Mom went into the hospital Christmas Day with dizziness. They suspected a TIA, so did a CT scan, and were going to do an MRI, but couldn't when they found out she had a spinal cord stimulator to help with her back pain.
Today, TODAY, when we went to her regular doctor, we found out that her CT scan showed she not only had an acute infection of her sinus, for which she should have been getting antibiotics, but Dr. Morgan handed me the report (not Mom), which had the following information on it:
IMPRESSION: Moderate atrophy. Moderate chronic white matter small vessel ischemic changes.
Isn't this what they would find with dementia?
Mom's never been diagnosed. All of her problems have been pain related, with occassional memory lapses that we can put onto pills. Now I'm concerned we have other issues to deal with.
My cousin had an MRI ordered by a neurologist and we knew she had significant dementia when she had her test. I'm not sure about a CT scan. Certainly someone can give you some answers. I'd be upset about it. I would get that information before I made any assumptions though.
So you get the sinus infection cleared up, and see if the dizziness goes away.
She may never need long term care, but plan for it anyway.