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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Difficulty In Walking Be The Start Of Dementia?

My Mother is 90 years old. Up until 2 weeks ago she was well and could walk quite fast with her walker. Recently she had a urine infection , was given tablets to cure her but she got very dehydrated and had to be hospitalised. Now back in the resthome she is really struggling to walk. She tells me her brain says walk and her legs just will not walk.She is getting very frustrated. Is this the start of dementia? I realise my Mum is getting old but hate seeing her like this.
Mon, 3 Mar 2014
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Dementia is the loss of memory.
Dementia will not interfere with walking or any other physical activity.
Dementia is characterised with inability to memorize things, objects, conversation, people, etc.
The loss of memory can be for things in recent past or for very old memories.
The urine infection would have cleared away with the antibiotic treatment.
Inability to walk can be due to some other cause, eg. muscular problems.
You need to consult an orthopedician for clinical evaluation to know the cause of inability/difficulty to walk.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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Could Difficulty In Walking Be The Start Of Dementia?

Hello and welcome to HCM, Dementia is the loss of memory. Dementia will not interfere with walking or any other physical activity. Dementia is characterised with inability to memorize things, objects, conversation, people, etc. The loss of memory can be for things in recent past or for very old memories. The urine infection would have cleared away with the antibiotic treatment. Inability to walk can be due to some other cause, eg. muscular problems. You need to consult an orthopedician for clinical evaluation to know the cause of inability/difficulty to walk. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja P Wahal