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VegasLady, given that where I live, it takes a month or more to get an appointment with a neurologist, I think this gentleman needs to be in a placement immediately, for his wife's safety.
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The most likely cause is Lewy Body dementia that usually accompanies Parkinson's disease. This type of dementia produces vivid visual hallucinations and patients can interacts with them. This type of dementia can fluctuate from day to day, or from hour to hour. Sometimes they look lucid and composed, but a few minutes later they can be fighting imaginary demons. The visual hallucinations they experience, seem very real. Patients with this problem can be very dangerous sometimes. There is no cure for this dementia. Heavy sedation is used sometimes to prevent harm to others or to himself.
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newbiewife May 2022
TCChamp, you are (as is common in your responses) making pronouncements with inadequate or outright inaccurate information that can be very misleading. First, the details provided don't appear to point to Lewy Body dementia, as it appears these episodes are happening when the person is asleep or has been asleep. Second, and more important, Lewy body dementia DOES NOT USUALLY ACCOMPANY PARKINSON'S DISEASE. It's confusing, because Lewy bodies are found in the cells in both Parkinson's and in Lewy body dementia. From the Merck Manual: "Dementia with Lewy bodies is chronic cognitive deterioration characterized by cellular inclusions called Lewy bodies in the cytoplasm of cortical neurons. Parkinson disease dementia is cognitive deterioration characterized by Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra; it develops late in Parkinson disease." Many people with Parkinson's do develop dementia when they are far into the disease, but the symptoms are different than in dementia with Lewy bodies. And the symptoms described do not sound like either of these kinds of dementia.
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This is not a psychiatric issue,and is not a "delusion", nor does he likely need placement outside the home. It certainly sounds like REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. It is one of a group of sleep disorders called parasomnias. About 50-60% of Parkinson's patients have RBD, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. It can occur even decades before the Parkinson's is diagnosed and is now considered a potential marker of the ongoing neurodegenerative processes that underlie Parkinson's. Some people develop the RBD later, after other Parkinson's symptoms. Get his doctor to refer him for an overnight sleep study. He will also be evaluated for sleep apnea. He should probably be sleeping alone now so as not to harm his sleep partner. Remove sharp objects from around the bed. Furniture may need to be removed or padded. Soft pillows or cushions may be put on the floor if he is falling out of bed. The main medications to treat this are melatonin and clonazepam. These can cause morning drowsiness so extra caution should be taken to avoid falls. And for heaven's sake if he doesn't already have a neurologist who is a Movement Disorder Specialist, who would know about RBD, get him to one ASAP. You can locate one near him through the Parkinson's Foundation or the other Parkinson's organizations.
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Clairesmum May 2022
In a situation where someone's life is at risk, the first action is to ensure safety for each of them. No matter the cause, he is not able to control. his behavior.
Sleep pattern alterations can and do happen in any progressive brain disorder - Parkinsons, dementia, Alzheimer's dementia, metabolic encephalopathy, etc.
Paranoid delusions and violent behavior to stop the person who is trying to kill you are a feature of Lewy body dementia. Much different than ordinary dreams. Diseased brains do not respond to any medications predictably. In Lewy body, medications usually exacerbate symptoms and increase agitation/anger.
A person needs to be kept safe at all times. This incident is very likely a trigger for residential care.
One spouse cannot manage care alone, no matter how willing. Home caregivers will not accept being hit/cursed/having body waste thrown at them, etc. I have seen all of these patient behaviors (and learned quickly to be quiet, calm, and ready to step out of the room at any moment.)
Caregivers do die from the burden, and it would be horrific for her family to find that she has died while alone with him. It does happen.
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My husband with advancing PD never exhibited those behaviours. However, he does not have dementia, I hear that people with PD and dementia show violent behaviours.
Of course, it is no excusable and at least serious evaluation is needed by neurologist.
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Sounds like he's having delusions, which is common with Parkinson's, and his wife is no longer safe with him at home, which means she needs to place him in the appropriate facility sooner than later.
And the next time he so much as raises a hand to her, she needs to call 911 and have him brought to ER. Once there, she MUST tell the hospital social worker that she can no longer care for him at home and then it will be up to the social worker to find placement for him.
Safety for both your brother and his wife must now be top priority.
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She needs to call 911 and have him admitted for a psychiatric evaluation...now.
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