T:Does this sound like Alzheimer's / Dementia or anxiety & depression?	Q:My <age> year old grandmother that I live with had an episode in <date> after reading and seeing news about the disaster in <location> after the tsunami and nuclear plant explosion. (She has been an activist against nuclear power all her life so this was a real issue for her.  ) She started talking strangely and relating tv shows and other things to Bible events. She was unable to sleep and was reading her Bible and other religious books all night,  writing stuff down on paper that didn't make sense and shouting out religious things. When I took her to the <institution>,  she was so agitated that several <professional_practitioner> had to hold her down to sedate her. She had never acted like that before. After <time_period> in the <institution> and being on <medicine> she seemed to calm down. When she got home,  I stopped the <medicine> because she got the head and hand shakes (tardive diskenesia). She seemed to be ok and much calmer like herself for the next <time_period>. During the past <time_period>,  we have had <num> deaths in the family and she had a disagreement with her son that led to him not contacting us over the holidays. (He lives <distance> away). Well,  she just had another episode last <time_period>. She was crying,  wondering why her children wouldn't contact her. She felt guilty for not accepting her son's invitation to pick her up to visit his home. (She doesn't drive and doesn't like to travel) She couldn't sleep and was reading books at night again. She started talking strangely again. I took her to the <institution> and she was again hospitalized for <time_period>. She was very agitated and talked about me like I was still a baby. (I'm <age>) This time other meds were tried and they put her on <medicine> <num> mg to help her sleep. I worry about this med because it also has warnings about use in the elderly. I am concerned that her <professional_practitioner> wants her to stay on this med indefinitely and her next <professional_practitioner>. visit is <time_period> away. So far she has calmed down,  and is talking more like herself. She can cook,  sponge bathe,  go to the bathroom,  and other things on her own,  but needs help dressing. She likes to read and can pay her bills and manage a checkbook. However,  she can get a little irritable to me when she thinks I am watching over her and hates when I ask if she is ok. I have my own case of anxiety so it is very stressful for me to think she may have a side effect or a bad reaction to the new meds. She also has congestive heart failure and high blood pressure. Does this sound temporary or like early alzheimer's & dementia? Should she stay on the <medicine> since its a very low dose or try withdrawing to see if she can sleep without it? I have heard this med has bad withdrawals. She has had many tests and has not been diagnosed with alzheimer's or dementia. Any help is appreciated.  	A:Alzheimer's can be tricky to diagnosed until it's blatantly obvious. To me it sounds like possible dementia but we can't know for sure since we can't see her. It may be that she is not getting enough oxygen in her blood to possible vascular issues. There are just so many factors that can be causing this. What sort of tests has she had already?


A:My grandma has had <diagnostic_test>,  <diagnostic_test>,  <diagnostic_test>,  <diagnostic_test> etc. No evidence of stroke or blood clot or tumor. She seems to be doing ok now on her medications,  but has some irritability and constipation. She has congestive heart failure and high blood pressure.  She is talking more like herself. I wonder if she will have to be on the <medicine> long term.  


A:Hi,  I also took care of my grandmother,  with dementia. A trick that I had up my sleeve was I stayed in my room (with door open) and made sure door alarms were on so I could hear if she tried to leave. I had to run the household. I do suspect she has dementia. When she has the episodes of why no kids talk to her try saying its ok Grandma,  I'm sure they will call soon. If she starts an episode that she says something is wrong with her,  say its ok grandma,  its just your forgetters working overtime. it happens to me too. If she asks why it happens. its for lots of reasons grandma,  stress,  medications,  worrying,  oh just lots of things It sounds like its vascular dementia,  the form my gma has. I recently had put her in a <institution> though :(


A:Great suggestions <name>! 
