FAQs #17
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Q17. When my mother (father) says "off the wall" things in our conversation, I worry that she/he might have Alzheimer's. How do I find out if we have a bigger problem here than I suspect?
A17. Monica Keefe:
>This is certainly a normal concern, when we are around people who are suddenly saying "off the wall" things. Alzheimer's is certainly one possibility, but there are many other possibilities as well. Some of the other possibilities include medication problems, vascular problems, breathing and oxygen problems, alcohol .... the list goes on. Therefore, it is imperative that your loved one have a comprehensive evaluation that involves not only the physical assessment, but medication, environmental factors and stresses, and psychological evaluation. You will need to be able to give the physician a complete list of all medications and substances that heshe is using. It will be also helpful for you to be able to give your input on what you perceive as changes, and over what period of time, as it is typical of a person who is afraid the "something is going on" to just tell the physician that "I'm just fine — no problems,"
