Alcoholic dementia?

[alcoholicdementia]

My dad has been an alcoholic for about 25 years. Drinking in evenings only but a fair amount. Now he's on 2 bottles of red wine and a couple of lagers per night.

He's had various health problems the last few years and has been taking a lot of different medication whilst continuing to drink (deceiving the docs)

He has taken ibuprofen daily, medication for stomach ulcer, medication to get rid of hep c (for 9 months), now heart medication.

He currently has a blocked artery and is preparing to have a stent put in.

He is starting to show what myself and mum think is signs of dementia.

Bad spatial awareness
Gets very angry very rapidly at small things
Can't remember dates or planned events
Feels the need to stand next to my mum at all times when they are out and gets very insecure about being separated.
Blurts out inappropriate or irrelevant comments in group conversations
Generally seems out of sorts

Initially we were told the heart problem could cause a lack of oxygen to the brain making him a bit fuzzy but he seems to be deteriorating rapidly and I'm wondering if it's actually dementia.

Does anyone else have experience of this?

Hep c and ibuprofen with alcohol is not a happy combination, is he in contact with a local addiction service at all?

With the dementia like symptoms, there is a condition called korsacoff syndrome, which is related to vitamin deficiency caused by alcoholism but this is relatively rare and will need a consultant to diagnose correctly - if you cant get him to confront the issues the alcohol is causing, then please get help for yourselves and those caring for him.

If you live in England there are funded addiction services which can help.

Thanks for the info, he doesn't have hep c anymore as he took this new drug which gets rid of it but with that and all the other medication I wonder if it's done something to him.

He would never go to an alcoholic support group and has no intention of stopping drinking. We have accepted he probably will not stop before it kills him.

The dementia-like symptoms concern me though, mainly because my mum is becoming like his carer and it doesn't seem fair really.

Glad to hear his hepatitis has cleared, if he wont stop drinking then the only thing to do is prepare yourselves as best you can for the long haul - he may well be poorly and deteriorate over a long time. Would your mum consider going to support groups to get advice from others in the same situation ? I would concentrate that your mum is getting the support she needs to keep going, and of course look out for yourself too.

You can still call the doctors for advice and describe these new symptoms, it could be a side effect from a combination of medication, your dad can also ask the pharmacist for advice in a medicines use review.

The things you need to look up are Korsakoffs syndrome and Werniekes Encephalopathy. One leads to the other, essentially.

There is no cure but people with it are given Thiamine every day to prevent it getting worse.

My DD has vascular dementia...whats interesting is he and his long term partner were heavy drinkers and both have dementia. She had early onset and he was diagnosed in his mid 60s. I have no doubt the alcohol played a part. My DD started getting forgetful, would get irritated when he couldn't get the word out, his speech was affected and he started mumbling, he had a rapid decline over a year and has ended up in a nursing home and doesn't remember anyone. His long term partner ended up regressing and would repeat herself over and over again. She would giggle for no reason and forget who people were. She ended up so drunk that she fell and broke her hip. She was so intoxicated they couldn't do any surgery for 48 hrs. So I have no doubt that alcohol triggered there decline. They are both now in the same home and don't recognise each other. Hope it isn't the case for your DF but he should be persuaded to go and see his GP.

Thanks all for your contributions, very insightful.

Yes he seems to be declining rapidly which is what prompted me to do some research. All of these sound possible but I guess a docs appointment is needed.

TBH I don't think he can handle any more health worries right now because he's focused on the heart problem but once that's sorted I'll try and get him to see a doc about it. Problem is convincing him he has an issue with his memory. Just gets very defensive and angry if you highlight it.

I'm quite scared tbh and it's brought up so many feelings. How do you feel about someone who has consistently let you down in life but is now vulnerable and suffering...and is your dad? its hard isn't it.

It is and I was NC with mine for over 20yrs and first time I saw him he was at the early stages. Didn't know who I was the second time. Very emotional as he did very little for me as he left us as DC and made no effort as adults. So it's been emotional trying to support from afar and having social services suggesting 'family' should do more.....

banana social services will always ask families to do more, often far more than they are capable of, all you need do is be very clear at what you're able to do, if that is phonecalls once a week, or organising carers, or even just supporting the care leads decision and not being obstructive.

Practicising the resting bitch face of efficiency and a few pointed comments about his contribution to family thus far usually does enough, as does being as blunt as a barn door with professionals when it comes to the ins and outs of dealing with an alcoholic - but its horrible when you feel relentless guilt over something which isnt your fault in the first place.

My dad had brain atrophy as a result of a lifetime of heavy drinking. It started slowly and he masked it well but it was heartbreaking at the end. 'Fortunately' he passed away quite quickly from another illness once his mind had almost completely gone which I consider to be a blessing to me and him.

Hand hold! I am in exactly the same position. It is heart breaking. My dad has advanced further than yours and the guilt and worry is awful.

Istilllovefriends thank you!

Update, he went to have the stent put in, build up of a few months waiting for it, very anxious.

They got him ready and did obs then decided not to do it! So no stent which we thought may improve it because of possible effects of lack of oxygen to the brain.

So I guess we just wait and watch now...

You’ve had some very good advice here already.

I would also echo pp regarding only doing what you can manage, and trying to protect and support your mum.

It is unlikely that he is actually deceiving the doctors, however there would be no harm in dropping a note to his GP outlining his current alcohol intake, and your concerns regarding his declining cognitive function. You can mention that he does not see a problem, and that he doesn’t want to stop drinking.
This would mean they might start some thiamine, maybe some other things and might want to refer to gastroenterology.

Look after yourself.

I just mentioned this to another poster, but this could be hepatic encephalopathy - very common in people with cirrhosis. Has your DF been diagnosed with cirrhosis, or aren't you sure?

Actually his liver is pretty good. He's had biopsies because of the hep c and always come out fine, strangely. He won't go to docs at the moment but hopefully if we keep on he'll come round and we can get a diagnosis.

He has been hitting the drink harder since the op/not op and mum said he's falling down a lot, not able to get up again. He's much more wobbly than he used to be. She doesn't try to pick him up just shouts instructions at him which is lol but sad really. I'd rather she didn't hurt herself trying.

I'm moving to the USA in a month so bit worried about leaving her to cope but it's her choice in life I guess.

If he's very wobbly with trouble getting back up, that could be peripheral neuropathy - the nerve damage tends to affect the feet first.

It must be so worrying for you

Yes very worrying really I always thought it would be his liver that failed him, never his mind. He's an intelligent guy, very witty but losing it rapidly. To think mum might become his carer too is hard. I don't want her to spend her last years doing that.

I will look up the wobbly thing thanks

I completely relate to that - my DF has Huntington's disease, and my DM is his sole carer. Both are in their 70s, DF is gradually sliding into the dementia stage of the disease, his mobility is severely affected and the toll it's taking on my DM is immeasurable. I also live some distance away, so I'm anxious and helpless over the matter.

I do think it's worth having your DF assessed for peripheral neuropathy (if you can get him to see a doctor, that is). The symptoms match. As mentioned upthread, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is also a strong possibility. He'll need strong thiamine treatment to help with that, as almost all chronic alcoholics are deficient in vital B vitamins. You don't need to have cirrhosis to develop any of the issues I've mentioned.