An Older Relative Is Showing Signs of Dementia

question 93

Essay

An older relative is showing signs of dementia. He forgets things and is disoriented, especially when riding in a car. What is the best way to determine whether he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and what other problems could cause such symptoms?

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Definitions:

Ectotympanic

A bone in the middle ear of mammals that supports the eardrum.

Hind Limbs

The pair of posterior limbs found in various vertebrates, functioning in locomotion, support, and in some species, manipulation of objects.

Mammary Glands

Specialized organs in mammals responsible for producing milk to nourish newborns, a key trait for the class Mammalia.

Hemagglutinin Protein

A surface protein found on influenza viruses that facilitates their entry into host cells by binding to sialic acid receptors.