Depression or Alzheimers? Anyone had any experience with this?

[TheGoddessBlossom]

I am really worried about my Mum. She is very down, forgets her words, loses stuff, tells a story more than once, cries alot etc. She is sad and doesn't know why, and terrified it's Alzheimers because her Mum had it....

She is going to go to the Doctors and get him to advise, but has enyone been in this position to offer some reassurance?

Thanks,

Bloss

how old is she?

Yes, my father. But it can be muddled with all kinds of things that can be treated too so do get her referred to a specialist. If she's about 50 + she might even just have menopause symptoms never mind depression or something treatable. Also my father is on a dementia drug which has worked really well although it's not universally available so all sort sof possibilities.

thankyou. She is 65. Yes i think it could be any number of things, but she is understandably terrified that it is the beginning of the end for her brain. I hate seeing her so unhappy.

There are lots of things she can do as well as seeing doctors, if it might be that. There are web sites for the alzheimers society, there are mind exercises you can do, there is things like fish oil you can take etc. My brother who is a psychiatrist says depression is often mistaken for it too so do get her very thoroughly checked out.

My mum often forgets things and tells stories several times - she's 72 but there is no suggestion that she has dementia - it's just old age creeping on.

I do think that the suggestion that your mum's depression is affecting other cognitive abilities probably hits the mark.

Hopefully if she can get help for that then she won't be so forgetful.

Fingers crossed for her - I'm sure her GP will give good advice.