my dad works so I don’t know whether I’m worried over nothing.

She is getting more socially awkward with age.

Are you worried about dementia?

Is she taking a raft of medication for another ailment?

One of the first 'penny drop' moments for me with my aunt (who I cared for throughout dementia until the end) was that she would show me pictures of myself and tell me about 'snorkmaiden' or tell me about what what Snorks was upto- like it wasn't me. She repeated her stories a lot too, moments apart.

Yes dementia was my main concern.

I hadn’t thought of the medication she’s taking. She does take a lot for several ailments although there does seem to be something new every week...

I'm wondering wether her medication is affecting her, especially as she's getting older. Maybe it's too strong or is knocking her off a bit....

Maybe she's tired and medicated and trying desperately to seem ok when I'm company when really she's struggling. It might pay to talk to her from that angle...?

It's hard, it could be dementia or it could be menopause.

If you're concerned you can ask the doctor to refer her for a scan, my mum had one last year which confirmed dementia but she is 88

Mine took gabapentin and it sent her like this.

My mother used to repeat stories.
She was just lonely and loved to talk.
I had to switch off!

Thanks all

@ greypetex - that’s interesting you saying that. She does take a medicine for restless leg syndrome but I don’t know what it is so could be that

@Cravingpies

It took 3 months of her declining before we made the connection. I genuinely thought she had dementia, she would forget while conversations and quite important things we had told her. Saw the GP and she had to taper off them before stating something else.

Of your concerned than May be you could persuade her to see her Gp and they could decide whether she needs further assessment from the memory clinic etc ,there are many different types of Dementia and there are differences between them in the way people present ,it could be something or it could just be as others have said she's lonely and she doesn't have many people to talk too ,my mum does this she will tell me the same thing several times but she's recently had a stroke ,but tbh she,s always done this and I'm not to concerned about her memory at the moment ,I used to work in dementia care .