So many things can make dementia worse

As I've read other people's experiences I have become more aware of the various things that can cause rapid deterioration in a person's dementia symptoms:

Hospitalisation, general anaesthesia, medication (side effects), medication (interaction), herpes outbreaks, constipation, urinary tract infection, undiagnosed pain and dehydration commonly cause people caring for someone with dementia to panic about the sudden decline that they witness. The good news is that in very many cases the deterioration can be arrested and often reversed.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are particularly nasty in their effect. Often, people are given broad-spectrum antibiotics which don't deal with the infection adequately. Proper urine testing needs to be done in order to decide which antibiotic is needed.

There are probably other things that I've overlooked. It's very important that everyone involved with dementia care knows about all this. The underlying condition is horrible enough without any further avoidable aggravation.

And of course, the way a person is treated by other people may well influence the course of the disease and the severity of the symptoms.

Could this be the answer?

This suggestion may help some people. In the long run. Unfortunately, George Monbiot who wrote the article says he has had the greatest difficulty understanding some of the research so I reckon most of us will have to take it on trust for the time being.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/10/alzheimers-junk-food-catastrophic-effect

My worry would be that, whilst the suggested cause could well be applicable in some cases, or at least be a contributory factor, one can see how all people with dementia might be branded as consumers of junk food. Blaming the victim is all too common in matters of health, particularly where the media are concerned.

Another intriguing snatch of conversation

As I've mentioned previously, I fall asleep nearly every night to the sound of S talking to, and laughing with, her 'friends'. I am quite happy about this and it doesn't bother me really. Occasionally, I can't help 'tuning in' to what S is saying, even though I'm trying to get to sleep.

Last night when I was just about off, I was suddenly aware of this conversation: 'So is it good or bad?' (laughter) 'I don't know' (a gale of laughter) 'I think I'll go half and half!' (even louder laughter) and then...'Brilliant!'

I've no idea what she was talking about. But what does it matter if she's so happy?