My Dad has had a heart attack in the past year and the last 2 yrs his short term memory loss has gotten worse - especially after the heart attack. It's not Alzheimer's - it's heart disease that has caused short term loss. He can recall all older things. I just need any tips or to talk to someone who has gone or is going thru it. Thanks and please no stupid posts - if you don't have something worth the energy it takes to type it... just don't.
Heart Diseases - 2 Answers
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1 :
I havent gone through it myself but what I suggest is asking your doctor about support groups and other kinds of support. Also try to spend time just relaxing watching documentaries with him and other things that he is interested in. Sorry to hear what youre going through; I wish you and your dad all the best.
2 :
Sometimes cardiac issues or a stroke can trigger a form of dementia, it is important to get a diagnosis from a neurologist. There are multiple diagnosis such as vascular dementia that could explain what he is going through. Alzheimers and dementia patients typically lose their short term memory, and are able to recall long term facts very easily. There are tests that could help you. Try google searching a global dementia scale or global deterioration scale. They can give you clues of some questions to ask. How old is your dad?
3 :
If your dad has had a heart attack, it is possible he has arteriosclerosis (a stiffening of the blood vessel walls) or a type of arterial blockage due to cholesterol buildup. . If this occurs in blood vessels in the brain it could cause "mini-strokes. These strokes can cause lesions (damage to brain tissue) which can affect short term memory. It prevents the individual from moving a memory from short term memory to long term memory. He can recall old memories because those were well established in his long term memory before any damage to his brain tissue occurred. While the heart attack itself may have little to do with his memory problem, it could be a contributing factor. More likely the memory loss (a form of dementia) is being caused by some of the same factors that precipitated his heart attack. These are usually cholesterol buildup in arteries and arteriosclerosis which is a stiffening of the artery wall. While this type of dementia is usually associated with old age it can occur earlier. (middle age) There is a lot more I could say on the subject but I tend to babble on when I write these answers. Needless to say I wish your dad the best. Good luck to you and your family
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