Suggest Treatment For Visual Hallucinations In An Elderly Person

Posted on Wed, 20 Jul 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 20 Jul 2016 Answered on

Tue, 9 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My walker-reliant but "generally healthy for her 92 years" mother began seeing (about 2 months ago) imaginary people come in and out of her apartment and rifle through her things. She sees inanimate objects move around in her apartment and familiar objects change shape, as well as a foggy haze coming up from her apartment floor. She is convinced these intruders exist, and even threatens that she is going to call the police. Her short term memory though is pretty good, and she can do checking account arithmetic. However, her handwriting has deteriorated rapidly in the last two to three weeks. She is going to fall as a result of chasing "intruders" in her apartment and is so fearful that she can't be left alone. She has seen her PC doctor three times in the last month. What type of specialist would she need to see next?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Evaluation by neurologist is needed

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us. I can understand concern.

At age of 92 visual hallucination first time can be due to neurological problem. This problem should be checked by proper neurological examination, eye check-up and MRI brain scan. Once it comes normal we can conclude that hallucinations are due to neurochemical changes in brain and they are psychotic symptoms of psychiatric problem otherwise neurological problem should be addressed first. She seems to have vascular dementia as she is already known case of hypertension. She needs evaluation by neurologist now. Please take her to neurologist soon.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar