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First clue Christmas Eve , 2015 - Mentioned the Name Jon - My sisters Husband and I Got a Blank stare even after I Tried explaining to him . It went downhill after that - Losing things , giving People Money $3500 , $2500, $3000 etc. Buying One car - getting another car because he Lost the Key . Losing and destroying Bicycles . Sanding the floors 1000 times . Fixing things that were Not broken . Peeling the Paint off my car for No reason . Not being able to use a remote on Vacation. forgetting how to use 3 phones with 3 different numbers . A Broken refrigerator filled with Maggots . Slow walking then shuffling . Obsessing about things that Occurred 40 years ago . On the upside he sang songs from the 1920's - 1930's and Knew all the words . It Has been a strange Journey to say the least . OCD Behavior , a stroke . Some days good , other days Not good .
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Years before diagnosis Mom began to exhibit lapses in judgment, irrational behavior (like getting really angry for no good reason), avoiding social contact with anyone outside the family, forgetfulness, losing things and repeating herself. Sometimes she was cruel to the point of bringing me to tears. I wondered "what's wrong with Mom?" Then Mom began "rewriting history," telling stories about our family's past that simply weren't true. If you challenged her, she got really hostile and made you sorry you did! Mom seemed completely incapable of learning new things, like using a computer. Dad began "covering" for Mom, dissuading her from driving. He took a greater role in housekeeping and cooking chores even though he had his own physical limitations.

At first, I attributed Mom's behavior to the aging process. Mom and I had always had a rocky relationship. I went so far as thinking it was "me" and unfair bias on my part! But further on (a year or two before diagnosis), she began getting lost in places she formerly knew quite well. She had multiple traffic accidents and exhibited extreme paranoia. She stayed up half the night arranging and rearranging her kitchen, cabinets, drawers and closets. She was confused about what time of day it was and began "sundowning" in the late afternoon. Their formerly spotless and well-maintained home started looking neglected.

Dad claimed her doctor said it was "mild cognitive decline." I didn't challenge this diagnosis but inwardly questioned it. It had to be something more. Most of Mom's friends and acquaintance didn't seem to notice these changes, but those of us within the family circle certainly did. Either the others didn't notice or were too polite to say anything. I'm guessing the latter. By the time we got Mom in to a neurologist, dementia was a foregone conclusion. What a cruel, cruel disease.
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Less showering, even when prompted.
Sleeping in later.
Irritability.
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i notice my sister in law mentioning she gets frazzled with reconciling her check book.
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