Balancing Brain Chemistry

I learned that Alzheimer's makes up 60-65% of all dementias, there's no stopping the progression, and there's no cure. However, if identified early, there are medications that in most people can mask/slow the symptoms of the disease, keeping a person in the early independent stage longer, delaying full-time supervision and nursing home care. (Ask a dementia specialist about Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, and Namenda.)

After the neurologist treated the dementia and the depression (often present with dementia) in both parents, he prescribed a small dose of anti-aggression medication for my father, which helped smooth his temper without making him sleep all day. (How I wish we’d had that 50 years ago.) It wasn’t easy to get the dosages right (not perfect), but at least we didn’t need any more police intervention! Once my parents’ brain chemistries were better balanced, I was able to optimize nutrition, fluid intake, and all their medications with much less resistance.

Creative behavioral techniques

With balanced brain chemistry, I was also finally able to implement techniques to cope with the bizarre behaviors. Instead of logic and reason—I used distraction, redirection, and reminiscence. Instead of arguing the facts—I agreed, validated frustrated feelings, and lived in their realities. I learned to just “go with the flow” and let nasty comments roll off. And if none of that worked, the bribe of ice cream worked the best to get my father in the shower, even as he swore a blue streak at me he’d just taken one yesterday (over a week ago)!

Then finally, I was able to get my father to accept a caregiver (he’d only alienated 40 that year—most only there for about 10 minutes), and with the benefit of adult day care five days a week for them and a support group for me, everything started to fall into place. It was so wonderful to hear my father say once again, “We love you so much, sweetheart.”