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Dementia and Alzheimer's

Personality change in the years before diagnosis

7 replies

warmmfeet · 02/10/2023 21:51

Can anyone advise what this is like, if experienced?

My Mum is 76 and she seems to spend a lot of time in recent months ruminating and stressing about other family members, almost creating problems that aren't really there. It's definitely got a big paranoid edge to it. Eg thinking my SiL resents her being close to her grandchildren. I really don't think that's the case .

She's had depression on/off since menopause but I'm just finding her problems more intense recently. However I moved back to home town where she lives last year having lived away for ?15 years so I'm not sure if this is just how she can be. She can seem quite immature emotionally.

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DoratheFlora · 02/10/2023 23:07

Long history of anxiety, low level depression and paranoia behind closed doors but always painted a smile on her face in public. My Mum has always been quite emotionally immature and incapable of doing much to help herself. She now has dementia. It's tough and tiring.

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Saracen · 03/10/2023 15:31

It can be an early dementia sign, but not always. I have known people to become seem paranoid and fearful due to isolation and too much time on their hands. Does your mum socialise? Does she have hobbies?

I also had an aunt who spent a lot of time on the internet, who became very attached to all sorts of strange ideas with no basis in reality. She did eventually go on to develop dementia, but only after some 35 years of believing everyone was out to get her, so I doubt it was related.

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warmmfeet · 03/10/2023 21:29

Thanks both. Both examples sound like my mum really. No she's not great at socialising, only really with family and on her terms... and her main hobby is gardening which slows down this time of year. I'll have to try to get her out and about more.

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warmmfeet · 03/10/2023 21:30

@DoratheFlora I'm sorry abaht her dementia diagnosis. My Father-in-law has it too, it's very hard.

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DoIHaveToBeAnAdult · 30/01/2024 22:14

My Stepmum is the same. Basically does nothing all day so has plenty of time for paranoid thoughts and ruminating.

When they assessed her at the memory clinic, they asked her what she did all day and she couldn't say.

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DoIHaveToBeAnAdult · 30/01/2024 22:15

They told her that she needs to get out more and occupy her time better.

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warmmfeet · 09/02/2024 22:42

Yes my mum is like that. She's very reclusive and moans about being bored at home with my dad. But instead of doing something about it she sort of takes it out on him. Scrutinising his every move and criticising him. Which is odd because he has lots of hobbies and interests that he does at home. But he also gets out when he can.
I think she projects how she's feeling onto him a bit.