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Our 97 year Mom with severe dementia and has no other major health concerns but macular degeneration and some arthritis. She has woken up for the last 4 days with very slurred speech and some babbling. It has lasts approximately 4 hours or so. But yesterday it happened twice. The first time was in the morning and early afternoon and the second time it occurred was around the dinner ---after a 2 hour medical appointment. In fact, she was at her doctor's office yesterday for a check up, and her blood tests along a urine sample are all in the normal range. She has recently been complaining of being extra tired and her memory is continuing to decline on all levels. We have also noticed that her ankles are swollen but her blood pressure continues to be fine. The PA said it could be a stroke, her memories issues and/or both. Any thoughts?

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Sounds like stroke
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It sounds like she's had a stroke or a TIA and I have to say shame on the PA for not ordering further tests to find out if in fact it was, although I guess at 97 they probably figure why huh?
I would just keep an eye on her as if it was a TIA, it could mean that a bigger stroke is right around the corner, and that would probably take her out.
I wish you all well.
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Probably a stroke, but it could also be exacerbation of aphasia due to dementia or stroke. I don't blame the PA for not ordering tests or sending mom to the hospital. At 97 with severe dementia, what's the point of poking and prodding her? I know my 95 yo mother with advanced dementia was having mini strokes prior to her passing bc she was slumping over to the left in her wheelchair, no matter how often she was righted. She was slurring her words too. Mom also had congestive heart failure so her ankles and calves were always swollen too. Hospice took great care of her though, thank God, so her passing was comfortable and w/o suffering.

Wishing you the best of luck with all of this.
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I have to agree that its probably TIAs which are called mini strokes. At 97 with Dementia I too would not put her thru tests. The brain is dying little by little and strokes and seizures will happen. But we tend to think mini strokes are not something to worry about, but they are in someone much younger. They can be a precursor to a more serious stroke. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2023/what-are-the-symptoms-of-a-ministroke-or-tia.html?cmp=KNC-DSO-COR-Health-HeartHealth-NonBrand-Exact-44147-GOOG-HEALTH-Ministroke-Exact-NonBrand&gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahuQxOXZ_QEy8WaBLnoZZhQUkWJb0dZ3QQTT6ddzwqZql2oMEOvQcXxoCvT8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
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TIA or perhaps a small stroke, if she's having these repeatedly it also accounts for her brain fog and feeling tired. This could be a warning sign that a major stroke is imminent.
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She's 97. Trying to track down what the causatioon is for this 'new' behavior is probably not worth putting her through any testing.

My guess would also be TIA's, which happen, then pass, often leaving little to no after effects.

Someone told me that TIA's are like pre-earthquakes, signalling that a bigger one is on the way.

Again, at 97, I wouldn't worry unduly.
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She could be having TransIschemic Attacks or TIAs. OR this could be a manifestation of her dementia.
As you can guess we are not familiar with your Mom, her case, her history, her norms, any medication changes, and etc.

This is a question for the experts. The POA should consult Mom's doctor.
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I too am in the “it’s a TIA”. My mom had them for maybe her last 2 years. Most were sort term with total vacant stare; she never had a full on stroke.

My personal theory - based on absolutely no scientific data- is that it’s a chunk of plaque from their brain that falls off that triggers the TIA. The bigger the piece, the worse the TIA. The plaque is a clump of beta-amyloid. Amyloid plaque buildup is characteristic of most dementias.
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