Alzheimer's Disease

Today is my mom's surgery. It is scheduled for 10 AM.

My dad had a nerve conduction test yesterday and follow up visit with the neurologist. The results from the MRI and the nerve testing were pretty devastating. We have not told my dad any of the details at this time because he is not able to process the information and will not understand what lies ahead. We will take it one day at a time with him and tell him what he needs to know for that day.

Basically, Dr. G told us that the Imaging place did not do all of the MRIs that he had ordered, however, they did do the one of his brain. This one MRI told him what he needed to know. There is not a brain tumor. That is good. However, what he did find is kind of worse, because there is nothing that they can do about it. My dad's brain has atrophied and is more the size of a 10 - 14 year old. He also has hardening of the arteries in his brain. These two things led Dr. G to the diagnosis of progressed stage Alzheimer's Disease. It's too late for any of the AD drugs to help.

The nerve conduction testing showed significant neuropathy in both of his legs. They drew 8 vials of blood for more extensive lab work. The neuropathy has an undetermined cause at this time. Hopefully, we will get more answers with these lab reports. The AD does not cause the neuropathy. So, we may be dealing with a second issue as well.

I'm off to get ready for the trip to the hospital with my mom.