Experts and Alzheimer's

My mom makes an appointment with her internist.

My Dad does not seem very concerned. Denial - it ain't just a river in Egypt! He lets her drive herself to the doctor.

She misses the exit. She gets lost. She arrives late.

The doctor calls her in. He asks her about her symptoms and gives her a very short physical exam.

Then he gives her a Mini-mental state exam (MMSE).

• Just a few simple questions - but the answers can change your life.

  Examples of questions include:

  • Remember and repeat a few minutes later the names of three common objects (for instance, horse, flower, penny)

  • State the year, season, day of the week and date

  • Count backward from 100 by 7s or spell “world” backwards

  • Name two familiar objects present in the office as the examiner points to them

  • Identify the location of the examiner’s office (state, city, street address, floor)

  • Repeat a common phrase or saying after the examiner

  • Copy a picture of two interlocking shapes

  • Follow a three-part instruction, such as: take a piece of paper in your right hand, fold it in half, and place it on the floor

  The maximum MMSE score is 30 points. A score of 20 - 24 suggests mild dementia, 13 - 20 suggests moderate dementia, and less than 12 indicates severe dementia. On average, the MMSE score of a person with Alzheimer’s declines about 2 - 4 points each year.

  My mom can't count backwards by 7. Since our family has never been good at math, this is not a big shocker! I would have trouble counting backwards by 7!

  The doctor announces he thinks she is in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

  She is shocked. She can barely stand up from the table. She didn't see this coming.