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Elderly parents

Failing the pentagon drawing test for dementia

2 replies

BonnesVacances · 26/07/2021 08:56

My FIL has a suspected dementia-type illness. He is fine most of the time and doesn't particularly have a problem with his recall, but frequently connects the dots in confused ways and thoughts and ideas become definite memories. Eg. He was 100% convinced he had watched a Euro football match before it had taken place, because he had seen it in the TV listings for that day and had previously watched a different football match the night before.

He also cannot walk well, and shuffles bent over like an old man.

He's just been assessed by the adult memory team and he failed on two tests. One was drawing two interlinking pentagons, he drew squares. And he couldn't copy a drawing. I don't know if he did and/or passed the clock drawing task as I wasn't there.

The lady said it would now be looked at by a consultant who would also take into account his medical history and scans (MRI and CT were clear). I wondered if failing the pentagon drawing test alone would be an indication of dementia?

He does have a few other health issues going on, such as AF which seems to be causing a big water retention issue that they can't get a handle on. And a stable kidney tumour but the cancer consultant says this won't be causing the water issue.

OP posts:
Musicaltheatremum · 26/07/2021 16:18

The intersecting pentagon test is just one of a 30 point test each question tests a different part of the brain. So that in itself wouldn't support dementia. I can't remember off the top of my head how many points it is. The whole test is a screening test and he would get a more in depth test out of 100 once he saw a consultant.

Notwavingbutdrowing3 · 26/07/2021 20:50

You need to wait to see consultant. They will tell you significance of his results on memory test. Anything else will be a guess on the very little you've told us

Try not to to worry in the meantime, you'll find out soon enough

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