Why brain scan??

[Hostaswordwoman]

Are there any doctors or people with medical knowledge here?
My 78 year old mum has for the last few months been sleeping a lot and saying she feels very unsteady on her feet. Finally, after extensive nagging, she agreed to phone the GP today. She saw a nurse who asked her thr usual dementia questions which she said she answered fine. I don't doubt this as she doesn't display any cognitive issues. They are sending her for a brain scan and referring her to a neurologist. Apparently the brain scan will be soon but the neurology waiting list is very long.
I am obviously extremely worried as is she. Would they be scanning for dementia despite lack of cognitive symptoms, or parkinsons or something g else?

Possibly for signs of a stroke?

Even signs of a past mini stroke perhaps?

I think your GP is great and sending an elderly who says she feels unsteady on her feet, shows proactiveness.
If dementia/ cognitive impairment is ruled out by a simple questionnaire, the next possible cause is leukoaraiosis (LA for short) which is an hyperintensity in the white matter in the brain known to cause balance issue.
The MRI will show if it is LA or something else. Physical therapy is great for balance issues caused bt LA, and the neurologist will be able to talk you more about the findings and their significance.

Thank you all

I am just very worried

Whatever shows on MRI - and it could very well show nothing at all, your mother might have an ear issue such as infection or calcium particles accumulation in the ear, that gives her vertigo - there will be a plan.

@MatchaTea thank you. She doesn't have dizziness as such just poor balance. You are right, it could show nothing. I think they might have told her what they are looking for, I'm not sure. She said she wouldn't tell me as I would worry. I do worry but I'm autistic and not knowing feels worse I think.

This is a completely standard test in this situation. Please don't worry too much.

I know how it is. There is this day when the order of things changes, and it is no longer the parents worrying for their children but the children worrying for their parents.

Knowing is always better than not knowing, because what we imagine is often way worse than the reality. When we age, our body ages and we tend to forget that our brain ages in the same way. Not all changes are catastrophic. An MRI is just that, a tool to see the changes we can't measure otherwise.

@Flyingbymypants thank you. Maybe it will be normal then.
@MatchaTea it sucks worrying about parents.

My mum just told me they think she has Parkinsons

Spend some time on this foundation www.michaeljfox.org and open the "understanding Parkinson's" tab. Extremely well written information about Parkinson's in general and specifically for newly diagnosed. You will soon realise that there is quite a lot that can be done.

There are several medication and lifestyle intervention (exercise, protein timing away from medication) that can slow the progression of the disease. More on diet here www.michaeljfox.org/news/diet-nutrition

They have webinars and in a week time, there is this one www.michaeljfox.org/webinar/new-parkinsons-steps-take-today-0 on how to navigate a new Parkinson's diagnosis.

It might be jumping ahead, as your mother might not have PD, but you will have learnt something new.

@MatchaTea thank you. I will read it now. Just started. She certainly has quite a few of the symptoms.
She can't exercise as has severe arthritis. I will look at the dietary advice and see if I can understand how to attend a webinar.