Help! I have just been diagnosed with early dementia, which is bad news. But I am wondering - can it possibly be a side-effect of the steroids which I am on for my GCA?
I was diagnosed with GCA in Jan 2013 and am now on 8.5 mg daily, reducing by the slow method, although I am stuck for a few weeks until we come back from a holiday.
Hi Trenny, Sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis of early dementia. I am unaware of steroids causing dementia. I seem to recall that you have Parkinson's, and I know that up to 50% of Parkinson's patients develop dementia. My dad was unfortunate to succumb to both. They say that it is important to keep training the brain by doing puzzles etc. some patients take vitamin E as a supplement as there is some suggestion it helps dementia. There are also several medications that can help you retain cognitive function. Good luck, and give yourself plenty TLC. Best Wishes, Runrig x
Hi Trenny,
Sorry to hear your news. Just a quick thought, have you ever had your Vit B12 checked as it can cause neurological/ dementia type symptoms?
I presume that they took your long term steroids into account when diagnosing you. The brain fog that often comes with Prednisolone certainly feels like early dementia to many of us. Someone on one of these forums was discussing it the other day.
I am so sorry to hear of this recent diagnosis. I agree with the post re vitamin supplements if you can afford them and you're not already taking: D, E, B compound and a high dose fish oil supplement.
Also, if you're able, a daily walk helps the brain... It's not just the exercise alone that's helpful, but also the directional/"locating yourself in space in relation to environment" tasks involved in walking are also very good for our brains. Theres much evidence that those that still drive should not be using turn-by-turn GPS guides, bc that weakens the "locator cells" in our brains, which are important in maintaining cognitive function.
All just small suggestions. I wish you well.
Thank you. I try to have a daily walk, but don't always get out. I can only manage about ten minutes due to muscle weakness and pain in the calf muscles. I am starting a weekly hydrotherapy session which I love and can recommend to anyone who has access to a heated pool. I live near Southampton and there is a private Physiotherapy centre at Whitely.
Press on...
Oooh, therapy pools are a lovely warm temp. I "exercised" (aka: floated around) our local therapy pool after the PMR first came on. I hope you enjoy that!
Hi trenny
I'm sorry to hear about the diagnosis on top of other issues going on.
So you also have GCA..wonder if it's a coincidence. Hydrotherapy sounds very good indeed. All my best,
I did question my doctor as one woman I knew of had Alzheimer disease after she went into remission. The doctor was quite emphatic with her NO . She has been quite forthright with me so let us just say....as far as they know...it does not.
I don't think that pred causes dementia - but inadequately managed vasculitis can and there is one form of dementia which is due to vasculitis.
I'm sorry to hear your diagnosis Trenny - I do hope they can manage it well for you. And maybe don't be too keen to reduce the pred?
Hi Trenny, I'm not sure if you're still on this forum but I hope you are and that you will respond. There have been medical studies done on corticosteroid causing dementia, often reversible once the medication is stopped. I am trying to find more info but there isn't much available in Australia. My Dad started having speech problems after going on oral corticosteroid and methotrexate injections for Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2009 and I can't help wondering if it is somehow linked to this medication which he is still on! He was 67 at the time. He has major speech problems now - only gets out a couple of words every now and then although he can understand more than he can say but most of his memory has remained intact. He was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2012 due to his deteriorating speech. On the other hand I have read that corticosteroids can actually protect against Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. Definitely an area that needs more research!!! I'm not sure how to find out more about it which is why I'm on this forum! Good luck to you, and I hope in your case you are feeling back to normal.
Hi Maygal, I am sorry to hear about your Dad's Problems and wish him well. Time has moved on since I wrote this post, which I think must have been written after my first visit to the neurologist (a registrar), when I was offered medication. I had another appointment with his consultant and was told that all was well and he hoped he wouldn't see me again! I have always been absent-minded and still have a school report from when I was aged seven which said: 'with sheila things go in one ear and out of the other'!! Perhaps they took this into account!!
I am now down to 6.5mg prednisolone and not feeling too bad, so press on...
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