Question 1

what is pseudodementia? grandparent is faking it?

Accepted Answer

"Faking it?" Not.: "pseudodementia" is not a "faking it" term.  It is not a diagnosis either.  It describes when someone (usually elderly) is so depressed his or her mental functioning is slowed down to the point s/he appears to have dementia.  With good treatment of depression, thinking and memory can improve.  So it was not "dementia" at all -- it only seemed to be.

Question 2

what is the definition or description of: pseudodementia?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive problems: Which are caused by depression, lack of sleep, adverse effects of medication.  Many elderly can be presumptively labeled as having alzheimer's disease when in reality they have a reversible problem such as low thyroid or b-12 deficiency and with treatment, they return to normal baseline.

Question 3

my uncle is 52 years old and was diagnosed with pseudodementia. what is that? how is it typically treated?

Accepted Answer

Pseudo dementia: Depression with cognitive deficits that look like dementia. Also may be seen in Conversion reactions, Psychoactive drugs, &amp; other Mood disorders. They differ from true dementia in that their attention &amp; concentration are intact.

Question 4

what do you suggest if my uncle is 52 years old , was diagnosed recently with pseudodementia . what is that and how can be treated if at all ?

Accepted Answer

Depression: Antiquated term.  Take him for psychological or psychiatric evaluation for treatment which does exist

Question 5

i am suffering from pseudodementia, what is the treatment?

Accepted Answer

Antidepressant: Pseudodementia means that you have dementia type symptoms from a non-organic cause.  The vast majority of cases are depression, presenting as dementia, and which responds to antidepressants or ect.  It is usually more abrupt in onset, and often has a waxing and waning course.

Question 6

i have suffered from depression and anxiety which i think is adequately treated. i have been suffering from memory loss and impaired cognitive functioning. i am not sure whether it might be pseudodementia or something else.

Accepted Answer

Meds?: Discuss these symptoms with your prescriber to make sure that your meds and/or depression are not contributing to this feeling. Medical work up may be needed to look at your sleep, thyroid or other medical condition which may contribute to this. Start doing some memory training with games such as SIMON or MEMORY, crosswords, word search,  on your own, or see Speech therapy for formal programs.

Question 7

can a pseudodementia cause brain atrophy? my mother 54 years old about 6 years now she has all the early symptoms of altzhaimer exept of place confussion also has depression . mri normal but pet scan showed atrophy of parietal and temporal lobes?

Accepted Answer

: She needs to see a neurologist for co-relation of her signs and symptoms with the PET scan findings- which sometimes do not co-relate. wish her well

Question 8

what is the best drug (specific ssri) for pseudo dementia (due to depression) in a otherwise healthy 85 y f ?dose and course?thanks...

Accepted Answer

Evaluation first: This woman needs to see a geriatric psychiatrist regarding questions about "pseudodementia."  without clear evaluation and diagnosis, treatment could go astray.  She also needs a general medical checkup by her primary care physician.  Reversible causes of dementia can be found & treated.  Psychiatrist can implement any needed medications for depression or dementia, monitoring results carefully.

Question 9

what is pseudodemnite depression?

Accepted Answer

Comcentration: Conc is impaired in depression & is sometimes mistaken for a memory problem.

Question 10

if a neurologist has diagnosed someone with pseudo dementia and he is being treated with celexa, (citalopram) when should symptoms  go away?

Accepted Answer

They may not.: Celexa (citalopram) is an anti-depressant, and it may help if the patient has a depression which is masquerading as a dementia, which happens occasionally.  Otherwise Celexa (citalopram) does not really improve memory and thinking.

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Doctor answers about:

Pseudodementia medication

A member asked:

What is pseudodementia? grandparent is faking it?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: pseudodementia?

A member asked:

My uncle is 52 years old and was diagnosed with pseudodementia. what is that? how is it typically treated?

A member asked:

What do you suggest if my uncle is 52 years old , was diagnosed recently with pseudodementia . what is that and how can be treated if at all ?

A member asked:

I am suffering from pseudodementia, what is the treatment?

A member asked:

I have suffered from depression and anxiety which i think is adequately treated. i have been suffering from memory loss and impaired cognitive functioning. i am not sure whether it might be pseudodementia or something else.

A member asked:

Can a pseudodementia cause brain atrophy? my mother 54 years old about 6 years now she has all the early symptoms of altzhaimer exept of place confussion also has depression . mri normal but pet scan showed atrophy of parietal and temporal lobes?

A member asked:

What is the best drug (specific ssri) for pseudo dementia (due to depression) in a otherwise healthy 85 y f ?dose and course?thanks...

A member asked:

What is pseudodemnite depression?

A member asked:

If a neurologist has diagnosed someone with pseudo dementia and he is being treated with celexa, (citalopram) when should symptoms go away?

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