Thursday, July 09, 2009 Margaret asks

Q: Is it possible to maintain intellect but also have short term memory?

My sister in law is as logical as ever in speaking with her--however, she does have short term memory and has been identified with mild dementia possibly Alzheimer's.

"She has not lost her intellect but only short term memory" at least for the period called "mild dementia" and possible Alzheimer's? Is this common--or is she an exception?

The only other symptoms are loss of hunger and apathy--but nothing else. She can read reconizes people, speaks as good as she ever did--sees the point of a joke or she alwaus has a come back answer to any question as fast as she ever did--but--the stigma of Alzheimer's has caused her to lose control of or have any accountability of her finances or control of her living facility.

How can she demand that she be consulted on all matters that concern her or her own finances? She is very concerned about this--but has given up trying to get any control back and I do not know how to help her.

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Answers (2)

Carol Bradley Bursack, Health Guide

7/10/09 8:34am

Hi Margaret,

The intellect can certainly remain in tact. Short term memory loss doesn't make her less smart. However, it can make her less able to handle her finances. You mention several things here that sound like her diagnosis has made her give up. She should probably see a psychologist who understands dementia, and can treat her for possible depression. Counseling can be difficult with someone with memory loss, as you can well imagine. Has she assigned Power of Attorney to anyone? That is important for her financial future. She needs medical care, and if she has anyone in accounting or an attorney she trusts, she needs to talk to that person to figure out how to handle her finances.

Take care,

Carol

7/10/09 3:34pm

Hi Margaret,

I hope your sister-in-law can still function in some way. However, in the long run, someone has to assist her or even take over her financial tasks so it is safe for her. Maybe her husband needs to watch over it a little now and eventually takes over it. Or she can assign a power of attorney to help her. I don't know how well she is now to handle her finances. But you need to look into the future. She will lose more and more memory and someone has to take over her finances.

For now, get someone to assist her so she can handle it her way. She needs to take care of the stuff now like organize some of them or let her family know where the stuff is and how to do it.
I hate to say this, but in the long run, she will lose it and someone has to take over.

My father-in-law who has stage 6 AD lost his ability to handle finances in 2004/2005 but my husband had to take over as he was losing his memory in 2007.

Take care,

Nina

Q: Is it possible to maintain intellect but also have short term memory?

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