Vascular dementia poses unique challenges to caregivers. Learn how vascular dementia differs from Alzheimer's. See how to make life better, both for you and the one for whom you care.
According to the NHS, "these medications are not as effective for vascular dementia as they are for Alzheimer's disease."
In order to have an intelligent conversation with your doctor about this subject, you may want to watch a highly informative video on this site called:
What Happens in the Alzheimer's / Vascular Dementia Mix?
You can search for it in the SEARCH box for this site or go to the following link: http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2012/11/what-happens-in-alzheimers-vascular.html
Thank you for your response. My husband was diagnosed a couple years ago with vascular dementia and he went on 5 mg generic aricept, then increased to 10mg. He could take 10 at one time because it upset his stomach and the patch caused rashes,, so was taking 5 in the am and 5 in the pm. the pm caused severe night sweats according to the pharmicist. A new neurologist that we are going to now took him off it and his night sweats stopped after two weeks. Doc wanted to put him on namenda and i asked him how are the two meds alike and he said similar so i asked why give it to him and he said honestly, it won't make any difference if you do or don't give namenda to him...........It has been about four weeks now and i notice changes in my husband's memory.......what can you say to this, please. I will to the the website you mentioned.
I recently found a great article from the Association of Geriatric Psychiatry that talks in depth about the current treatments but also about neurologically what the target is. Aricept/ Exelon (donezapril) try and keep acetylcholine in the brain longer because Alzheimer's tends to start in the area of the brain that produces this chemical. In Vascular disease this is unlikely to be the underlying problem (Vascular disease can happen in any part of the brain, not necessarily in the areas producing acetylcholine. Namenda (mementine) works in a different way protecting healthy cells from toxic cascades of Glutimate (a neurotransmitter) that are released when damaged brain cells die. That is why it is used when cells are starting to die from Alzheimer's to hopefully reduce collateral damage but neither drug target the underlying Alzheimer's pathology. It may be worthwhile to discuss using Namenda with vascular disease but initial studies have not shown to be very effective. http://www.aagponline.org/index.php?src=news&submenu=Tools_Resources&srctype=detail&category=Position%20Statement&refno=35
How do you deal with mom not wanting to live where she lives, same place for years, do you correct or just agree. Should you ever tell the truth or. Ignore
We took care of two Alzheimer's parents and my 102 year old blind daddy who was sharp to the end. All three talked about going home. It really means "I want to go back the way I used to be". I never lied, but I did re-direct or just agreed that I too wished things were like they used to be. It does no good to argue about this IMHO.
Hello, my husband Rip.💖 passed away 2/8/18 he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, 2914, and vp shunt inserted into the brain and stomach, plus was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and Bypolar too 😕, sometimes he would cry, get agitated, yell at me, get violent, he was diabetic, and had heart trouble, too high blood pressure, he died in Hospice care, had 100% blockage replaced his stent on the left side, he already had 3 of them in 2009, had a stroke in 2012, not treated properly, we were married 51 yrs, sometimes he said i want a divorce 😢 was this normal behavior? He had a silent heart attack 1/29/18 no pain at all, plus he was in and out of 5 nursing homes, I took him home, he blamed me for being in them, but it was drs. Put him there, i was his full time caregiver, Please i never understood his behavior, he was in diapers too. All he good do was brush his teeth, i done everything else, for him. I need answers. Thanks.
Dr. Peter Rabins, author of what is probably the most famous book on dementia, called "The 36 Hour Day", has a video (with transcript) you may find helpful. It is at the following link: 6 Ways to Stop Guilt from Dementia Care
Please , please find an dementia support group .i know it's after the fact but you need to hear and share with other people. That are now going thru some of the same things education in this disease is paramount. And some. Things just can't be explained. You need to forgive your self for what you didn't know.
Should someone diagnosed with vascular dementia take aricept or namenda? thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat is a question for your doctor.
DeleteAccording to the NHS, "these medications are not as effective for vascular dementia as they are for Alzheimer's disease."
In order to have an intelligent conversation with your doctor about this subject, you may want to watch a highly informative video on this site called:
What Happens in the Alzheimer's / Vascular Dementia Mix?
You can search for it in the SEARCH box for this site or go to the following link:
http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2012/11/what-happens-in-alzheimers-vascular.html
Hope this helps.
Thank you for your response. My husband was diagnosed a couple years ago with vascular dementia and he went on 5 mg generic aricept, then increased to 10mg. He could take 10 at one time because it upset his stomach and the patch caused rashes,, so was taking 5 in the am and 5 in the pm. the pm caused severe night sweats according to the pharmicist. A new neurologist that we are going to now took him off it and his night sweats stopped after two weeks. Doc wanted to put him on namenda and i asked him how are the two meds alike and he said similar so i asked why give it to him and he said honestly, it won't make any difference if you do or don't give namenda to him...........It has been about four weeks now and i notice changes in my husband's memory.......what can you say to this, please. I will to the the website you mentioned.
DeleteHere is some information that may be helpful on someone else's website:
ReplyDeleteWhat Are the Benefits of Aricept Vs. Namenda?
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5591566_benefits-aricept-vs_-namenda_.html
I recently found a great article from the Association of Geriatric Psychiatry that talks in depth about the current treatments but also about neurologically what the target is. Aricept/ Exelon (donezapril) try and keep acetylcholine in the brain longer because Alzheimer's tends to start in the area of the brain that produces this chemical. In Vascular disease this is unlikely to be the underlying problem (Vascular disease can happen in any part of the brain, not necessarily in the areas producing acetylcholine. Namenda (mementine) works in a different way protecting healthy cells from toxic cascades of Glutimate (a neurotransmitter) that are released when damaged brain cells die. That is why it is used when cells are starting to die from Alzheimer's to hopefully reduce collateral damage but neither drug target the underlying Alzheimer's pathology. It may be worthwhile to discuss using Namenda with vascular disease but initial studies have not shown to be very effective.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aagponline.org/index.php?src=news&submenu=Tools_Resources&srctype=detail&category=Position%20Statement&refno=35
How do you deal with mom not wanting to live where she lives, same place for years, do you correct or just agree. Should you ever tell the truth or. Ignore
ReplyDeleteWe took care of two Alzheimer's parents and my 102 year old blind daddy who was sharp to the end. All three talked about going home. It really means "I want to go back the way I used to be". I never lied, but I did re-direct or just agreed that I too wished things were like they used to be. It does no good to argue about this IMHO.
DeleteI take care of both in laws and FIL has vascular dementia and my MIL has regular dementia and I can tell the difference
ReplyDeleteHello, my husband Rip.💖 passed away 2/8/18 he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, 2914, and vp shunt inserted into the brain and stomach, plus was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and Bypolar too 😕, sometimes he would cry, get agitated, yell at me, get violent, he was diabetic, and had heart trouble, too high blood pressure, he died in Hospice care, had 100% blockage replaced his stent on the left side, he already had 3 of them in 2009, had a stroke in 2012, not treated properly, we were married 51 yrs, sometimes he said i want a divorce 😢 was this normal behavior? He had a silent heart attack 1/29/18 no pain at all, plus he was in and out of 5 nursing homes, I took him home, he blamed me for being in them, but it was drs. Put him there, i was his full time caregiver, Please i never understood his behavior, he was in diapers too. All he good do was brush his teeth, i done everything else, for him. I need answers. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDr. Peter Rabins, author of what is probably the most famous book on dementia, called "The 36 Hour Day", has a video (with transcript) you may find helpful. It is at the following link:
Delete6 Ways to Stop Guilt from Dementia Care
Hope this helps.
Here is the link to 6 Ways to Stop Guilt from Dementia Care:
Deletehttp://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2015/01/6-ways-to-stop-guilt-from-dementia-care.html
Oops 2014, diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, brain surgery he had.
ReplyDeletePlease , please find an dementia support group .i know it's after the fact but you need to hear and share with other people. That are now going thru some of the same things education in this disease is paramount. And some. Things just can't be explained. You need to forgive your self for what you didn't know.
Delete