The symptoms that determine which type of dementia a person has can resemble each other and make misdiagnosis possible. Families in Montana with a loved one presenting symptoms of possible dementia could learn about the different types and strive to communicate symptoms to physicians as clearly as possible. An accurate diagnosis could lead to treatment that prolongs a person’s quality of life.
Lewy body dementia represents one form of the disease that benefits from an early diagnosis. During the initial stages of the disease, patients might gain greater benefits from dementia medications than patients with Alzheimer’s disease. People who actually have Lewy body dementia but get misdiagnosed with something else run the risk of taking medications meant for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease that could produce dangerous side effects.
Patients troubled initially with movement disorders, behavioral problems or hallucinations might have LBD instead of Alzheimer’s. LBD also differentiates itself with symptoms like unpredictable cognitive ability and alertness. Vascular dementia could be another possibility for people exhibiting disorientation in familiar settings or waling with shuffling steps. Multiple small strokes are the cause of vascular dementia.
A person who suspects that a doctor missed important signs of a disease and prescribed the wrong medication or therapy could discuss the issue with an attorney. An attorney familiar with the litigation of medical cases could gain an independent medical review of the person’s medical records. This assessment could produce evidence that a doctor or hospital misdiagnosed a person and lost an opportunity to provide appropriate treatment. An attorney might recommend preparing a medical malpractice claim to recover damages resulting from the mistake.
