We are worried about my MIL. 4 years ago she became really absent in conversations, a stutter appeared and she did a few erratic out of character things. She seemed no longer able to cope with simple things like a phone call or Skype. Since then her mobility has declined, she shuffle walks and motor skills are impaired- for example she now can't do up her jacket or struggles to make a cup of tea. Her facial expression is vacant and she stares a lot. Often she has long periods where she stares into space or down at her hands. She gets involved with conversations but rarely initiates them and her answers are bland and often copying someone else's answer, parrot-like. She has had several falls over the past 2 years and admits her balance is bad. This last visit we have noticed that she has an odour and she says she doesn't wash often as it dries her skin. She is 73. She has seen a neurologist and a doctor but nothing seems to have come of it. They have told her not to worry and nothing significant is wrong but to us her whole personality has changed. We can't seem to talk to her directly about this as she is very closed and defensive. When she has opened up after much prodding, she says she is living with significant stress (,her partner is an alcoholic) and that is the cause of her symptoms. We do not have a POA and to some extent my DH is in denial too, he believes it is primarily a mental health issue and then a motor issue . Could this be the start if dementia? What's the best way to get a diagnosis? She is getting a brain scan soon but I have no idea when and what that would tell us and I'm not sure she would share the results with us. Also worth mentioning that we live in different countries so we are not able to do much on a day to day basis. Thank you.