Dementia or Capgras? Advice on aging parent

Parent Cafe
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<p>Last year my mother had a severe kidney infection. Her kidneys shut down and she was very ill. During her hospitalization, she had many delusions and hallucinations, particularly at night. As her infection improved and she was ready to come home, thankfully, she seemed a lot better.</p>

<p>Since that episode, she sometimes thinks someone else has replaced my dad. She first started telling me about the “other guy” months ago, and in fact I thought maybe I wasn’t quite following what she said and that some other guy in their retirement community was stopping by the house. </p>

<p>Well, that was not the case. Mom is certainly less sharp than she was when she was younger and has some difficulty with word retrieval, but she adjusted to the move to the retirement community beautifully (before the hospitalization), she never gets lost in the hall, she goes to an exercise class twice a week, cooks all the meals and cleans better than I do, etc. </p>

<p>I have known other elderly people who did not recognize someone, but this is different. She has an entire reason for the other guy (who coincidentally has the same name as my dad AND a colostomy) - he’s there to keep an eye on her if my dad is doing something. </p>

<p>She can relate all different things that have happened with the other guy. She still tells me what she and dad do together. </p>

<p>She recognizes everyone else. </p>

<p>Yesterday was heartbreaking. She told me that the day before she was with the other guy and it was like a curtain rose and she knew it was dad. She was so upset. Afraid of what is happening to her, sorry for the hurt she has caused my dad for not recognizing him. </p>

<p>I have known about Capgras delusion - which pretty much describes to a T what goes one with my mom. </p>

<p>Has anyone else experienced this with a parent or loved one? </p>

<p>And yes, we have been to the family doc who seems to think it is Alzheimers. I am just not so sure.</p>

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<p>Why do you pose the question as either/or? I thought Capgras’ Syndrome was consistent with dementia, including Alzheimer’s, although it could also be consistent with other conditions as well. I don’t think it’s some different kind of organic condition. Rather, it’s one of the myriad ways in which some psychiatric illnesses (including dementia) can express themselves in an individual’s behavior.</p>

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<p>Sorry JHS - bad thread title. Not one of my better days. </p>

<p>Using several assessments for Alzheimer’s, mom doesn’t show many symptoms or at least many of the earlier symptoms. This symptom, however, seems later stage to me. Onset also seemed to occur after hospitalization, as opposed to following other signs of deterioration. </p>

<p>The other day, for example, dad suggested we go to the cafe at the retirement home for dinner. Mom was the one who glanced at the clock and pointed out that they stopped serving early (6:00!!) and that we go somewhere else. The awareness of surroundings and time seems so good. </p>

<p>I suppose I wonder if the cause is not dementia (although she may also have mild dementia) but rather residual damage from kidney infection. </p>

<p>In the end, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Many of the suggestions given as to how to help someone with dementia are appropriate no matter the cause.</p>

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<p>Having gone down the dementia road with my 90 year old mother-in-law ( currently in a memory care unit) and now my 86 year old mother (mild symptoms so far), these kinds of things you’re describing sound pretty familiar. My mother is very lucid one minute and then thinks my dad is alive the next,etc. Having said that,sounds like your mom needs another checkup by her physician(or maybe a second opinion ) to make sure her symptoms are not due to something else (like urinary tract infection, metabolic issues, medication issues, anemia, kidney issues, etc). However,if the current physician has already ruled all of these things out and still seems to think it is Alzheimer’s, perhaps he can give you some guidance in dealing with this. My mother has started on Aricept and it seems to have helped a little.It is heartbreaking to see elderly people start down this road. All the best in figuring out what is going on with your mom.</p>

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<p>My dad had alzheimer’s and what you are describing does indeed sound familiar. Dementia is a symptom that can be indicative of several different deseases, including Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body Disease, and even Parkinson’s and Huntington’s. The symptoms are often exacerbated by any sort of physical illness.</p>

<p>I strongly suggest you find a neuropsychologist who specializes in working with older patients and get your mom evaluated. There are drug regimens that can slow the progression of these disorders. </p>

<p>It’s a hard and heartbreaking journey you are on, and my prayers are certainly with you for peaceful days and happy moments along the way. Take care and let people help you!</p>