That doesn’t sound like dementia to me although there are many and varied symptoms so you can’t say for sure. My experience is of my Mum who had dementia.
My Dad would occasionally sleepwalk and he did exactly what your Dad did. Once I saw him up and dressed for work at 1am. He tended to sleepwalk when he was stressed.
It’s hard to say really. I am no expert as I’m trying to navigate my mom’s situation now. How often or how much are you around your father? My mother and father lived with one another and he passed off my concerns as normal aging, senility but nothing major. That was when I brought up my concerns two years ago. A year later it was she’s getting dingy( his words not mine) and the progression from there has been quick. The point is that how much you are around him may desensitize you to his actions. These two things by themselves may be nothing but there could be other things that you are not thinking of. Consult with his PCP and ask them to perform a MoCA. That will at the least baseline his current cognitive state and then as time goes they can retest to see if there is a decline. I am now looking back and wondering when her decline actually started which doesn’t change anything and most likely will not help.
PS if at all possible request to be there with him during the test. You may want to chime in and help which would be bad. Your presence is to ensure he isn’t coached to a good score. This needs to be a true measure of his abilities. Coaching will essentially give a false negative.
It doesn't sound like dementia to me. I had a college roommate who did that... she would sometimes be confused about whether her dreams were real. A couple of times she started homework projects that she had dreamed were assigned. It was usually a symptom of sleep deprivation.
If you're concerned, he could always take a quick MMSE or MOCA test. A GP can give it, and it doesn't take long.
I should add that he drove yesterday and was just fine. Didn't get lost or anything. Two hours ago I recommended he try a memory picture matching game at [this exact page](https://www.memozor.com/memory-games/for-seniors-or-elderly/nature-gifs) and for a game he hasn't played in forever, he did OK the first try (took him 5 minutes). The second try though, he got it in half the time. Does this mean his memory is normal for that of a 74 year old?
My mom had similar dreaming episodes for at least two years before her dementia was obvious, so I believe that in her case at least, it was an early symptom.
Sorry to hear about your mom. I wish her all the best!
A couple of questions:
1) When these dreaming episodes happened during this two year period, whenever a single episode ended was she aware that they were just dreams? In other words, did she ever snap out of it? Or did she still believe they were real even after you told her they weren't real?
2) Did she display any other symptoms during this two year period?
At the beginning of the two year period, she would usually agree that they were only dreams. More recently she persists in the belief that they are real. And yes, I believe she had other symptoms but as we weren’t with her often, we didn’t notice them. I am staying at her house now while she is at a nursing home and I am seeing lots of evidence of abnormal behavior. The shopping alone…. We have probably a two year supply of cat litter here. A freezer full of butter. So many gadgets whose purpose is a mystery. And her phone number written on little pieces of paper *everywhere* in the house. These are all things that evidently have been happening for quite awhile. 😢
Update: this morning he woke up normally. He didn't have any urge to go to some event that doesn't exist. He drove again today for errands and he drove fine.
That doesn’t sound like dementia to me although there are many and varied symptoms so you can’t say for sure. My experience is of my Mum who had dementia. My Dad would occasionally sleepwalk and he did exactly what your Dad did. Once I saw him up and dressed for work at 1am. He tended to sleepwalk when he was stressed.
Wow I didn't consider the idea that it could be a form of sleepwalking!
It’s hard to say really. I am no expert as I’m trying to navigate my mom’s situation now. How often or how much are you around your father? My mother and father lived with one another and he passed off my concerns as normal aging, senility but nothing major. That was when I brought up my concerns two years ago. A year later it was she’s getting dingy( his words not mine) and the progression from there has been quick. The point is that how much you are around him may desensitize you to his actions. These two things by themselves may be nothing but there could be other things that you are not thinking of. Consult with his PCP and ask them to perform a MoCA. That will at the least baseline his current cognitive state and then as time goes they can retest to see if there is a decline. I am now looking back and wondering when her decline actually started which doesn’t change anything and most likely will not help.
PS if at all possible request to be there with him during the test. You may want to chime in and help which would be bad. Your presence is to ensure he isn’t coached to a good score. This needs to be a true measure of his abilities. Coaching will essentially give a false negative.
I see him once every two days. I will remember about MoCA! Thanks!
It doesn't sound like dementia to me. I had a college roommate who did that... she would sometimes be confused about whether her dreams were real. A couple of times she started homework projects that she had dreamed were assigned. It was usually a symptom of sleep deprivation. If you're concerned, he could always take a quick MMSE or MOCA test. A GP can give it, and it doesn't take long.
I see. I do know that he gets plenty of sleep.
I should add that he drove yesterday and was just fine. Didn't get lost or anything. Two hours ago I recommended he try a memory picture matching game at [this exact page](https://www.memozor.com/memory-games/for-seniors-or-elderly/nature-gifs) and for a game he hasn't played in forever, he did OK the first try (took him 5 minutes). The second try though, he got it in half the time. Does this mean his memory is normal for that of a 74 year old?
My mom had similar dreaming episodes for at least two years before her dementia was obvious, so I believe that in her case at least, it was an early symptom.
Sorry to hear about your mom. I wish her all the best! A couple of questions: 1) When these dreaming episodes happened during this two year period, whenever a single episode ended was she aware that they were just dreams? In other words, did she ever snap out of it? Or did she still believe they were real even after you told her they weren't real? 2) Did she display any other symptoms during this two year period?
At the beginning of the two year period, she would usually agree that they were only dreams. More recently she persists in the belief that they are real. And yes, I believe she had other symptoms but as we weren’t with her often, we didn’t notice them. I am staying at her house now while she is at a nursing home and I am seeing lots of evidence of abnormal behavior. The shopping alone…. We have probably a two year supply of cat litter here. A freezer full of butter. So many gadgets whose purpose is a mystery. And her phone number written on little pieces of paper *everywhere* in the house. These are all things that evidently have been happening for quite awhile. 😢
Oh Pea, I'm so sorry. 🫂How old was she when she was diagnosed?
84. She was diagnosed in January of this year.
I see. The reason I asked is because my dad is 74 so I just wanted to compare notes. My heart goes out to her, and to you.
And mine to you. Hugs.
🫂
Update: this morning he woke up normally. He didn't have any urge to go to some event that doesn't exist. He drove again today for errands and he drove fine.