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sharon...keep in mind that folks about your dad's age also experience what
is refered to as Age-Associated Memory Impairment.  the things you mentioned
could all fall in this category, and occur frequently with old age.  now, this
can be compared to dementia (Alzheimer's disease being one of about 80 or so
dementias).  dementia is progressive; AAMI is not.  people with dementia
get worse with time not better.  people with AAMI can compensate for their
memory problems with a variety of aids...calendars, post-it notes, etc.
also, AAMI is often the result of a stressful situation....death of a
spouce, for instance.  if the diagnosis of PD was recent, that could be
contributing to the memory declines.   also, if these memory declines
substantially interfere with daily living activities, then i might be more
inclined to suspect dementia.  however, the exact diagnosis of dementia
(especially Alzheimer type dementia) is frequently a process of elimination...
that is, is the memory decline due to depression, or stroke.....it could
also be due to vitaming b-12 deficiency.....among other causes of memory
decline that can mimick dementia.  if these problems persist, and the
get worse...i would consult a neurologist...not a general practicioner...
i work with the elderly, as well as AD and PD individuals....
memory impairment and decline is a very big concern among older adults....
frequently they automatically assume it is AD....when most times it may
simply be AAMI.  also, PD can result in mild memory impairment, along
with the other things associated with.  also, since your dad is taking
PD medication, be aware that too many medications (or the mixing of several
meds) can also cause AAMI......
ric ferraro, ph.d.
dept. psychology
univ. north  dakota