As I have continued to study his "symptoms" it looks to me like he was affected by several types of dementia at one time including: Posterior Cortical Atrophy, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal, and Primary Progressive Aphasia which affects language.
A new type of Dementia is being called "Mixed Dementia." In mixed dementia abnormalities linked to more than one type of dementia occur simultaneously in the brain. Recent studies suggest that mixed dementia is more common than previously thought.
Recently, there has been a lot of activity and discussion in the following areas: 1) Types of Dementia, 2) Appropriate language to discuss Dementia and the people affected with it, 3) Including people with Dementia in decisions about caring for the needs of people with Dementia, and 4) A more careful use (if any) of psychotropic drugs with people diagnosed with Dementia.
As recently as ten years ago, not much was known about Dementia/ Alzheimer's. People were embarrassed to discuss the disease. Little was known about how to care for people with Dementia. While the knowledge base is increasing exponentially, much still needs to be done to understand the disease and to support people who have been diagnosed with one form or another of Dementia.
Perhaps one of Gregory's legacy's, through my blogging, can be to help "fight these battles" for understanding, equality, and support!
Nice work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynda.
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